Sunset Limited in to LA

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When this schedule was originally implemented the plan was to allow sleeper passengers to remain in their rooms until 6 am. However, in practice (most) sleeper attendants kicked passengers out as soon as the train arrived. Finally, a couple of years ago Amtrak officially gave up the pretense. Now all passengers, coach and sleeper, are evicted as soon as the train arrives in L.A. And, due to the padding, it can at times be a full hour early....
 
In my personal experience, the SCA will make sure you are awake WELL before you reach Union Station. They don't like to take a chance on any late risers. And yes as has been said, the Sunset Limited is usually early into LA and you will be expected to get off the train upon arrival.

The good news... there is a Starbucks in Union Station that will happily serve you while you wait for the next Pacific Surfliner departure! (or for the Metropolitan Lounge to open).
 
The SCA is waking EVERYONE up by the last stop before Union Station. It is expected that everyone gets off. The SCA is trying to remake as many beds as possible before arriving. They are very nice, even apologizing some, but it is like they do not get paid after arrival. 4:30 AM is early, nothing is open until 5 including the ML.
 
One of the things that makes the early arrival time more 'palatable' is that when you go to bed the night before, you set your watch back an hour. So it's effectively a 6:30 arrival using Mountain Time that the train had been in for most of the preceding day. I'll be doing exactly that when I arrive on #1 10 days from now.
 
Coming from Central Time the arrival feels like 7:30 AM except it is dark. We tried to get some sleep by laying down early. If the morning is nice and time is tight, we picked up some to go breakfast items and had a refreshing breakfast in the courtyard away from the noise and the traffic.
 
Two years ago we arrived in LA an hour early and were still *advised* to exit the SL upon arrival. Not that big a problem given that a PS to SAN was coming within the hour- but it was still kinda rude...
 
When I traveled on the Sunset Limited into Los Angeles, I thought this might be a problem for me. It was not. Surely a very early morning arrival, but I adjusted my bye-bye bed time the night before and my wake-up time the next morning. Was awake for my daily shower and a few minutes of watching our arrival in the City of Angels. Red Cap service was available at that time of the morning, but I think he may have been the only one on duty then. The Metropolitan Lounge was open with coffee and good Sara Lee Danish available for breakfast.
 
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