More making it up as you go by Amtraks crack Chicago Union Station Dragons!
Amtrak Metropolitan Lounges
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printman2000
Engineer
Just spent about 4 hours in the New York Met lounge. Was really nice. Free food choices even fed us lunch so we did not have to leave. Now on LSL.
printman2000
Engineer
Arrived in to Chicago on 49 about 45 minutes early. Met Lounged closed until 10:30 for no explained reason. Chicago. 
susanlindsey
Train Attendant
When I arrived at Chicago Metro Lounge mid day there was already a list of five people waiting for the showers so be sure to inquire when you get there whether there's a waiting list.
I pretty much sign up for a shower when I check in. That is usually when traveling westbound coming in on the Lake Shore or the Cap in the morning. I've never been wait listed, but have been asked to wait to be registered for the shower until they've finished checking in the group of passengers that arrived on the same train I did, which I considered a perfectly reasonable request. The fact that I travel in the off season may also have something to do with my not having to get waitlisted for a shower.
LAX Met lounge-is it far from the Pacific Surfliner arrival track from San Diego? I then will get a connecting departure for the PDX going to Portland. I will only have about 40 min from arrival from Surfliner from San Diego to the Coast Starlight & I want to go to the lounge too if it is doable. There is no way to call LAX station directly for track numbers and locations - so I am hoping someone might know here. I will be there Tues April 25.
The Lounge at LAUS is quite far from the tracks Amtrak uses, which are generally the higher numbered tracks. To get to the Lounge from the platforms, you have to go down the ramp to the pedestrian tunnel under the tracks, walk to the "historic station"/Alameda end of it, turn left on entering the station, walk past the ticket counter, make another left at the end of it, then take the elevator or stairs up to the Lounge. It is quite a long walk. For boarding, if you use a Red Cap, they'll take you out the back door and use a cart to drive around the ends of the platforms to yours, which is somewhat shorter, but if you don't use a Red Cap, you have to go back through the pedestrian tunnel.
As I think about it, it is about the farthest Metropolitan Lounge from the platforms there is, at least as far as Chicago's and maybe farther. If your Surfliner arrives 40 minutes before the Starlight leaves, they'll be calling it about the time you get to the Lounge.
If I were you, I wouldn't even go into the station, that tunnel is pretty long. Maybe just go down into the tunnel and look on the overhead boards for 14.
trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
From my experience, if the starlight is on time, they usually send people out to the tracks around 9:15. This is over 30 mins before departure. So unless the surfliner gets in early, you won’t have that much time in the lounge.
As mentioned before, it's not close. I want to say the Surfliners typically arrive on Track 9/10 or 11/12, and the LD trains will be around there too - maybe even 13/14 for the LD departures. (Gold Line Metro is 1/2, and I think Metrolink uses 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8.) After leaving the Surfliner (which can take a minute) it's about a four or five minute walk to the lounge if you're in good walking shape and not terribly encumbered; it's on the second floor of the station, so it's either stairs or wait for the elevator. IIRC the Red Caps will start taking people to the train about thirty minutes prior to departure because it takes them a few minutes to load the golf carts, drive over, and unload the carts.
The LAUS lounge isn't worth heading into on a 40-minute connection. If the CS is departing late and the Surfliner is on time or a little early, it might be worth a few minutes for restocking. There is an expensive convenience store at that end of the station, plus a Starbucks and a few other fast-food restaurants, if you so choose.
Metrolink/Amtrak train tracker (LA Union Station)
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trimetbusfan
OBS Chief
FYI, last time I was there the lounge attendant said the starlight almost always boards from track 10. This has been the case the few times I have boarded 14 there over the past few yrs.
I suggest that you consider spending the Night in LA ( the Metro Plaza across from Union Station is reasonable and Adequate.)
If your Surfliner is delayed for any reason you'll miss the Starlight to PDX, so giving yourself extra time will allow you to enjoy the Beautiful Union Station, relax in the Small but Nice Metro Lounge, and perhaps have Breakfast @ the Famous Philippe right up the Street past the Metro Plaza!
Having a Redcap take you on a Cart to the Platform is an excellent idea, just let the Lounge Attendant know you want one when you check in to the Lounge.
If your Surfliner is delayed for any reason you'll miss the Starlight to PDX, so giving yourself extra time will allow you to enjoy the Beautiful Union Station, relax in the Small but Nice Metro Lounge, and perhaps have Breakfast @ the Famous Philippe right up the Street past the Metro Plaza!
Having a Redcap take you on a Cart to the Platform is an excellent idea, just let the Lounge Attendant know you want one when you check in to the Lounge.
I've never boarded the CS from LAX, but it seems as if Amtrak really prefers Track 9 or 10 unless it's a 500-numbered Surfliner - then it's usually 11 or 12. I want to say I arrived into LAX on the SL using Track 13 or 14, which makes sense as it's out of the way and will just go to the yard right after. Either way, it's not a quick "off the train and into the lounge" similar to Budapest Keleti, Prague, or Amsterdam.
joelkfla
Engineer
I didn't know Amtrak went to those stations.
I realized that a 40 minute connection was unlikely to be guaranteed and checked it. 765 to 14 is actually a 54 minute connection and it is guaranteed. I think @01piglet_patinas was using 765's 9:13 departure time from LA rather than the 8:57 arrival to compute his layover in LA. That does give some time to get to the Lounge (which is nice enough but not in any way special and is also pretty crowded just prior to the Starlight's departure).
Building in a layover is not a terrible idea, since they are unlikely to hold the Starlight for a delayed 765 and will reaccommodate on the San Joaquins and the Bakersfield bus if missed, so the coastal running would be missed.
Building in a layover is not a terrible idea, since they are unlikely to hold the Starlight for a delayed 765 and will reaccommodate on the San Joaquins and the Bakersfield bus if missed, so the coastal running would be missed.
You could add Portland Union Station to that list.
I so appreciate this feedback-I will bypass the LAX lounge
They go to this oneI didn't know Amtrak went to those stations.
https://www.google.com/search?q=ams...ZRmkxT0piVXBIS2dQSkd1WVNhOTBoQzdLRmxPMU1TWVpy
Boston South Station's lounge is fairly convenient to the tracks. In general SS is a fairly compact station as mainline terminal stations go.
Hi. I was using the historical info for the last few days in Train Status leaving from San Diego and actually arriving (LAX) at least 10 minutes late-so I just guesstimated a 40 minute window to be safe. Today it arrived 14 minutes late. I did not know it was a guaranteed connection?
Is your trip on one reservation number, SAN-LAX and LAX-PDX? If it is, it's guaranteed. If you made separate reservations for the two legs, it's not.
Yeah, it is, but it is across the waiting room from the platforms. Portland's is right next to the tracks. Philly's is also great for track access the lounge has its own elevators directly to the platforms, although they have to operated by an Amtrak employee.
I'd rank the lounges I've been in for track access as follows:
1. PDX
2. PHL
3. WAS
4. BOS
5. CHI
6. NYP
7. LAX
I put CHI before NYP because the platforms are functionally on the same level even though the distance may be a bit farther. Also, at CHI you get a boarding call from the lounge before the thundering herds are released (the last couple times I've been through they didn't do the old kindergarten walk from the lounge). At NYP you've got to go down to the concourse and join the general gate line up. That's not a knock on Moynihan's lounge, it is far and away the best, the rest are not in the same league, and I love sitting on the balcony over concourse.
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
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I guess, like everything else at Amtrak - it depends
The last two times I boarded Acela First Class or Sleeper from the Moynihan Met Club, we were escorted to the train platform before any gate was announced and before there was any train (in case of the Acela).Yep, it's Amtrak, so it's YMMV. I rode the Lake Shore in November 2022 and 2021 and both times the train was simply announced in the lounge. The announcement may have been slightly before the general one, but when I got downstairs the line had already formed enough that it was curling around by the east wall. I didn't dally either, grabbing my stuff and heading out as soon as the announcement was made.I guess, like everything else at Amtrak - it depends
IIRC, they also just called the Acelas while I was waiting, didn't ask passengers to meet an escort at the entrance. I got to the lounge about 11:30 after leaving my hotel, so there were quite a few departures while I was hanging out.
Just must have been that day's crew there.
jis
Permanent Way Inspector
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My latest travels were all this year. They might have more available staff now, is a possible explanation.
