BlaakLane.com books Chicago Union Station car service at a fixed fare shown before you confirm. Enter your Amtrak or Metra train; the chauffeur tracks it, meets you curbside on Canal Street or a nearby legal stop confirmed by text, and drives you to Loop offices, hotels, McCormick Place, O'Hare or Midway.
How to book a Chicago Union Station pickup
In the reservation engine, choose Chicago Union Station, enter the train number and arrival date, your destination and a vehicle class. The fixed fare does not move with Kennedy Expressway traffic. Put your mobile number in the booking so the chauffeur can text the meeting point.
Chicago trips are dispatched by our 24/7 desk in Toronto to a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network, contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard, and the confirmation names the operator, chauffeur and vehicle. Chauffeured vehicles in the city are licensed through the City of Chicago's public chauffeur and livery rules.
Amtrak and Metra at Union Station
Union Station is the hub of Amtrak's Midwest network and the terminus for six Metra lines.
- Amtrak long distance: the Empire Builder to Seattle and Portland, the California Zephyr to the Bay Area, the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles, the Texas Eagle, the City of New Orleans, the Lake Shore Limited to New York and Boston, and the Cardinal.
- Amtrak corridor: Hiawatha trains to Milwaukee, Lincoln Service to St. Louis, Wolverine trains to Detroit, and Illinois and Michigan routes. Details on Amtrak.
- Metra: the BNSF, Milwaukee District North and West, North Central Service, Heritage Corridor and SouthWest Service lines, published by Metra.
The station layout and where cars stop
The station sits on Canal Street between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard, on the west bank of the Chicago River. The headhouse with the Great Hall is on the west side of Canal; the concourse and platforms run under the buildings on the east side and beneath Riverside Plaza. Exits lead up to Canal Street, Adams Street, Jackson Boulevard and the Riverside Plaza walkways along the river.
Canal Street carries taxi stands and a marked loading lane, and the side streets have commercial loading zones. The chauffeur waits nearby and pulls into a legal stop on Canal Street, or on Adams or Jackson if Canal is blocked, and sends you the exact door by text. Tell us which end of the platform you are likely to leave from: Metra riders on the north concourse usually exit near Adams, while many Amtrak passengers leave through the Great Hall side.
Curbside as standard, inside meet as an add-on
Curbside pickup is the standard service. The chauffeur does not go down to the concourse by default. If you prefer to be met inside, for example at the Great Hall or at the Amtrak baggage area, add meet and greet. Add-ons are only available in selected locations, and the booking engine shows whether it is available for your train.
Train tracking on long-distance arrivals
Long-distance trains into Chicago can run hours late after freight delays in the West. Because we track the train, the pickup follows the actual arrival and the chauffeur is not sent to wait for a train still in Iowa. Fifteen minutes of waiting is included after arrival, then 15-minute blocks apply. Checked baggage on long-distance trains is collected from the Amtrak baggage claim, which adds time; tell us if you have checked bags.
Luggage and vehicle fit
Travellers finishing a cross-country trip often have more luggage than a business commuter. Two bags fit a sedan; six fit a Standard or Executive Black SUV; a Sprinter Van takes 12 passengers with 12 small bags. For golf bags or skis, choose an SUV and note it in the booking.
Union Station to O'Hare, Midway and the city
| Destination | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| O'Hare (ORD) | about 17 miles | 30-60 minutes via the Kennedy |
| Midway (MDW) | about 11 miles | 25-45 minutes via the Stevenson |
| The Loop and LaSalle Street | 1-2 miles | 5-15 minutes |
| River North and Streeterville hotels | 2-3 miles | 10-20 minutes |
| McCormick Place | about 3 miles | 10-20 minutes |
| Fulton Market | about 1.5 miles | 5-15 minutes |
The Kennedy Expressway is the main variable for O'Hare; allow the upper end of the range on weekday evenings and Friday afternoons. Airport pickup rules are on the O'Hare and Midway pages, and private flights on the Chicago Executive FBO page. Trade-show traffic is covered on event transportation.
Road trips from Chicago
| Route | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | about 90 miles | 1 h 30 - 2 h |
| Indianapolis | about 185 miles | 3 - 3 h 30 |
| Detroit | about 280 miles | 4 h 30 - 5 h |
| St. Louis | about 300 miles | 4 h 45 - 5 h 30 |
A car from the station can replace a connecting train, and in Indiana and Michigan it crosses into the Eastern time zone. Book as intercity transfers, or see chauffeur service in Milwaukee.
Which of the nine classes to choose
- Standard Sedan: one or two passengers to a Loop office.
- Luxury Executive Sedan: the same trip in an S-Class class car.
- Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach): for a chief executive or a guest of honour.
- Standard Black SUV and Executive Black SUV: six passengers with six bags, and the better car in snow.
- Sprinter Van and Sprinter Luxury Jet Van: 12 passengers with small bags, or seven with carry-ons in a lounge layout.
- Luxury Stretch Limo (eight) and Party Bus (14): for weddings and nights out.
Photos and capacities are on the fleet page; fare details on rates.
Winter and event weekends
Chicago winters bring lake-effect snow from December to March, and the chauffeur allows for slower expressways. Large conventions at McCormick Place and games at Soldier Field or the United Center can close lanes around the West Loop; book early on those days. Choose Chicago lists the city's event calendar.
Corporate travel
Chicago firms and conference organisers can open corporate accounts with monthly invoicing and cost centres, and group shuttles are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing through group transportation. The full list of services is on services and industries on industries. More on the city: chauffeur service in Chicago.
