Pacific Surfliner question

[Casinocim]

In January, I will be taking the SWC from Denver via Raton to L.A., I need to get to Anaheim. At first I was thinking of just taking a shuttle to the Anaheim hotel. But I remembered taking the Pacific Surfliner from Anaheim to Union Station last year.

So is it worth it to take the Surfliner from L.A to Anaheim? From the station in Anaheim I would have to get a taxi to the hotel. Prices are $11 for Surfliner, about $15 for cab ride with tip, if I remember correctly. Shuttle is $55.

Another question, hopefully someone knows the answer. Are there taxi's available at the Anaheim station? Or would I have to call for one?

Also, how do I plan what time to take the Surfliner? SWC gets in at 8:15am, can I use the same ticket on all surfliners or just for the time it says on the ticket?

Thanks everyone.

Always love planning my train travel!

 

[Guest]

DO NOT take the SWC to LA if you're going to Anaheim. Get off in Fullerton. If the SWC is early (as it usually is), you'll save 2 hours and be in ANA around 9a.m.

 

[Bob Dylan]

As the above poster said, get off in FUL, it's only a 10 minute ride on the surfliner, costs $8.50 for Unreserved coach ($biz class is $10 more, not worth it for a 10-15 minute ride!)so you should be able to take any of the morning trains that start @ 6:30AM and run every hour! Saves you time and hassle, youll be in ANA where a cab is easy, dont know what time your hotel will let you check in but you will have had breakfast very early on the SWC!

(5:00AMish depending on the time keeping, as was mentioned this train is often early into SoCal! )

 

[the_traveler]

Depending on what hotel you're staying at, it may in fact be cheaper to get a cab from FUL to there. And in fact some Anaheim hotels have shuttles to FUL - but not to Anaheim!

 

[LA Resident]

Good advice from all the posters.

1. Get off in Fullerton.

2. If you are on time, there will be southbound Pacific Surfliner within minutes. If not, in less than an hour. But have your Surfliner ticket already purchased if you need to get up the elevator and over to the Surfliner's southbound track in a hurry. A Surfliner coach ticket is valid on any Surfliner train. Only the Business Class ticket is train-specific.

3. Do check with your hotel to see if its shuttle will pick you up at the Fullerton station. Depending on where the hotel is, the Fullerton station may be closer for the hotel than Anaheim. If not, ask the hotel if it will pick you up at the Anaheim station. There is a Disneyland Shuttle from that station to Disneyland, and perhaps your hotel will shuttle you from Disneyland.

4. There are always taxis at the Anaheim Station--which is located inside the Anaheim Stadium parking lot--meeting trains.

Bon voyage!

 

[Casinocim]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Getting off in Fullerton sounds great but I'm not sure I want to be at our Disney hotel any earlier. It's one of the hotels across the street from Disneyland.

If I get there really early I will be stuck in the tiny lobby until I guess Disneyland opens or they give me a room. Cannot afford an extra night so the room would be ready. Now I am wondering, maybe I should get in a day later. Family would have arrived the night before. Oh but then I would be wishing I would have come in earlier. Such problems :wacko: Something to think about!

All of my questions were anwsered plus extra! Thanks.

I was beginning to get kind of gloomy because I didn't have any Amtrak plans or cruise plans. I'm back in action!

 

[sportbiker]

Another option if you take a train to Anaheim: Metrolink is probably 1/2 the price of Amtrak, because Surfliner fares bump up every summer.

Another option from the Anaheim station: Anaheim runs its own loop shuttle (called ART) that probably goes to your hotel's door for much less than a taxi.