L.A. Union Station

[TrainLoverJoy]

My trip from Chicago on the Chief is only a few weeks away now. I've never been to that Union Station and am trying to find a map of the concourse online (there are several of Chicago's Union Station) but I can't find one. Anyone have one, or know of one? I like to "get the feel" of the station I'm going to before I get there. I got an idea of what it looks like from youtube walkthru videos.....and that helps some.

I will be transferring to the Surfliner.....am also wondering if both tracks/boarding areas are close together.

 

[the_traveler]

LA Union Station is probably the easiest big city station on Amtrak to negotiate. If you've seen many movies or TV shows showing an old big city train station, chances are it was LAX!

Amtrak trains use tracks 9 and up (I believe). When exiting the train, follow the crowd down the stairs or ramp. Once in the tunnel, follow the majority of the crowd. They are headed to the train station. (The other end of the tunnel is the bus terminal.)

At the end of the tunnel is the train station.

One more thing about the Surfliners is that coach is unreserved. If there is leaving soon, and you want to take it and not wait 2-3 hours for the next one, you can. There is no need to change your ticket either!

 

[Sacobob]

I suggest you enter "Metrolink Los Angeles Union Station" in your search engine. When I did so, the first item on the top of the list was "Welcome to Metrolink" but it was really a map and guide to Union Station. (Metrolink is the local regional rail system and shares the station with Amtrak.)

 

[ScottC4746]

My trip from Chicago on the Chief is only a few weeks away now. I've never been to that Union Station and am trying to find a map of the concourse online (there are several of Chicago's Union Station) but I can't find one. Anyone have one, or know of one? I like to "get the feel" of the station I'm going to before I get there. I got an idea of what it looks like from youtube walkthru videos.....and that helps some.
I will be transferring to the Surfliner.....am also wondering if both tracks/boarding areas are close together.

Others may disagree with me but here is my two nickleplates worth: LAX (Los Angeles Union Station) is very user friendly. Depending on your time you have, Olivera street is across the street and is quite fun to walk through. Some good Mexican restaurants there as well. The tunnel that people refer to is how you get to the trains. Near the entrance to the tunnel is a digital display showing the track numbers. You did not say if you are coach or sleeper on SWC. If you are coach you need to check in at this wooden rolling desk that I understand you get dinner reservations at. My experiance with Amtrak is they do not display the track numbers until the last minute for the train. There is ample seating which is fun to sit there and think of how many Hollywood celberties have been through that station in its hayday. On either side of the waiting area are outdoor plazas. Now that is the beautiful side of LAX...now the ugly side. The homeless run the station. They have been trying to crack down on it but sometimes the bathrooms get used as a shower room and they are lounging in the waiting area. Chicago on the other hand have it under control. No sleeping, both feet must be on the ground. Please as much as help is needed, do not contribute to their pan handling request. It only encourages the situation. Usually this ugly side rears its ugly head in the mornings or evenings. They have added some restaurants, nothing fancy except for Traxx.

 

[SP&S]

Here's a link to a pdf of a brochure about LAUS, it's pretty good http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Stations/LA_Union_Station_Brochure.pdf. LAUS is truly a grand old station that still works. And Scott's absolutely right, don't encourage the panhandlers.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

now the ugly side. The homeless run the station. They have been trying to crack down on it but sometimes the bathrooms get used as a shower room and they are lounging in the waiting area. Chicago on the other hand have it under control. No sleeping, both feet must be on the ground. Please as much as help is needed, do not contribute to their pan handling request. It only encourages the situation. Usually this ugly side rears its ugly head in the mornings or evenings. They have added some restaurants, nothing fancy except for Traxx.

I was there recently for a connection with both the CS/SL and the SL/TE. Each time, there was a security cart going around and rounding up the homeless and telling them "time to go" it seemed to work for a few but not everyone would move and they are always asking for $$, I of course say no. LAX is not my favorite station for waiting for trains, I felt uncomfortable sitting and waiting not only because of the homeless, but just the location of the waiting area. At CHI on the other hand, the waiting area is off to the side and only people who are actual Amtrak passengers are in the area even if you are coach. It helps keep the commuters separate, at least in my opinion I felt much safer at CHI than at LAX.

 

[the_traveler]

So how do you feel about South Station, North Station or Back Bay in Boston? Those are all basically MBTA commuter stations, with some Amtrak trains thrown in for good measure!

 

[June the Coach Rider]

Never have to go there, I only head out from WOR. But I have traveled the MBTA and avoid it as much as possible because of that. The crime in Boston is not something I would ever deal with alone. I take the MBTA as far as Fenway and try my hardest to not have to do that if I can help it.

 

[guest in the west]

LA Union Station is probably the easiest big city station on Amtrak to negotiate. If you've seen many movies or TV shows showing an old big city train station, chances are it was LAX!
Amtrak trains use tracks 9 and up (I believe). When exiting the train, follow the crowd down the stairs or ramp. Once in the tunnel, follow the majority of the crowd. They are headed to the train station. (The other end of the tunnel is the bus terminal.)

At the end of the tunnel is the train station.

One more thing about the Surfliners is that coach is unreserved. If there is leaving soon, and you want to take it and not wait 2-3 hours for the next one, you can. There is no need to change your ticket either!

Depending on how you booked your Amtrak trip, BE CAREFUL about having a Surfliner boarding time on an e-ticket, even if unreserved, and then deciding to take a later Surfliner without calling Amtrak or going to a ticket agent first!

If you simply have an e-ticket for an unreserved seat on a Surfliner say, at 7:30 p.m, but decide instead to take an earlier one, you do not need to call or go to an agent. The bar code area will still read out as valid to the conductor as he/she scans your paper.

BUT if you have an e-ticket for an unreserved seat at 7:30 and go for a later train, such as the 10:10, your ticket will not show as valid to the conductor. According to an agent I talked to yesterday, you must call Amtrak or go to an agent and get a new bar code if you op to take a train later than the one booked when you got the ticket.

Yes, it seems silly that this is now required for unreserved trains, but apparently that is the way the system is now set up. When you book online or at an agent for any unreserved train, you have to pick a specific departure time, even if you aren't sure. And the e-ticket turns to stone if you take a LATER train. (Actually, it goes back in the computer as a voucher sum.)

Now, if you have both a reserved and unreserved e-ticket on the same bar code e.g. SWC to LA, connecting to the Surfliner, you need to call Amtrak or go to the agent if you decide to take either an earlier or later Surfliner. This applies only to reservations with both reserved and unreserved segments.

 

[rusty spike]

now the ugly side. The homeless run the station. They have been trying to crack down on it but sometimes the bathrooms get used as a shower room and they are lounging in the waiting area. Chicago on the other hand have it under control. No sleeping, both feet must be on the ground. Please as much as help is needed, do not contribute to their pan handling request. It only encourages the situation. Usually this ugly side rears its ugly head in the mornings or evenings. .

I haven't been to LAUS since last summer, but Security officers were patrolling the waiting room and asking selected "passengers" to produce a valid ticket. (I'm sure they weren't 'profiling". :giggle: )

This was before etickets!

Anyway, I did not see any active panhandling at that time.

 

[shelzp]

Yes you'll be boarding the Surfliner on a track that won't be more than one or two away from where you get off the SWC. You'll probably have a couple of hours before you catch the Surfliner and that gives you time to get your bearings. When you get into the station they have electronic boards that list the departure tracks. But they never put the information up early for the Surfliners because there are so many going every day and they claim they don't know which track they'll be using until a couple of minutes before the train arrives. The board will notify you to line up at a certain spot and they'll walk you back down to the tracks. When you look at the PDF file a previous poster mentioned take notice of where the restroom symbols are (right in the middle of the pdf) because you will probably be lining up across from there. They usually have two lines going at that time of the morning. One is for long distance (Coast Starlight) and the other is for the Surfliners. There is almost always an Amtrak employee standing there and they will tell you which line to get in if you ask them. They don't offer assistance but are helpful if you ask for it.

It isn't a huge station although there are several things going on between Amtrak, local trains and a local subway not to mention amtrak buses. I live near LA and every time I get off the SWC I wonder why I didn't get off in Fullerton and catch my Surfliner from there instead. Then I remember that it's an interesting and historic looking station and that I like to go there.

 

[TrainLoverJoy]

My trip from Chicago on the Chief is only a few weeks away now. I've never been to that Union Station and am trying to find a map of the concourse online (there are several of Chicago's Union Station) but I can't find one. Anyone have one, or know of one? I like to "get the feel" of the station I'm going to before I get there. I got an idea of what it looks like from youtube walkthru videos.....and that helps some.
I will be transferring to the Surfliner.....am also wondering if both tracks/boarding areas are close together.

Thanks everyone......some useful information! I have a reserved business class ticket to San Diego, will there be a separate place to line up to board the train? There is only an hour and 20 minutes between trains, so not much time to explore. However, I noticed the #3 is frequently early......hoping that is so. One more thing, what happens with breakfast when arrival time is so early? Since I will still feel like I'm on Eastern time, it will be easy to wake up at like 4am......which will come in handy if breakfast is served very early the last day.

 

[amtkstn]

• Last year I made the connection between the Chief and the Surfliner at Fullerton CA, the stop before LA Union Station. The Chief goes right by there with a layover about an hour between the trains. Since you have a few weeks it you would have time to change your reservation to just FUL(station code for Fullerton).

 

[gswager]

It is usually true that SWC arrives early at LAUS, but later than Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle scheduled arrival time. Breakfast usually starts after Barstow. Breakfast closes somewhere at Riverside station.

If you decide to deboard at Fullerton instead of LAUS, no changes on ticket is needed.

 

[ScottC4746]

My trip from Chicago on the Chief is only a few weeks away now. I've never been to that Union Station and am trying to find a map of the concourse online (there are several of Chicago's Union Station) but I can't find one. Anyone have one, or know of one? I like to "get the feel" of the station I'm going to before I get there. I got an idea of what it looks like from youtube walkthru videos.....and that helps some.
I will be transferring to the Surfliner.....am also wondering if both tracks/boarding areas are close together.

Thanks everyone......some useful information! I have a reserved business class ticket to San Diego, will there be a separate place to line up to board the train? There is only an hour and 20 minutes between trains, so not much time to explore. However, I noticed the #3 is frequently early......hoping that is so. One more thing, what happens with breakfast when arrival time is so early? Since I will still feel like I'm on Eastern time, it will be easy to wake up at like 4am......which will come in handy if breakfast is served very early the last day.

I did not read the original post correctly sorry. Since you are taking PS to SAN do ensure you set on the right hand side of the train so you can get some spectacular ocean views. Quite often you will see people playing on the beach waving as it goes by.

 

[Bob Dylan]

You can also use a RedCap to Board your Train! The Seating Area by the Baggage Check Room (Close to the Subway and Starbucks in the main Waiting Room) is where the RedCaps bring their Carts and Pick up Passengers and take you to the Platforms thru the Tunnel to Catch your Train! (you can also use them when you De-Board to get to the waiting Room). Well worth a Tip and you get to Beat the Lines and the Rush for the Trains that happens @ all Big City Stations!

 

[shelzp]

You'll have time for breakfast on the train and you can even ask your room attendant to bring it to you at a certain time if you don't want to go to the dining car that morning.

Red Caps are a good resource because they'll drive you up the ramp from the SWC and drop you off for the wait and they'll show you where to be for when they come back to take you to your next train.

 

[leemell]

My trip from Chicago on the Chief is only a few weeks away now. I've never been to that Union Station and am trying to find a map of the concourse online (there are several of Chicago's Union Station) but I can't find one. Anyone have one, or know of one? I like to "get the feel" of the station I'm going to before I get there. I got an idea of what it looks like from youtube walkthru videos.....and that helps some.
I will be transferring to the Surfliner.....am also wondering if both tracks/boarding areas are close together.

{snip} The homeless run the station. They have been trying to crack down on it but sometimes the bathrooms get used as a shower room and they are lounging in the waiting area. Chicago on the other hand have it under control. No sleeping, both feet must be on the ground. Please as much as help is needed, do not contribute to their pan handling request. It only encourages the situation. Usually this ugly side rears its ugly head in the mornings or evenings. They have added some restaurants, nothing fancy except for Traxx.

There hasn't been any homeless problem when we have been in the station. Got there early on the SWC more than once and returned on the CS a couple of times between 8:00 PM and 12:00 AM. Gone to LAUS just to visit and eat at Phillipe's or Traxx. YMMV.

 

[ScottC4746]

It has been a couple of years since I have taken the train from LAX so perhaps they have cracked down on it thank goodness. Not a good image for the traveling public to arrive into LAX and deal with that. FUL is my favorite station due to the free parking.

 

[calwatch]

Now, if you have both a reserved and unreserved e-ticket on the same bar code e.g. SWC to LA, connecting to the Surfliner, you need to call Amtrak or go to the agent if you decide to take either an earlier or later Surfliner. This applies only to reservations with both reserved and unreserved segments.

That is not the case. You can transfer to any Surfliner, certainly any one prior to the one you are scheduled to board, at LAUS. I've done this at times with reward tickets.

 

[lthanlon]

I traveled through Los Angeles Union Station several times last year and always noticed a problem with panhandlers. It's sad to see these parasites constantly having their way with easy marks; only occasionally have I seen police tell these folks to beat it.

Tearful young people, nicely dressed seniors, guys claiming to be "active military" all will pester you for oddly precise amounts of money just so they can get home. They're slick, their stories are polished and if one bogus line fails to work, they'll quickly and subtly switch to another. Many of these folks are so skilled at passing themselves off as Amtrak passengers that only after 10 minutes of banter will they ask for money, liquor or offer to sell you a gold necklace.

Spinning a sad, sad tale on the pretense of being allowed to borrow your cellphone to call home is one of their frequent tactics. I've even seen several of these con artists pass the cellphone back to the mark so that "Mom" can thank the traveler for allowing her child to use the phone -- and make a polite, embarrassed request that the mark loan the scammer some money to get home.

My conclusion: Anybody who approaches you with a tale of being in desperate circumstances here is a con artist. If you're convinced they're really in peril, offer to call the cops. Better yet: Ignore them.

 

[calwatch]

I know they do the ticket checks at night because they have checked when I wait inside for the 2 am bus to Bakersfield. You also see people who have missed the last Metro hang out at Platform 2 and not in the rest of the station, because Metro Rail tickets don't qualify for seating. However, you are allowed to sleep there if you are taking any morning train out of LAUS, which includes the Starlight or the morning Surfliners. Just because you arrived seven hours early doesn't mean you're kicked on the street.

 

[TrainLoverJoy]

Here's a link to a pdf of a brochure about LAUS, it's pretty good http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Stations/LA_Union_Station_Brochure.pdf. LAUS is truly a grand old station that still works. And Scott's absolutely right, don't encourage the panhandlers.

Thank you.....this was what I was looking for. One question....does the Chief pull in or back in? Also, other than exploring, is there any need to go to the lower level tunnel when transferring to the Surfliner?

 

[MrFSS]

Here's a link to a pdf of a brochure about LAUS, it's pretty good http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Stations/LA_Union_Station_Brochure.pdf. LAUS is truly a grand old station that still works. And Scott's absolutely right, don't encourage the panhandlers.

Thank you.....this was what I was looking for. One question....does the Chief pull in or back in? Also, other than exploring, is there any need to go to the lower level tunnel when transferring to the Surfliner?

The SWC pulls in engine first when it arrives, but backs in before departing so it can leave engine first upon departure.

You can transfer from one track to another without going down a ramp, but going down is the easiest way. To transfer on the platform level you have to walk all the way to the terminal end of the tracks before you can get to another track. There are no places to move from platform to platform in the middle areas. And, I have seen construction down at the end making it difficult or impossible to transfer at track level from one platform to another.

Go down a ramp and back up the one you need for the next train is the best way.

 

[NW cannonball]

I traveled through Los Angeles Union Station several times last year and always noticed a problem with panhandlers. It's sad to see these parasites constantly having their way with easy marks; only occasionally have I seen police tell these folks to beat it.
Tearful young people, nicely dressed seniors, guys claiming to be "active military" all will pester you for oddly precise amounts of money just so they can get home. They're slick, their stories are polished and if one bogus line fails to work, they'll quickly and subtly switch to another. Many of these folks are so skilled at passing themselves off as Amtrak passengers that only after 10 minutes of banter will they ask for money, liquor or offer to sell you a gold necklace.

Spinning a sad, sad tale on the pretense of being allowed to borrow your cellphone to call home is one of their frequent tactics. I've even seen several of these con artists pass the cellphone back to the mark so that "Mom" can thank the traveler for allowing her child to use the phone -- and make a polite, embarrassed request that the mark loan the scammer some money to get home.

My conclusion: Anybody who approaches you with a tale of being in desperate circumstances here is a con artist. If you're convinced they're really in peril, offer to call the cops. Better yet: Ignore them.

Just like in the India stations in Delhi - Bangalore - Chennai.

Not a big problem -- been dealing with the tale-tellers since 1961 in Minneapolis - same old story -- "Sister died in Blackduck" -- blah-blah --

Like the guidebooks say for everywhere -- any non-repressive but non-supportive place you travel -- you will hear these various lies.

Like the guidebook for Delhi says - ignore -