My train got cancelled but I found a shortcut that saved the whole day

I was stuck at Union Station in Chicago last Tuesday when my 5:15 train got cancelled last minute. Instead of just waiting around, I decided to walk two blocks to the bus depot and caught an express coach that dropped me off right near my friend's place. Turns out the bus was actually faster than the train would have been, and I got there early enough to help set up for dinner. Has anyone else found a backup route that worked out better than your original plan?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

brookethomas1mo ago

I read somewhere that something like 80% of commuters never even bother learning alternate routes, which is CRAZY to me. Your bus trick is exactly the kind of thing I started doing after my own train debacle last winter. I had a similar situation where the express bus from the corner of 5th and Main got me to my dentist appointment way faster than the subway that was "supposed" to be the better option. It's like people get so locked into one way of doing things they forget there's a whole other world of public transit options right there.

3

gavinh261mo ago

People really do get stuck in a rut with their commute. I live in the suburbs and the express coach from the mall parking lot gets me downtown faster than the regional rail ever did. Found it by accident when my car was in the shop for a week.

1