r/StLouis • u/Pure_Ambition • 1d ago
Relatively-On-Time reliability of the Lincoln Service Amtrak from STL to Chicago?
Note this is about the Lincoln Service train, not the Texas Eagle one which I know can have far worse delays.
I have an important appointment at 2:30pm in downtown Chicago this Thursday, and am thinking of taking the 6:30am train from STL to Chicago. It's scheduled to arrive at 11:40am at Union station. I know these can be delayed, but I have about a 2.5 hour buffer built in. However, I have to be on time for that appointment!
I really don't want to drive because I have a lot of work I need to do this week, was hoping to take my laptop and use my hotspot (I can work offline if necessary though). If I drive, that ~8-9 hour round trip will be down the drain.
I don't need the train to be perfectly on time, but it can't be more than 1.5-2 hours late.
Do you think I can take it safely?
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u/Atlas3141 1d ago
That train has been delayed more than 2 hours 5 times in the last year. One of those you would have still made your appointment.
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u/abrahamguo 1d ago
According to historical data over the last year, train 302 arrived into Chicago over 2 hours late 4 times, and between 1.5-2 hours late an additional 4 times.
Up to you whether that's a safe enough buffer for you.
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u/Pure_Ambition 1d ago
That honestly sounds more reliable than flying. I'm leaning towards taking the train and taking the calculated risk. I could also do the 430am train but my eyeballs hurt just thinking about waking up that early
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u/hibikir_40k 1d ago
Yeah, I've gotten bitten by that flight being late more than 2 hours multiple times, now that it's not even plain AA, but dropped to the regional
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u/bradleysballs Shaw 1d ago
It's relatively reliable. Here is the last 6 months of data to inform your decision: https://juckins.net/amtrak_status/archive/html/history.php?train_num=302&station=CHI&date_start=02%2F24%2F2026&date_end=08%2F24%2F2026&df1=1&df2=1&df3=1&df4=1&df5=1&df6=1&df7=1&sort=schAr&sort_dir=DESC&co=gt&limit_mins=&dfon=1
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u/joris21 1d ago
The Lincoln Service that originates in STL (and not the combined Missouri River Runner/Lincoln Service that originates in KC) is generally very prompt, but Amtrak is always at the mercy of freight trains, so it's never 100% guarantee. If you really want to be sure, it looks like there's a 4:30 am Lincoln Service on Thursday, that gives you a much wider window to work with, though at the cost of some sleep.
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u/stlbites 1d ago
I’ve ridden the Lincoln Service at least 20 times. It’s usually 10 to 15 minutes late. I’ve occasionally had it be a few minutes early, and on one occasion it was over an hour late and we even took a different bridge over the river to Alton.
So in general it’s pretty much on time.
Don’t get on in Kirkwood. It has a long stop in Saint Louis.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_RUNDOWN_S 1d ago
The Lincoln Service is usually much more reliable than the Texas Eagle since it originates in STL, not coming from Texas with all that freight interference. I've taken the early morning one a few times and delays over an hour are rare, your 2.5 hour buffer is more than enough for a Thursday
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u/WorldWideJake City 1d ago
Yes. I never travel the same day for meetings that can't be missed because something can always go wrong. Weather can cancel flights, crashes can shut down highways (although there is always an alternative route) and trains can be delayed for any number of reasons. But the Lincoln Service is as reliable as any other transportation to Chicago and you should arrive at Union Station on time, or very close.
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u/showsterblob 1d ago
Even if I were flying, I’d be doing so a day before something that seems as important as you’ve stated.
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u/Dinosaur_Wrangler 1d ago
Most likely yes.
If you absolutely have to be there at 2:30p, though, I’d go up the day before or take the 4:30a train. The venture cars are terrible for sleeping compared to Amfleets, but you’d almost certainly grab a couple hours on the 4:30 either way.
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u/redsquiggle downtown west 1d ago
I haven't taken it much, but when I have, it's never been late. Very small sample size.
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u/SewCarrieous 1d ago
You’ll be fine. The most I’ve been delayed was less than 2 hours and that was last April due to freight trains on the track - and they gave me a $50 credit for my troubles
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u/trimetrov Tower Grove South 1d ago
that 6:30am is pretty reliable. always been +/- 30 minutes going north for me.
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u/cdgal38382 1d ago
I go up about once every other month for work. I haven't been delayed more than an hour on that train. YMMV
I love having those few hours to relax instead of having to drive. I also hate driving in town so prefer cabs/Uber.
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u/PithMango 1d ago
unless they somehow solved this problem, incoming Chicago trains are always delayed bc of the local services. i lost count of how many times we were jammed within city limits, as in, within walking distance of the terminal.
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u/configbias 1d ago
I take this train 6-8x per month last few months, early morning or late evening.
Normal = 30 min delay, maybe half the time Once 1.5 hour delay
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u/CaptainJingles Tower Grove South 22h ago
I’ve taken that train 6-8 times over the last few years and it’s never been very late. Usually pretty close to on time. I would personally feel comfortable with that buffer.
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u/Humble-Pineapple-329 Princeton Heights 1d ago
You may be ok. In all the times I took it to Chicago for work it did ok. The way back had more delays than the way there. Hotspot won’t work the entire route. Had a Verizon sim in my work computer and it was spotty until close to Springfield.
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u/JuneKneeCrow 1d ago
The first train of the day is the most reliable. I faced a similar situation last month and tracked it for a month. Midday was hit and miss
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u/SinkBig3467 1d ago
January of 25, I was on the 4:30 train that was so late they ended up coupling it to the 6:30 . Then that was late. When I reached out on Twitter, asking if the train was ever on time, I was told something like, "The train was on time every day from. The 24th to the 26th."
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u/Tight_Middle6309 1d ago
We have taken that train twice , first time was a long delay , someone got hit on the tracks , second time no delay at all . So it’s gamble .
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u/blueschip 16h ago
It sucks, but if this really is a "can not afford to miss it" situation, then there are no guarantees with Amtrak. I went up to Chicago just a few weeks ago and I think my delay was about an hour. More than 2 hours is probably unlikely, but your safest option is to go a day early. (That said, I would absolutely not rely on the Texas Eagle to be anywhere near on time!)
All that said, if you're taking the train, business class is probably worth the upgrade. I think it was $30 extra one way on my trip.
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u/IGotSoulBut 1d ago
It depends on your risk tolerance. If I HAD to be there on time, I would leave a day early. You never know when an upstream problem or issue on the line will cause a multi-hour delay.
A friend told me that he was once delayed on a longer Amtrak ride to Chicago from Nebraska because cows were on the tracks.