Explaining how the station got so bad requires some background on the original design.
The station, is in fact, not a station (like Penn Station, New York or 30th St. Station, Philadelphia,) but two stub end terminals back-to-back.
When built, the tracks terminated at the Concourse building. The Concourse had an open floor plan. Passengers could quickly identify and move to their gate, and queue up for their train.
The Concourse was connected to the Headhouse building that contained the Main Waiting Room. The services that passengers needed - ticket counters, customer service, a restaurant and large restrooms - surrounded the Main Waiting Room.
View floor plans and photos here: www.gapw.com/Uscp1.html
Three decisions have reduced capacity and made Union Station dysfunctional.
First, the lack of through tracks reduces capacity and makes it difficult to schedule the through trains the region needs.
Second, the Concourse was demolished in 1969. 222 S. Riverside was constructed in its place, with a new concourse in the basement. The new concourse was constructed with low-quality materials and had poorly designed traffic flows.
Third, Amtrak moved all passenger related functions into the Concourse in 1991 so that the Headhouse could be sold off to a developer. The new design used high-quality building materials and improved passenger flows, but it was like squeezing 10 pounds of potatoes into a 5-pound bag.
These decisions make it difficult to expand and modernize Union Station, but it is critical that the City of Chicago take on the challenge.
Next: The Proposed Redevelopment
Back: Current Conditions
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