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A few years ago the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago Union Station was temporarily relocated during remodeling. I seem to recall recently reading more changes are afoot for this first class waiting area in CHI. Is this true or am I imagining it? If so, what is the status? I need to drect some friends who will travel through in June as well as prepare for my journey later on. As for NOL, I read either here or on Trainorders where someone said it was closed for some renovation work though this sounded very short-term. Anyone have knowledge?
palmland Member # 4344
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Can't help you with Chicago, but the lounge in New Orleans was open for business when we were there in January. We didn't use it though because of the early departure time of the Crescent.
I know there has been some discussion on it, but can't recall - is the new Intermodal station in Miami going to also be an Amtrak stop? Is completion anytime soon? I have a friend who is going down on the Star this summer and was trying to figure out how to use public transportation to/from Miami Beach and the Amtrak station.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Hmmm, I never heard anything about the Metro Lounge in Chicago. As far as I know, it's still in the same location.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Metro Lounge......renovated a couple of years ago.... in Chicago was in the location most of us expect to find it when I was in Chicago 6-weeks ago.
I do not know if any decision has been made yet whether Amtrak will relocate to the new intermodal station under construction at the Miami airport. If they do, the trains would still likely return to the present station area for servicing and turning on the loop in place at the existing Amtrak station.
dilly Member # 1427
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quote:Originally posted by SilverStar092: As for NOL, I read either here or on Trainorders where someone said it was closed for some renovation work though this sounded very short-term.
Hopefully, the Magnolia Lounge will get a bit more than a quick 'n' cheap renovation.
The current space -- a cross between the faux wood-paneled "rumpus room" in my Uncle Eddie's basement (circa 1964) and the employee break room at the Department of Motor Vehicles -- is so comically dreary and claustrophobic that most first class passengers opt to sit outside in the station concourse.
By comparison, the Amtrak lounges in Chicago and New York are sparkling paragons of five-star luxury.
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RRRICH Member # 1418
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If I recall from this forum, immediately following Katrina, wasn't the Magnolia Room being used by the New Orleans police for something? What am I thinking of?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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That sounds very familiar, Rich. I think you're right (or very close to it).
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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OK, I'm back in the barn.
During Kat's aftermath, NOPD made use of a little more of NOUPT than simply the Magnolia Room. The entire structure became the city jail, with "pens' set up on the platforms.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Yes, that is what I now recall, Gil! Thanks--
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by dilly: [QUOTE]: [qb]
By comparison, the Amtrak lounges in Chicago and New York are sparkling paragons of five-star luxury.
I've never before thought I would hear 'Amtrak' and 'sparkling paragon of five-star luxury' within the same sentence.
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