posted
The LA Times reports that there are plans to reinvent LAUS and transform it into an urban destination. The plan involves adding more retail offerings, more restaurants and hosting concerts.
quote:On busy mornings, thousands of travelers pass through Los Angeles Union Station, rushing toward the Metro subway and pushing suitcases across polished tile floors.
But the energy doesn't last. By early afternoon on a recent weekday, just a few dozen people lingered in the station's iconic waiting area, resting on buttery leather chairs and gazing at the ceiling's painted beams. Others watched as the sunshine played across the roped-off ticketing hall.
"It's so peaceful, like an old library," said Jen Arthur, 38, as she waited to board a train to San Diego. Her toddler daughters drummed their heels against the chair and giggled. Still, she said, "we wish there were a little more to do."
LAUS is a beautiful building but there isn't much vibrancy in the neighborhood surrounding it. Olvera Street is interesting but it shuts down in the evenings. And as we've discussed many times on this forum, hotel rooms are in short supply within walking distance of LAUS and local eating options are limited. I don't think a few concerts and a couple more chain restaurants are going to bring big crowds to LAUS outside of commute hours.
LAUS is, however, fairly close to several local or tourist attractions: the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and several other museums are all within walking distance of LAUS. The problems are that those attractions require crossing the 101 freeway and the trip to the Concert Hall does require a bit of an uphill hike through a corridor that is lifeless at night.
There is plenty of room at LAUS for more activities. I hope the project succeeds.
Posts: 831 | From: Seattle | Registered: Jan 2011
| IP: Logged |
Union Station's a very special place and I'm all in for the changes proposed. The article to me gives the impression that its architectural integrity will be preserved.
Portland (Oregon)'s airport offers five live music choices in different areas. What a nice environment that provides.
Sadly in the comments some see problems as problems and not as opportunities.
posted
For those not familiar with the station, here is a rough overview: - Subway (of the bread sandwich variety) - Pretzels, can't remember which brand - Traxx (restaurant, not cheap) - Bar (not cheap but then it is downtown almost) - Newsstand, akin to a 7-11 with drinks, some hot food, mostly snacks - Glassed-in Amtrak ticket counter - Glassed-in Amtrak information desk - Metrolink ticket machines - Checked baggage - Information desk
Not overwhelming. But the waiting area does have some nice seats, albeit overlooked by security personnel, with plentiful "no waiting beyond X hours" signs. Not too welcoming but there have been problems with non-travelers.
Less than 5 minutes walk away is Olvera Street. Almost unbearable on a Saturday but you can get some decent Mexican food and some tacky souvenirs.
A little further - just a few minutes - is Philippe's where they make non-French French dipped sandwiches. Basically chunks of meat in bread rolls dipped in the meat fats. I did go there recently but with only half an hour between trains and long lines I backed out. Immediately opposite is a Chinese restaurant where I did succeed in a take-out within 10 minutes - and it was pretty good.
Back to the station: the original ticketing area is roped off most of the time. On occasion, like Train Days, the area is used for booths etc. But is otherwise a big area unused. On the opposite side of the (open) passenger area there is a former restaurant. I'm not sure how many decades it's been closed but, apart from the odd photo/movie shoot, is also a big area mostly unused. Both areas wasted.
Despite the hubbub of the station itself, you can find remarkably quiet areas right outside in its courtyards. The vast majority of passengers probably don't even know they exist.
Metrolink boarding: the tracks are announced long before the trains actually board. The result is blocked passages and frustrated passengers knowing that this is their train yet cannot board. Recently I experienced a delay on departure due to the "engineer having to wait for PTC downloads" (Metrolink are one of the first train companies in the US to have PTC across their entire territories, and before every trip commences the engineer has to download track data for the planned route which takes time. If (s)he does not start that process in good time then departure is delayed). When an inbound arrives it is announced as the outbound but the train crew will ensure the train is empty and *wait* for some unknown time before allowing anybody to board. Bizarre, time consuming, contrary to Western countries, and incredibly inefficient ("I'm the boss of this train"?). Amtrak is not efficient either but long distance travel is different, I accept.
All-in-all, I've grown to like the station and its surrounds. It's busy, yet under served by good food, but probably wouldn't gain much traction by being a mall/foodcourt with train tracks attached. Fill the unused space - and make it obvious - but don't go overboard and have failing businesses trying to make diamonds out of coal dust. That serves nobody in the long run.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Then there's the AMTRAK 1st Class Passenger Lounge upstairs, which I think is an excellent waiting area for sleeping car passengers, complete with a view of the trains on their platforms in the trainshed. The Lounge is a bit hard to find, however, for "First Timers."
And Philippe's -- I ALWAYS try and plan a trip there for a meal when I am between trains in L.A.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Ah yes, the 1st class lounge. So well hidden I've never noticed any signs for it (though there may well be - it's not like I need to use the signs these days).
I want to try Philippe's but just didn't have enough time between trains. The line may have moved more quickly after I left (actually multiple lines, each crossing the width of the waiting area) but I didn't want to risk (a) missing a train; (b) going hungry.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Interesting posts. Love the links to the LA Union Station.
Don, I enjoyed your travel articles, especially the one on "Amtrak & VIA Western Scenic Routes". A few years ago, I took the RM's "Classic Circle Tour", Vancouver-Kamloops-Jasper-Quesnel-Whistler-Vancouver. A lot of interesting scenery.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thank you so much! I need to update some of those articles.
Hopefully, you got on the Rocky Mountaineer before its prices went astronomically up (they still keep ascending). Shame that the Canadian government gave a monopoly to that company on the Vancouver - Calgary route.
posted
Yep, the Mountaineer isn't inexpensive. In the summer of 2017, I'm planning on a trip from Vancouver to Lake Louise, Gold Leaf service. Not cheap but considering the first class hotels and accommodations, it isn't too bad. I will book Silver Leaf on the return, which will be cheaper. Too bad they don't have price breaks for people wanting to make round trips.
I will look forward to your article updates.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
