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If I wanted to fly back to Pittsburgh from Chicago , about how much cab fare could I expect to pay for a trip from Union Station to Midway Airport ?
posted
I would guess $30 including the expected tip for a taxicab ride.
However, if time permits (40min), CTA Orange Line will take yor from "The Loop' (elevated ROW) to the main gate at MDW for $2 and permit you an additional rail ride. Much of the route parallels existing RR ROW;s.
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-01-2005).]
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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I always take the CTA Orange from Midway to downtown, then a short walk to Union Station. I do this regularly, as I often fly to Chicago to take an Amtrak out.
Hope this helps.
Posts: 190 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Dec 2002
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One thing that concerns me, however, about taking public transit is the luggage situation. I will have at least two smaller suitcases----although I do have a luggage cart.
Also, I am not certain I would feel "comfortable" pushing the cart through busy side-walk traffic.
Another concern is the safety factor , although I realize I am just being silly. If I was traveling with someone it would be different , but I will be traveling alone.
I was hoping the cab-fare would not be quite so expensive.
Would O'hare be a better option , or even more expensive by cab ?
posted
According to my Sep 28, 1947 United Air Lines timetabe, Midway is 9.5 miles from the Stevens Hotel, 10.5 from Palmer House. O' Hare is about 20 (naturally, not mentioned in the '47 TT as it was then ORcharD Army Airfield).
The following is copied from the City's official website (thanks in advance, Mayor-For-Life Daley, for allowing me to do so):
For Passengers: Cab Fare Information
Below is a listing of how taxicab fares are determined and paid in the City of Chicago:
In Chicago, you pay the amount shown on the taximeter, plus any tolls. The meter starta at $1.90, then increases $1.60 for every mile, or $2.00 for every six minutes of waiting time There is an extra 50-cent charge for additional passengers over the age of 12 and under the age of 65. There is no extra charge for baggage or credit card use, and tipping is optional Average Fares
These are average fares from State and Madison Streets to various destinations. Fares will vary, depending on traffic conditions:
O'Hare Airport - $30.00 to $35.00, excluding $1 MPEA tax Midway Airport - $20.00 to $25.00, excluding $1 MPEA tax United Center - $7.00 to $9.00
[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 01-02-2005).]
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
As the august Mr. Norman and others have pointed out, the Orange Line is by far the best way to get to Midway. Just leave CHI Union Station and walk over the Chicago River bridge, past the Sears Tower and find the first Loop El Station, which is Quincy. Go up the Orange Line stairs, buy a Fare Card and put about $3 to $5 bucks on it, go through turnstile, wait for Orange Train, board, ride to end of line Midway Airport. I think the fare now is about $1.75. No transfers are needed; it's a straight shot. I do it all the time with heavy luggage and it's safe and NO PROBLEM. I would not dream of using a Taxi and paying those huge fares. Remember if the driver gets stuck in traffic, (he will "arrange" for that to happen) your fare will go up.
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Last year a taxi from MDW to the Loop was $20 plus a tip. Wouldn't ever consider taking a subway with luggage and not being completely familiar with the area. Plus I can guarantee whenever I have to lug baggage it's hot and sweaty.
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I got from a downtown hotel to the Orange line with a small roll-aboard and a tote with no problem. Try to find stations that have elevators for handicapped access. The trip to Midway was painless and cheap. It is, however a long, albeit, covered with some moving sidewalks, walk from the station to the ticketing area. If you have large luggage a cab might not be a bad investment.
Frank in wet, cold SBA (Don't let the clear weather at the Rose Parade fool you. The people of Pasadena made a pact with God long ago about the weather...)
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I am forgetting that most hotels will have a shuttle provider available to both Midway and O'hare---I don't know why I did not think of this. I will be overniting in Chicago anyway.
As mentioned, dropping the train (and sleeper) that I used to get back to Pittsburgh from my western trips will be a major inconvenience for me. I DO wish I could travel coach over-nite, but I simply can not and will not. Now, the only sensible option for me seems to fly back to Pittsburgh from Midway. However, I am not fond of flying and would MUCH rather go by train. But now this is impossible.
Let me "clarify"---not impossible because I could take the Capitol back to Pittsburgh. However, I simply do not care to arrive in Pittsburgh at the un-godly time of 4:00 AM. Can you blame me ?
FIRST, however, even to connect to the Capitol from the west requires an overnite in Chicago. I COULD take the Capitol the whole way through to DC, then return same day to Pittsburgh. The two disadvantages are the extra expense of first-class for those two "legs", PLUS the fact that the Capitol does not arrive in Pittsburgh from DC until the "wee" hours of the morning. If I could come back to Pittsburgh from PHILLY, this would be much better, because the Three Rivers arrives at 10 PM which would be great.
As I also mentioned, I do not want to consider either the LSL or Cardinal due to the fact that trips on those would literally take me hundreds of miles out of my way---plus the fact that the Cardivnal does not run daily.
One can never presume ANYTHING with Amtrak. For YEARS I was able to take advantage of a late train back to Pittsburgh , with sleeper. That time evidently is over. But, needless to say it will effect my travels immensely.
From one who quite simply "doesn't know what an overnight Coach is" discontinuing the Three Rivers Sleeper, and apparently the train as well, simply makes no "passenger convenience'sense (I recuse on the matter of economic sense).
The train is Amtrak's 'backup' for late Western connections. All railroads had same; the PRR had the Pennsylvania Limited and the NYC the Chicagoan. If a major Western connesction was, God forbid, late and would not connect with the Century or Broadway, cars would removed from their consists and placed aboard these trains.
I'll bet Amtrak is going to be paying a hotel bill or two or buying a Greyhound ticket that could have been avoided if the Three Rivers were to continue.
Lastly the Pittsburgh based OBS crews assigned to the TR are 'the best Amtrak has got'.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
I am REALLY curious, just how many times (in the year 2004) connections from western trains to the east-bound Capitol were possible, same day. I presume, very , very few. But I would like an actual number. Literally hundreds and hundreds of passengers had to either be "bus-tituted" or hoteled. Again, this simply does not make economic sense.
What befuddles me is that the solution is simple---return the departure time for the east-bound Capitol to what it was before , around 7:30 PM. This would make at least SOME connections possible from the west.
I presume the decision to have the Capitol depart earlier from Chicago was to make connections to south-bound trains from DC more convenient. BUT, now that there will be no late departure east-bound through Pittsburgh, I wonder IF the Capitol's departure time will be changed to later in the evening , as it was originally. But this makes SENSE , so most likely it will not occur.
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Not to be argumentative, but according to Yahoo! Maps it is 11.0 miles from Union Station to MDW, driving distance. Current taxi fare is $1.90 flag drop plus $1.60/mile.
So, assuming no delays, or errant driving, $19.50 would be the fare. So the city's estimate of $20-25 is spot on.
Posts: 363 | From: Southwest North Central Florida | Registered: Apr 2002
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