New "Metro Lounge" in Los Angeles

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D.P. Roberts

D.P. Roberts

Conductor
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
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1,316
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Guilder & Florin Scenic Railroad
I just got back from my first-ever LD train trip on Amtrak (trip report upcoming). One thing I hadn't heard about before is that with the Coast Starlight relaunch, Amtrak has a new "Metro Lounge" for sleeping car passengers, at least for the CS. There's a small bar off the main waiting room, which apparently used to be open to all passengers. Now, it's roped off, with drinks and such for those on the CS (one would assume the Southwest Chief too). We were there last Monday (6/09), and were told this had just started "last week". Personally, I didn't think it was all that great - it was too small an area for all those passengers and their luggage. Other than free drinks, I would have preferred waiting in the main room - it's huge and beautiful.

In other news, Train 11 hit a homeless person just south of the Portland station on Thursday. Actually, it was unclear if the train hit the person or just his "stuff" (it was announced on the train as "debris" on the track), but the guy was taken away in an ambulance. The engineer had been blowing his whistle for some time, but when the guy didn't move away from the tracks he threw the train into emergency - other reports said we "grazed" the guy at low speed.
 
D.P. Roberts said:
I just got back from my first-ever LD train trip on Amtrak (trip report upcoming). One thing I hadn't heard about before is that with the Coast Starlight relaunch, Amtrak has a new "Metro Lounge" for sleeping car passengers, at least for the CS. There's a small bar off the main waiting room, which apparently used to be open to all passengers. Now, it's roped off, with drinks and such for those on the CS (one would assume the Southwest Chief too). We were there last Monday (6/09), and were told this had just started "last week". Personally, I didn't think it was all that great - it was too small an area for all those passengers and their luggage. Other than free drinks, I would have preferred waiting in the main room - it's huge and beautiful.
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I hope so! B) I'll be there on 6/22 and will let you know.

And I agree you with the main room! :)

(one would assume the Southwest Chief too)
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Hopefully the TE/SL also!
 
WhoozOn1st999 said:
Will this guy never stop gloating about his Tehachapi ride? HAHAHA!!!
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... Just because you can't make it, ...! :p

As it turns out, I may not make it either. Part of the NEC that I need to travel on was going to be closed prior to my departure. :) Then it got delayed to the day of my departure. :angry: Today, I found out it is delayed again! :) So, I don't know what is going on! :angry:
 
D.P. Roberts said:
I just got back from my first-ever LD train trip on Amtrak (trip report upcoming). One thing I hadn't heard about before is that with the Coast Starlight relaunch, Amtrak has a new "Metro Lounge" for sleeping car passengers, at least for the CS. There's a small bar off the main waiting room, which apparently used to be open to all passengers. Now, it's roped off, with drinks and such for those on the CS (one would assume the Southwest Chief too). We were there last Monday (6/09), and were told this had just started "last week". Personally, I didn't think it was all that great - it was too small an area for all those passengers and their luggage. Other than free drinks, I would have preferred waiting in the main room - it's huge and beautiful.
In other news, Train 11 hit a homeless person just south of the Portland station on Thursday. Actually, it was unclear if the train hit the person or just his "stuff" (it was announced on the train as "debris" on the track), but the guy was taken away in an ambulance. The engineer had been blowing his whistle for some time, but when the guy didn't move away from the tracks he threw the train into emergency - other reports said we "grazed" the guy at low speed.
Click to expand...
Was it called precisely 'Metropolitan Lounge'? :) Time to try flashing the Grey card and the relevant paragraph in the welcome kit brochure. :)
 
the_traveler said:
As it turns out, I may not make it either.
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Traveler, if you really are unable to make the trip, can I buy your Starlight ticket? My mom will have another birthday. I hear it's an annual event. But Starlight through the Tehachapis? Blue moons happen more often. I'm quite serious. If you can't go, somebody from the forum should, and I selfishly volunteer. A rarity not to be passed up. So if you really can't go, PM me and I'm sure we can work something out. And if it turns out that you CAN go, all the best. TAKE PICTURES!!
 
I'll happily donate my services as photographer if the_traveler can't make it and someone can pay for my $800 airline ticket to get to LAX in time for the CS departure! :lol:
 
the_traveler said:
As it turns out, I may not make it either. Part of the NEC that I need to travel on was going to be closed prior to my departure. :) Then it got delayed to the day of my departure. :angry: Today, I found out it is delayed again! :) So, I don't know what is going on! :angry:
Click to expand...
Is there a lack of bustitution to KIN? (I haven't been following the exact details of where they are bustituting very carefully.)

Worst case, I'd expect you could catch a bus in Providence to South Station and take #449 from there, if you can get to Providence...
 
Joel N. Weber II said:
Is there a lack of bustitution to KIN? (I haven't been following the exact details of where they are bustituting very carefully.)
Worst case, I'd expect you could catch a bus in Providence to South Station and take #449 from there, if you can get to Providence...
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At first, the closure was to be 6/14-17. Then it got delayed to 6/16-19 (and I depart on 6/19 :eek: ). After more than 45 minutes on the phone with Amtrak, it was determined that they were bus-tituting from KIN to NHV - but 2 1/2 hours earlier than my train! (The reason it took so long was that I knew even before the agent(s) knew! :eek: )

Then it got extended to 6/16-22. Now I hear it delayed until (unknown), and they hope to return to a regular schedule!

Right now, I don't now if I leave on 6/19 @ 8:00 AM on a bus or 10:37 AM on a train. And I don't know if the work will be rescheduled for my return on 66 on 6/28-29. (I don't feel like getting off in NHV at 4 or 5 AM!) And I don't know how the midwest floods will affect my plans.

I would consider taking a bus to catch 449, but I think 449 is sold out on 6/19!
 
Everything that I've seen says that Amtrak will be running a normal schedule on the 19th at this point. I believe that this is a long term problem, like a few weeks at least. It certainly won't be a few days. So it is possible that it might affect your return, but I doubt that it will have any effect on your departure.

The bigger worry might be the flooding out in the mid-west.
 
chuljin said:
D.P. Roberts said:
I just got back from my first-ever LD train trip on Amtrak (trip report upcoming). One thing I hadn't heard about before is that with the Coast Starlight relaunch, Amtrak has a new "Metro Lounge" for sleeping car passengers, at least for the CS. There's a small bar off the main waiting room, which apparently used to be open to all passengers. Now, it's roped off, with drinks and such for those on the CS (one would assume the Southwest Chief too). We were there last Monday (6/09), and were told this had just started "last week". Personally, I didn't think it was all that great - it was too small an area for all those passengers and their luggage. Other than free drinks, I would have preferred waiting in the main room - it's huge and beautiful.
In other news, Train 11 hit a homeless person just south of the Portland station on Thursday. Actually, it was unclear if the train hit the person or just his "stuff" (it was announced on the train as "debris" on the track), but the guy was taken away in an ambulance. The engineer had been blowing his whistle for some time, but when the guy didn't move away from the tracks he threw the train into emergency - other reports said we "grazed" the guy at low speed.
Click to expand...
Was it called precisely 'Metropolitan Lounge'? :) Time to try flashing the Grey card and the relevant paragraph in the welcome kit brochure. :)
Click to expand...
Greetings from Train 768! (I am on my way to OSD to ride the Sprinter for the first time [and will probably post a brief trip report]).

In case any 'AGRS+ers' in SoCal is curious (I was), since I had about an hour between my Metrolink from GDL and 768, I went over and asked the nice Lounge Dragon (which term I still don't get, but 'When in Rome' :p ), and she confirmed that this lounge at the Traxx Bar is only for CS sleeping car passengers. At least as of now, not for sleeper passengers on any other trains, nor is it a 'ClubAcela, Metropolitan Lounge [or] First class lounge' to which AGRS+ has access.
 
chuljin said:
In case any 'AGRS+ers' in SoCal is curious (I was), since I had about an hour between my Metrolink from GDL and 768, I went over and asked the nice Lounge Dragon (which term I still don't get, but 'When in Rome' :p ), and she confirmed that this lounge at the Traxx Bar is only for CS sleeping car passengers. At least as of now, not for sleeper passengers on any other trains, nor is it a 'ClubAcela, Metropolitan Lounge [or] First class lounge' to which AGRS+ has access.
Click to expand...
Where in LAUS is this new lounge area? I just passed through today and didn't notice it. Is it near the regular Traxx bar? I'll be on the CS in August, would be cool to check it out.
 
Guest_JackGraham_* said:
chuljin said:
In case any 'AGRS+ers' in SoCal is curious (I was), since I had about an hour between my Metrolink from GDL and 768, I went over and asked the nice Lounge Dragon (which term I still don't get, but 'When in Rome' :p ), and she confirmed that this lounge at the Traxx Bar is only for CS sleeping car passengers. At least as of now, not for sleeper passengers on any other trains, nor is it a 'ClubAcela, Metropolitan Lounge [or] First class lounge' to which AGRS+ has access.
Click to expand...
Where in LAUS is this new lounge area? I just passed through today and didn't notice it. Is it near the regular Traxx bar? I'll be on the CS in August, would be cool to check it out.
Click to expand...
It's within (well, and before) the regular Traxx bar, but for now only for CS sleeper pax and thus only operating when such pax are hanging out in LAUS, i.e. starting at (I would guess) 8-8:30am or thereabouts, up to boarding time (it leaves at 10:15). You may have passed through well after that time.

-Chris
 
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