Pacific Surfliner questions

[Steve4031]

I'll be arriving LAX at 10:15 am on a flight from Chicago on Thur. August 18.

My tentative plan is to take the fly over bus into LAUPT, and then check into the Marriott downtown hotel, and return to the station to catch the 2pm for San Diego and then return back at 5:55 p.m. My primary goal is to make a scenic points run. Also, I want to avoid the set of horizon equipment that is lurking around on the Pacific Surfliner line.

Does anybody know which schedules are protected by the horizon set?

Is BC worth the extra 15 dollars?

How crowded is coach between Los Angeles and San Diego and back on those trains on a weekday?

Thanks.

 

[Steve4031]

I just read in another post that 768 runs with a dome. What nb train runs with the dome? Thx.

 

[user 1215]

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/41057-business-class-pacific-surfliner/

 

[Trogdor]

The dome is not assigned to the Pacific Surfliner. It *occasionally* winds up in a Surfliner consist.

 

[LA Resident]

I'll be arriving LAX at 10:15 am on a flight from Chicago on Thur. August 18.

My tentative plan is to take the fly over bus into LAUPT, and then check into the Marriott downtown hotel, and return to the station to catch the 2pm for San Diego and then return back at 5:55 p.m. My primary goal is to make a scenic points run. Also, I want to avoid the set of horizon equipment that is lurking around on the Pacific Surfliner line.

Does anybody know which schedules are protected by the horizon set?

Is BC worth the extra 15 dollars?

How crowded is coach between Los Angeles and San Diego and back on those trains on a weekday?

Thanks.

You should be safe from the Horizon/Amfleet set by taking the 2p.m. and 5:55 p.m. consists.

BC is NOT worth the extra money because there is usually a Superliner coach as part of these Surfliner consists. Even the regular Surfliner seats are almost the same comfort level as BC, and for the pedestrian snack pack and drink you get in BC, you can spend $15 in the cafe car and get better choices tailored to your own tastes.

The trains are crowded in the summer, but as you are leaving from the endpoint stations, you will have no problem getting window seats on the ocean side (the left side going up to LA from San Diego, the right side going down to San Diego from LA). Going south to SD, the trains fill up during stops in Orange County. Going north, the trains fill up after Solana Beach and Oceanside.

The LAX-Union Station bus is called the FlyAway and its stop on the island in front of each of the passenger terminals at LAX is clearly marked. It stops on the same island as hotel and other shuttles.

 

[Steve4031]

Thanks. There is usually a superliner coach On all surfliner trains? If so I will skip Bc and opt for flexibility.

 

[hmy1]

The Horizon/Amfleet trainset usually runs on 798/799 but is sometimes subbed in on other runs. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised a few days ago when it ran on 784. Not.

I have not seen the dome car on the Surfliner yet this summer. Last week I saw it sitting in the Amtrak yard south of LAUS. It's not there anymore, so I don't know where it went.

Yes, there is usually, but not always, a Superliner car in a standard Surfliner trainset.

 

[guest]

There are 2 Amfleet sets running for the duration of the Del Mar race season. If you take the 2pm departure, it won't be too crowded, but the return at 5:55 will be INSANE from Solana Beach on, standing room only with hundreds of drunks staggering over from the race track...

 

[Bob Dylan]

There are 2 Amfleet sets running for the duration of the Del Mar race season. If you take the 2pm departure, it won't be too crowded, but the return at 5:55 will be INSANE from Solana Beach on, standing room only with hundreds of drunks staggering over from the race track...

Didnt know AU was having a mini Gathering @ Del Mar!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Steve4031]

When is the race season? August? They run races on Thursday's? If so I probably should opt for Bc if I do 5:55. Thx.

 

[bobnabq]

Could some one kindly inform me what is meant by "The Horizon/Amfleet trainset" and its pro/con?

As I've mentioned elsewhere, I'm going to SAN from ABQ via LAX on 12/21 and returning on 12/29.

I'm booked <?> on the #768 @ 9:40 am on the 21st to SAN

and the #579 @ 1:25 pm to LAX.

 

[Steve4031]

Horizon cars are single level coaches with small windows. We have these in the midwest. I do not want to ride them when I'm on the surfliner if I can ride the more interesting california cars. The windows on california cars and superliner cars IMHO are bigger and better. IMHO, california cars are better than horizon cars. Amfleet cars are also single level cars with smaller windows. They are based on the old metro liner design and have fluted sides. We also have these in Chicago. So that is why I do not want to ride them.

 

[bobnabq]

Horizon cars are single level coaches with small windows. We have these in the midwest. I do not want to ride them when I'm on the surfliner if I can ride the more interesting california cars. The windows on california cars and superliner cars IMHO are bigger and better. IMHO, california cars are better than horizon cars. Amfleet cars are also single level cars with smaller windows. They are based on the old metro liner design and have fluted sides. We also have these in Chicago. So that is why I do not want to ride them.

Thank you for your response.

 

[njulian]

Don't know if this is posted elsewhere and apologize if it is, but just an FYI that AMTRAK is howing a service alert of part of this route:

Pacific Surfliner Train 796 Will Not Serve Old Town and San Diego

Effective Sundays through Thursdays, July 31 - November 10, 2011*

Due to track work being performed by San Diego Northern Railway, Train 796 will terminate at Solana Beach and will not serve Old Town and San Diego, as described below:

On Sunday through Thursday nights from July 31 through November 10, passengers traveling to Old Town and San Diego will detrain at Oceanside at 11:55 pm (just before midnight), where motorcoach service will be provided to their destination. *Train 796, which originates in Goleta on September 4, will stop at Old Town and San Diego early Monday morning (just after midnight) on September 5.

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak. We appreciate your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience you may experience. Please visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) for reservations and information.

PSN 711-114

 

[Steve4031]

Fortunately, this would not affect me. But I do appreciate the consideration.

Right now I am considering taking a cab directly to the downtown Marriott from LAX (airport), checking in and then hustling over to LAUPT to catch the 12:25 p.m. to San Diego. This would give me an earlier start, and an earlier return. I would use unreserved tickets for maximum flexibility. I am assuming that there is enough turn over of seats in LAUPT to assure that I would get a window seat out of LAUPT to San Diego if I move quickly. Then I could catch the 4 p.m and be back in LAUPt by 6:45 p.m. This gives me an earlier return to the hotel, and a good night's sleep.

The next morning, I have a few hours to kill before the 3 p.m departure of 2. I think I'll catch the newer part of the gold line, and have lunch at Go burger at vine and sunset. Then return back to LAUPT to catch the sunset Limited. LOL

 

[trainman74]

I am assuming that there is enough turn over of seats in LAUPT to assure that I would get a window seat out of LAUPT to San Diego if I move quickly.

That is a very good assumption.

When picking a seat, don't forget that the Surfliners exit LAUS to the north (as do all trains, actually) and will therefore make a 180-degree turn to head south.

 

[AlanB]

Please note that if Amtrak does for some reason decide to add the dome car to a Surfliner run, it can only run with the single level, Amfleet/Horizon train sets. The dome never runs with the more normal bi-level Surliner cars.

Not saying that the dome would be running when you're there Steve, but if it is, then you must be on a single level trainset.

 

[sportbiker]

The Marriott is not as easily accessible to the subway that runs to Union Station. If you stay at the Sheraton instead (or the Biltmore), you'll have much easier access and won't have to rely on a cab to get you to/from LAUS.

 

[Steve4031]

It about a half a mile walk to the subway and 1 stop to laupt. How is that hard? I am a marrriott rewards member so marriotrs are my first choice. Plus I stayed here before and was treated well. Plus I like there breakfast buffet.

 

[sportbiker]

It about a half a mile walk to the subway and 1 stop to laupt. How is that hard? I am a marrriott rewards member so marriotrs are my first choice. Plus I stayed here before and was treated well. Plus I like there breakfast buffet.

I didn't say it was hard, I said it wasn't as easy. The Sheraton is across the street from Metro Center. The Biltmore is one block from Pershing Square. Both make it easier to get to the subway. You have other reasons for choosing Marriott, so do what you will.

 

[gatelouse]

The Superliner coach on the Surfliner I rode a while back had the seats reconfigured with less legroom. Legrests may have been removed as well. Still, it's as comfortable as BC to me.

 

[sportbiker]

It's a bit of a crap shoot on the Superliners. It's seems like every one has a different interior configuration: leg rests or not, tighter pitch or not, all seats facing center or not, carpeted overheads or not, etc. And it's not like it's either LD-spec or CA-spec, I've seen strange combinations of features. Oh well, if nothing else, the lighting is still Superliner-spec, which I prefer to the subway-like lighting of the Surfliner cars.

 

[hmy1]

I'm not sure where your Marriott is (I assume this is not the new one at LA Live), but you may want to look into the LA Downtown Dash shuttle. Fare is 50 cents and it runs very frequently on weekdays. A half mile walk is quite far for many Californians, but maybe not for you.

 

[leemell]

It about a half a mile walk to the subway and 1 stop to laupt. How is that hard? I am a marrriott rewards member so marriotrs are my first choice. Plus I stayed here before and was treated well. Plus I like there breakfast buffet.

I didn't say it was hard, I said it wasn't as easy. The Sheraton is across the street from Metro Center. The Biltmore is one block from Pershing Square. Both make it easier to get to the subway. You have other reasons for choosing Marriott, so do what you will.

Actually, the Biltmore is right across the street from Pershing Square.

 

[Steve4031]

I'm not sure where your Marriott is (I assume this is not the new one at LA Live), but you may want to look into the LA Downtown Dash shuttle. Fare is 50 cents and it runs very frequently on weekdays. A half mile walk is quite far for many Californians, but maybe not for you.

Thanks for the DASH info. I did not know about this. I am staying at the downtown Marriott not the one at live center. I used google maps and google transit which suggested the walk to the civic center station. The busses don't go to union station without a transfer.

On other trips I just used a taxi for this hotel. I saw hills and possibbly a tunnel in the area beat civic center. Never really determined where the metro stop was. Biting think this is doable. I'll let you all know.