Uptown Normal Bracing for Holiday Travel Boom
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: November 19, 2012
NORMAL-Thanksgiving will soon be arriving full steam ahead, leaving people on a busy mission to reunite with their families in time for turkey.
"My buddies went home the other day and said roads are crazy packed," said traveler Elliot Batten. "So it makes me glad I can take the train."
Other travelers have the same idea.
Amtrak says reservations this week are more than double the average rate.
Bus traffic at Normal's Uptown station is busy too.
"Starting a trip or ending a trip they love the facility," said Normal Mayor Chris Koos.
Leaders in Normal say the new facility is a big draw.
Smack dab in the middle of Chicago and St. Louis, more people are ditching their cars for public transportation.
"I use the train all time," said Batten. "Every time I go home."
To ease wait time in lines, Amtrak is now offering e-ticketing.
Instead of printing a stub people can pay their way online, then get their Smartphone or iPad scanned as a virtual ticket.
"It's a lot easier. A lot easier than having to wait in line," said traveler Kali Arduini. "They've got kiosks now too, which makes it even easier to grab a ticket and go."
As Amtrak jumps on the technology bandwagon, it hopes the extra efficiency encourages more people to come aboard.
"At the end of the day it's worth it, worth going through the chaos. Worth going through the hectic to and from and all the people to spend time with the people that matter," said Arduini.
Which makes the trip a little merrier when family is found at the destination point.
Last year more than 700,000 passengers rode Amtrak trains during Thanksgiving week.
Its spokesman says sales this year are projected to beat that total.
"My buddies went home the other day and said roads are crazy packed," said traveler Elliot Batten. "So it makes me glad I can take the train."
Other travelers have the same idea.
Amtrak says reservations this week are more than double the average rate.
Bus traffic at Normal's Uptown station is busy too.
"Starting a trip or ending a trip they love the facility," said Normal Mayor Chris Koos.
Leaders in Normal say the new facility is a big draw.
Smack dab in the middle of Chicago and St. Louis, more people are ditching their cars for public transportation.
"I use the train all time," said Batten. "Every time I go home."
To ease wait time in lines, Amtrak is now offering e-ticketing.
Instead of printing a stub people can pay their way online, then get their Smartphone or iPad scanned as a virtual ticket.
"It's a lot easier. A lot easier than having to wait in line," said traveler Kali Arduini. "They've got kiosks now too, which makes it even easier to grab a ticket and go."
As Amtrak jumps on the technology bandwagon, it hopes the extra efficiency encourages more people to come aboard.
"At the end of the day it's worth it, worth going through the chaos. Worth going through the hectic to and from and all the people to spend time with the people that matter," said Arduini.
Which makes the trip a little merrier when family is found at the destination point.
Last year more than 700,000 passengers rode Amtrak trains during Thanksgiving week.
Its spokesman says sales this year are projected to beat that total.
