United Cab runs taxi service to and from South Bend Amtrak station, Elkhart Amtrak station and the South Shore Line at South Bend International Airport. The fare is $20 for one passenger, or $12 each once two or more travel together. Both Amtrak trains through Michiana call in the middle of the night, so we answer the phone at every hour. Call 574-233-9599 or book online.
Station fares
| Trip | One passenger | Two or more |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend Amtrak station | $20 | $12 each |
| South Shore Line at SBN airport | $20 | $12 each |
| Station to Notre Dame and nearby hotels | $20 | $12 each |
| Station to Mishawaka | $30 | +$10 each |
| Station to Elkhart | $75 | +$10 each |
| Children under 12 with a paying adult | Free | Free |
No surge at any hour. A 2am pickup costs the same as a 2pm one. Full card on the taxi rates page.
The timing problem, and why it matters
Michiana's two long-distance Amtrak services both pass through overnight. That is the single most useful thing to know when planning a trip, and it is the reason a booked taxi is not optional.
| Station | Eastbound call | Suggested pickup |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend (SOB) | around 11:59pm | about 11:15pm |
| Elkhart (EKH) | around 12:27am | about 11:45pm |
No bus runs at that hour. TRANSPO's daytime routes are long finished by the time the train arrives.
Rideshare availability collapses overnight in Michiana. This is a smaller driver pool than a big metro, and midnight to 5am is when it thins out most.
A confirmed booking is a commitment. We dispatch a named driver to your address at the agreed time. An app request is an auction that may not clear.
Trains run late. Long-distance services more often than not. Call when you know and we move the pickup, rather than you standing on a platform at 1am.
South Bend Amtrak station
South Bend's Amtrak station is at 2702 West Washington Street, on the west side of the city. It handles around 18,700 passengers a year and is step-free.
Two trains call there. The Lake Shore Limited runs between Chicago and New York or Boston. The Floridian runs between Chicago and Miami. Both are long-distance services, which is why the times are what they are.
It is a 10 to 15 minute drive from most of central South Bend and from the Notre Dame campus. The flat fare is $20 for one passenger or $12 each for two or more, which is the same rate as the airport run.
Elkhart Amtrak station
Elkhart's station at 131 Tyler Avenue is busier than South Bend's, handling over 20,500 passengers a year, and has free parking. The same two trains call there, roughly half an hour further east.
If you are travelling from the Elkhart side, our Elkhart taxi service covers the whole county at any hour.
The South Shore Line is a different station
It runs from the airport, not the Amtrak station. The South Shore Line terminates at South Bend International Airport. People book a cab to the Amtrak station by mistake and end up several miles from their train.
It goes to downtown Chicago, not O'Hare. The line ends at Millennium Station in the Loop. If you are catching a flight you would transfer to the Blue Line with your luggage, which is why most people flying take the direct shuttle instead.
Watch the time zones. South Bend runs on Eastern time. Every other South Shore stop runs on Central. An hour disappears westbound and reappears coming back, and it catches people out constantly.
It is genuinely cheaper than a car to Chicago. If the Loop is your destination and the schedule fits, take it. We would rather tell you that than sell you a $350 run you did not need.
Who books station transfers
Overnight departures
The commonest booking on this page. An 11:15pm pickup for a midnight train, with a driver who is definitely coming.
Arrivals with luggage
Stepping off a 20-hour train at 5am with cases is not the moment to open an app. Book the return leg when you book the outbound.
Notre Dame students and families
Train home at break, or parents arriving for a game weekend. Notre Dame students pay $5 per person on local rides; station transfers are the flat rate above.
South Shore commuters
Regular riders into Chicago who would rather not leave a car at the airport all week. Monthly accounts available.
Booking a station transfer
Book the night before for an overnight departure. Not the same evening. A midnight train means a late-evening pickup, and those need to be on the board in advance.
Give the station by name. "The train station" is ambiguous in South Bend, because the Amtrak station and the South Shore terminal are several miles apart.
Tell us the train time, not the pickup time. We work the pickup backwards from it, the same way we do for flights.
Call if the train is delayed. We would rather move the booking than have a driver waiting at an empty platform, and you would rather not pay wait time.
Pay in the cab. Cash or card, terminals in every vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi to South Bend Amtrak station?
$20 for one passenger, or $12 each when two or more travel together. Same rate as the airport run.
Where is the South Bend Amtrak station?
2702 West Washington Street, on the west side of South Bend. It is a 10 to 15 minute drive from downtown or the Notre Dame campus.
Is the South Shore Line at the same station as Amtrak?
No. The South Shore Line runs from South Bend International Airport. The Amtrak station is a separate site several miles away. Tell us which one you need when you book.
Can I get a taxi at 1am for the train?
Yes. United Cab dispatches 24 hours a day, every day. Both Amtrak trains through Michiana call overnight, so late-night station runs are routine work for us.
What trains stop at South Bend?
The Lake Shore Limited, between Chicago and New York or Boston, and the Floridian, between Chicago and Miami. Check amtrak.com for current times.
What if my train is late?
Call us when you know and we will move the pickup. Long-distance trains run behind regularly and we plan for it.
Do you serve Elkhart Amtrak station?
Yes, at 131 Tyler Avenue, at any hour. See our Elkhart taxi page.
Is the station accessible, and can you take a wheelchair?
Both South Bend and Elkhart stations are step-free. Accessible vehicles are available on request — mention it when you book.
About United Cab
United Cab has driven Michiana since May 2006. Licensed by the State of Indiana, commercially insured, background checks on every driver, and dispatch answered at every hour of every day. Station and airport transfers are the bulk of what we do.
United Cab South Bend, LLC2107 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN 46613
Phone: 574-233-9599
Open 24 hours, every day
Catching a train? Call 574-233-9599 with your train time and we will work the pickup back from it. Available at every hour, including the ones the trains actually run.