There are different platform levels at Washington Union Station?

[Dakota 400]

Reading a post about the Vermonter in the Guest Forum, I read some mentioning of different platform levels for Amtrak trains, an upper and a lower level. Is this correct?

I will be a passenger boarding and de-training at WAS, North and South Bound this Winter, on Silver Meteor. How does one know which level the train is on? Guidance and information would be appreciated by this new bit of information. I have little familiarity with WAS Union Station. I have used it most recently using Metro, but it has been many years since I took an Amtrak train from there.

 

[greatcats]

The Florida trains will arrive and depart on the lower level tracks toward the east side of the station, as they traverse the tunnel to go to and from the south. If I am correct, those are all low level platforms. You should have no problems being directed to the proper track.

 

[Ryan]

It’s easy, you just go to the correct track number. When you go to the higher numbered tracks, you will go down a set of stairs to get to the train.

The lowered numbered tracks you go out right at the track level.

It’s really quite simple, nothing to worry about.

 

[pennyk]

If you are in a sleeper, you will want to wait in the Club Acela. Those passengers are escorted to the escalator/elevator leading to the lower platform.

 

[Seaboard92]

Lower deck which I call the long distance deck as it sees all but The westbound Capitol Limited is exclusively low level.

The upper deck has a mixture of high level and lower level.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

All MARC and Acela Express trains stop on the Upper Level, as well as most terminating/originating Northeast Regionals. All Virginia Railway Express, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Palmetto, Carolinian, Crescent, Cardinal, and Northeast Regional Virginia trains use the lower level. The Capitol Limited can vary: I have used it 4 times, 1 westbound and 3 eastbound. The westbound trip and one of the eastbound trips used the upper level, while the rest used the lower level. I am not sure where the Vermonter stops. All trains that stop on the lower level use low-level platforms, while those on the upper-level use high-level platforms except for the Capitol Limited. The two levels are not physically on top of each other, but the upper-level tracks are accessed directly through the West end of the concourse as they are terminating while the lower-level tracks are accessed via stairs from the eastern end of the concourse, as they pass under the station building en route to Virginia. All trains on either level are accessed via the same concourse, so if you are concerned about finding your train don't worry about the levels and just find the gate for your train.

 

[cpotisch]

The upper level is staggered to the west of the lower level. The upper-level is primarily high level platforms, whereas the lower level is exclusively low platforms. This is why Acela is always on the upper level. The track numbers are different on the upper and lower levels, so once you see the track number listed, there's no chance of going to the wrong one. So there's nothing to worry about.

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

The upper level is staggered to the east of the lower level. The upper-level is primarily high level platforms, whereas the lower level is exclusively low platforms. This is why Acela is always on the upper level. The track numbers are different on the upper and lower levels, so once you see the track number listed, there's no chance of going to the wrong one. So there's nothing to worry about.

The upper level is to the west of the lower level, not the east.

 

[LookingGlassTie]

Hmmm I didn't realize that WAS had platforms on different levels. I took a Northeast Regional from Virginia last year and when I got off, I had to go up the escalator to the main concourse. Conversely, I had to go down to the platform to catch my train back to VA. I just assumed that all the platforms and tracks were on the same level, regardless of whether the trains passed through or originated/terminated at WAS.

Good to know!

 

[Dakota 400]

If you are in a sleeper, you will want to wait in the Club Acela. Those passengers are escorted to the escalator/elevator leading to the lower platform.

That's my plan. Let the Red Cap getting me to where I need to be.

But, upon return on #98 so early in the morning, what if a Red Cap is not available? Is there an escalator up to the main floor of Union Station rather than just a staircase?

 

[City of Miami]

Is there an escalator up to the main floor of Union Station rather than just a staircase?

Yes. If you are on a northbound train (like 98) the escalator will be on the platform at the very back of the train - near the last car.

 

[Ryan]

There are elevators back there as well if needed.

All MARC and Acela Express trains stop on the Upper Level,

Untrue, a handful of MARC trains work from downstairs.

 

[the_traveler]

All trains to Virginia and south (they use the tunnel under DC) use the lower level tracks. Most other trains headed north use the upper level tracks. Those on the lower level only has low level platforms. The upper level tracks have both high and low level platforms.

 

[Seaboard92]

Right now one of the two escalators on 25/26 is out of order as of End of April. Which for inbound 98 shouldn't be an issue as the remaining one should be going up. But depending on if 19 or 97 and 50 hit the platform at the same time on that track. It can be a bit of a wait for the elevator.

 

[cpotisch]

There are elevators back there as well if needed.

All MARC and Acela Express trains stop on the Upper Level,

Untrue, a handful of MARC trains work from downstairs.

Thanks. I would have sworn I had taken MARC a few times from the downstairs tracks, but thought it was just my glitchy memory.

 

[TC_NYC]

Speaking of the lower level, is there any plan to add high level platforms? I always hate it when I pull in on a train running through to Virginia and you have to descend the stairs.

 

[cpotisch]

Speaking of the lower level, is there any plan to add high level platforms? I always hate it when I pull in on a train running through to Virginia and you have to descend the stairs.

No. Remember that all VRE trains and Amtrak's own Capitol Limited can't use high level platforms. It's not a large enough a problem that it's worth it to spend vast amounts amounts of time and money just to solve. Not to mention that those tracks would have to be closed during construction.

 

[jis]

Speaking of the lower level, is there any plan to add high level platforms? I always hate it when I pull in on a train running through to Virginia and you have to descend the stairs.

No. Remember that all VRE trains and Amtrak's own Capitol Limited can't use high level platforms. It's not a large enough a problem that it's worth it to spend vast amounts amounts of time and money just to solve. Not to mention that those tracks would have to be closed during construction.

Can you provide a citation to anything that actually says that there will be no high level platforms at the lower level of Union Station? I ask because I can dig up a couple of citations with a little effort that say that there will be high level platforms at the lower level. There will be a mix of low and high level platforms just like there is at the upper level.

 

[Johanna]

If you are in a sleeper, you will want to wait in the Club Acela. Those passengers are escorted to the escalator/elevator leading to the lower platform.

That's my plan. Let the Red Cap getting me to where I need to be.

But, upon return on #98 so early in the morning, what if a Red Cap is not available? Is there an escalator up to the main floor of Union Station rather than just a staircase?

Red Cap service is available from Club Acela for those who need/want it, but even those who are happy to carry themselves and their luggage under their own power will be escorted (or at least directed) to the train by a member of staff. You can choose between an elevator and an escalator for getting between the station and the platform.

When you're arriving at Union Station, it's easy to find your way from the platform to the station. Just follow everyone else.

 

[Seaboard92]

By my best memory note it could be slightly off. The only places I truly know are work related places to me which are 9, 10, 30, crew office, Ivy shuttle, and the commissary.

LL=Low Level

HL=High Level

8 LL

9 HL

10 HL and LL

11 HL and LL

12 HL

13 HL

14 HL

15 LL

16 LL and HL

17 HL

18 HL

Lower Deck

20 LL Diesel Locomotive Ready Track

21 LL

24 LL

25 LL

26 LL

Platform under repair

27 LL

28 LL

Access by Crossing over 28,29

29 LL Electric Ready Track

30 LL PV and Company Service Storage Track

 

[Dakota 400]

Question about the definition of a low level vs. high level platform:

High Level means one steps directly from the platform into train car's vestibule?

Low Level means a step-type stool (or whatever it is called) is required to go from the platform into the train's vestibule?

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

Question about the definition of a low level vs. high level platform:

High Level means one steps directly from the platform into train car's vestibule?

Low Level means a step-type stool (or whatever it is called) is required to go from the platform into the train's vestibule?

With single level cars such as Viewliners and Amfleets, a high level platform is level with the train doors while a low level platform requires the steps within the train to be lowered as well as the stool. On bi-level cars such as Superliners and the gallery cars used by Virginia Railway Express, high level platforms are too high and cannot be used whereas low level platforms are slightly below the door of the train and may or may not use the stool.

 

[cpotisch]

Question about the definition of a low level vs. high level platform:

High Level means one steps directly from the platform into train car's vestibule?

Low Level means a step-type stool (or whatever it is called) is required to go from the platform into the train's vestibule?

High-level platforms are at the same height as the vestibules of high-entry cars, which includes all Amtrak cars except for the Superliners. Low level platforms are at ground level, and are therefore required for low-entry train cars, such as Superliners and the VRE bi-levels. In other words, the doors on Superliners and other similar bi-levels are pretty much at ground-level, and therefore can not be served by high platforms. Amfleets, Viewliners, and the Horizon fleet, are ideal for high-level platforms, but since they have trapdoors (a floor in the entryway that converts into stairs), those cars can be served by both high and low level platforms. Hope that makes sense.

 

[Seaboard92]

Low level platforms require a crew member to pop the trap door open which thusly unfolds the stairs. Whereas a high level platform you step directly out onto the platform. And an all Amfleet I equipped train the conductor can open and close all doors from a central location. Thusly all doors open.

Superliners are required to be low level because of the door placement on the lower car being lower than a single level car. The VRE Gallery cars have their steps enclosed in the body of the car thus all doors open at stops as they are not manually operated.

Some commuter cars on MARC, NJT especially have both low level traps, and high level depending on the platform.

 

[cpotisch]

With Superliners, in order to cram two full levels into the cars, they had to make the make the lower level floor incredibly low down, and therefore had to do the same with the entryways. Single-level cars have enough space that they can have the floors above the trucks, so high platforms are ideal. Many bi-levels do have high entryways, but since that pretty much requires having a sort of intermediate middle floor, Amtrak couldn't do that with the Superliners.