SLOWLY, THEY CATCH ON.

What's it been, a decade since we first noted the non-connection timings of Amtrak's regional trains at Chicago?

With Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation rebuilding the Wolverine line, they're thinking about providing passengers someplace to go other than Chicago.

Train 352 will operate 45 minutes later to allow new connections from Trains 300 (Lincoln Service) and 334 (Hiawatha Service).

Train 353 will operate 45 minutes earlier to allow new connections to Train 393 (Illini).

Train 355 will also begin operating 15 minutes later.

That 355 is the last train from Pontiac, getting to Chicago, if all is well, before the last Metra departures for the suburbs leave. The first Milwaukee train of the morning still reaches Chicago after the first departures for Pontiac, St. Louis, and Quincy.

Let's hope the airline crowd currently running Amtrak understand the logic of hub-and-spoke connections works the same on rails as it does in airports.

In other not-discouraging news, the airline crowd are providing a hot food option on the Lake Shore and Capitol Limited.

Beginning this week, slow-braised beef short rib in a red wine and beer sauce will be added to the lunch and dinner menu of pre-prepared items, which also include a vegan wrap, chicken Caesar salad, and antipasto plate.  Dropped is the chilled grilled beef tenderloin salad.

Breakfast service remains a single meal, featuring fruit, a muffin, a Greek yogurt parfait, and breakfast bars.

I'll have a report on some of these trains later this summer.