Southwest Chief from LAX

[Dakota 400]

Recent posts have raised some questions in my mind about this departure from LAX.

Red Cap service, even using a golf cart, has been mentioned in getting from the Metropolitan Lounge to the train or the reverse. What kind of distance is involved from the Lounge to the train platform? I will have one checked piece of luggage, but will carry on the train a hard-side one suiter(fits perfectly in a Superliner Roomette on the steps leading to the upper berth) and a small over the shoulder soft piece of luggage. I would appreciate thoughts as to whether I ought to request Red Cap Service for boarding.

Questions about dinner being served leaving LAX: Only a limited menu--three entrees--seems to be available. If so, what might the entrees expected to be? A couple of posts which I have read indicate that the Sleeping Car Attendant will have already made a dinner reservation for me and I will be so informed once boarding the train. Really? I have no choice? No Happy Hour possibility before dinner?

Lots of great information on this forum and I truly appreciate reading the responses that are posted. Thanks!

 

[the_traveler]

The distance is not over excessive. You probably walk farther when you begin your trip. I have only departed once on the SWC and do not recall, but others said they only have 1 serving that evening. (Example - They depart at 6:30 and the only serving is at 7 pm.) So your choice is the 7 pm serving - or not.

 

[trainman74]

Red Cap service, even using a golf cart, has been mentioned in getting from the Metropolitan Lounge to the train or the reverse. What kind of distance is involved from the Lounge to the train platform? I will have one checked piece of luggage, but will carry on the train a hard-side one suiter(fits perfectly in a Superliner Roomette on the steps leading to the upper berth) and a small over the shoulder soft piece of luggage. I would appreciate thoughts as to whether I ought to request Red Cap Service for boarding.

I'd estimate the walk at around 500-1000 feet -- to walk from the lounge to the train, you have to take the "long way around," going back down a level into the main part of the station and walking through the concourse tunnel.

The Red Cap golf cart service is what constitutes "boarding directly from the lounge," and there's really no need to specifically request it; the lounge attendant will make sure the Red Caps are there when it's time for Southwest Chief passengers to board. (In places such as Chicago, Metropolitan Lounge passengers get an escorted walk to the train, but Amtrak uses golf carts in L.A. because the shorter route from the lounge to the trains isn't suitable for pedestrians.)

 

[TinCan782]

Departing on the Coast Starlight this past July, most (if not all) Red Caps were at the Metropolitan Lounge making more than one trip shuttling sleeper passengers (whether they needed, or not). One Red Cap who is familiar with and recognizes us, made it a point to take care of us.

 

[neroden]

The Red Cap carts take a short, direct route from the Metropolitan Lounge in LA to the platform, but this requires crossing active railroad tracks at grade. They don't want to let random passengers do that on foot. Therefore, as someone else noted, the foot route involves going down, across, and up again. (It's a significantly shorter walk from the main waiting room, which is on the lower level.)

As noted by others, if you're in the lounge, you won't need to request Red Cap assistance; they'll put everyone in the carts, to discourage people from crossing the tracks at grade.

 

[TinCan782]

The Red Cap carts take a short, direct route from the Metropolitan Lounge in LA to the platform, but this requires crossing active railroad tracks at grade. They don't want to let random passengers do that on foot. Therefore, as someone else noted, the foot route involves going down, across, and up again. (It's a significantly shorter walk from the main waiting room, which is on the lower level.)

As noted by others, if you're in the lounge, you won't need to request Red Cap assistance; they'll put everyone in the carts, to discourage people from crossing the tracks at grade.

That track that is crossed at grade is the Metro Gold Line (tracks 1 and 2), the other tracks are passed (not crossed) just beyond the bumpers.

 

[NW cannonball]

Red Cap service, even using a golf cart, has been mentioned in getting from the Metropolitan Lounge to the train or the reverse. What kind of distance is involved from the Lounge to the train platform? I will have one checked piece of luggage, but will carry on the train a hard-side one suiter(fits perfectly in a Superliner Roomette on the steps leading to the upper berth) and a small over the shoulder soft piece of luggage. I would appreciate thoughts as to whether I ought to request Red Cap Service for boarding.

I'd estimate the walk at around 500-1000 feet -- to walk from the lounge to the train, you have to take the "long way around," going back down a level into the main part of the station and walking through the concourse tunnel.

The Red Cap golf cart service is what constitutes "boarding directly from the lounge," and there's really no need to specifically request it; the lounge attendant will make sure the Red Caps are there when it's time for Southwest Chief passengers to board. (In places such as Chicago, Metropolitan Lounge passengers get an escorted walk to the train, but Amtrak uses golf carts in L.A. because the shorter route from the lounge to the trains isn't suitable for pedestrians.)

"Not suitable for pedestrians" . That's why I went down two levels and walked a quarter mile or so. Liked the First Class Lounge, but wouldn't take the cart. n Grumpy old me.

The walk wasn't bad. Choose what you need.

 

[VentureForth]

And, unlike other routes that have or had pre departure cocktails, no such luxury is available on the Southwest Chief. As for having only three entrees, I think four is the typical offering on all trains - beef, chicken, fish or veggie.

 

[neroden]

They really don't like people crossing the Gold Line tracks at grade, perhaps because the trains are running silently (they're electric) and frequently (it's a metro service) with a lot of background noise (there's a giant highway next door).