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I used the LAX-Union Station Flyaway and Surfliner (785) to get home yesterday after my Peace Corps Reunion in Oaxaca, Mexico.
As reported (perhaps by me), the fare has gone up to $7.00 each way with no Senior Discount available. I only had to wait about 20 minutes for the bus to arrive and we made it to Union Station in 30 minutes after a surface street detour because of heavy traffic on the Freeway. There were about 20 people on the bus with about half being airport/airline employees. I don't know if they still get the discount. Even at this price it's a good service.
My Surfliner trip was pretty ordinary. The Business Class car was one that has the newer upholstery but it is starting to show wear and tear already. We were a few minutes late into SBA. Just short of Chatsworth we stopped for a "check of the train" but all must have been OK since we were able to continue on.
The Conductor (a woman) was great. When she saw that the passengers who boarded at LAUPT didn't have "Snack Packs" she found them and hand delivered them and told us to go to the Cafe Car for our beverages.
I bought a Chicken Caesar salad in the Cafe Car and it was pretty good. I paid $7.00 but noticed this morning that the receipt says $6.00. Could the attendant have tipped himself?
(BTW--I had a nice lunch with friends at Pappadeaux's in Terminal E at IAH. Excellent shrimp Po'Boy.)
Only two things bothered me on the train:
1) Is there some regulation that requires the lights to be full on at night? I would have relished a little sleep after a 4:00AM wakeup call in Oaxaca.
2) Why can't they fix the automatic system that announces "Doors closing". It kept repeating the message at each stop even after we were moving.
Frank in sunny but cool and windy SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Good report, I remember those automatic systems were messing up when I used that train a few years ago
Posts: 465 | From: elgin (s-line) | Registered: Dec 2008
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The 'Doors closing' announcements sounds as annoying as the endlessly repeating automated track number announcements in Chicago.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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Frank--were you on a full-sized Flyaway bus (Greyhound/Amtrak Thruway style), or a mini-bus? I'm told that the mini-buses have free WiFi on-board, but I was wondering if the full-sized buses have them?
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax: 1) Is there some regulation that requires the lights to be full on at night? I would have relished a little sleep after a 4:00AM wakeup call in Oaxaca.
You're right about those OH lights in the Surfliners...they're murder on me too. Never fail to give me a throbbing, pounding headache on those late night runs I usually make back to SAN. I try to find the Superliner car and ride there, if one's in the consist. These cars have recessed lights, designed for transcon travel. There was one Surf conductor a while back (who has since retired) that would actually take the time to cut down the lights in the Surf cars (with the blue upholstery) and give the night-time riders a break. There are switches that allow doing this, but almost no crew will use them. As far as regulations- AFAIK, it's a conductor call, if they want adjust the lights, they can. Thanks for your report, Frank--
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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