Your report was nicely done. I rode Santa Fe trains in and out of Los Angeles Union Passenger Station in late 1963. I remember some of what your video showed. I’m glad this station was brought back to life.
L.A. resident here. Good description. I've been to some massive rail stations around the world where I'm lucky to ever find my way out. Los Angeles Union Station is different. Not too big and easy to figure things out.
thanks for the great info about union station. it is really helpful for me start to take public transportation in order to save some traveling expenses. 👍👍👍
In the early 90's I worked part time for a catering co and we had a function there. During a break I wandered around and came across a closed off area that had a bar that was being used for storage. It was done in the Art Deco style, and it was beautiful. I thought to myself what a waste.
Thanks for the video tour of LA’s Union Station. I am on the east coast and have only been to LA two times. But I have not been there since the subway system was added and all the new regional rail service was added. I was impressed with the appearance of the station. It was well built and Amtrak has done a good job keeping it clean and well maintained. The high ceilings remind me of my home station here in Philadelphia, 30th street station also built around 1930 has high ceilings and has access to both the city subway system and our regional commuter rail lines. One difference is our Amtrak trains run below the station on 10 tracks so you go down an escalator or stairs to access the track your train is on.
My grandfather worked for the Santa Fe Railway for more than thirty years, and his last great achievement as a civil engineer for them was his responsibility for some of the design and construction of Union Station there in Los Angeles. He got to see the use of the station at its busiest during WWII. Had he lived longer, he would have designed and built the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 🚡 as well.
I haven't been there in close to 30 years. I live in Central California. My daughter was stationed at a San Diego Naval base. So when I would go to visit her, I'd Sometimes take Amtrak, then the bus at Bakersfield, then the train again from Union Station to San Diego. I once saw Keanu Reeves there while I was waiting for my train.
At LAUPT, one can imagine that they’re going there to wait on one of the many Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe trains that called at the terminal like the Coast Daylight, Lark, San Joaquin Daylight, Super Chief, Grand Canyon Limited, Overland Limited, City of Los Angeles, and many others. Ah, the prime of American public transit. How you dance within the dreams of those who like public transit and rail travel in general.
It's not that I like public transportation. It's just that the freeways have gotten so crowded and mean that I prefer someone else do the driving and I can just relax. Although long distance rail is quite expensive, it seems like a nice option when one considers how air Travelers are often treated like cattle
Taken trains in and out of the terminal several times. Beautiful. ITs one of the remaining great RR stations in the U S. Last time I was there, the 'Trains' restaurant had closed. Too bad. The waiting area for first class passengers is a disappointment.
Fun historical fact Union Station was built on top of the original Chinatown . I took an anthropology class in college and the professor told us that when Union Station was being built, there were artifacts that were discovered that proved there was a Chinatown there.
I was there on a visit to LA in 2021. The architecture is amazing. The courtyards look really nice, but I could literally smell the homeless sitting about there. I took the train from LA to Albuquerque.
Really enjoyed this report on a great American Rail Station! I had never seen this before I saw it as part of the 93rd Academy Awards on April 2021. So glad you covered it well as I could tell it was a great station from the one room the event was broadcast from with a couple of shots outside.The reason why it was chosen for the Academy Award as stated by the show's producer is Union Station is an iconic landmark in the movie capital of the world, where such features as crime noir Union Station, The Way We Were, To Live and Die in L.A., Blade Runner and The Dark Knight Rises were shot. Would you consider doing a report on Philadelphia's 30th Street Pennsylvania Station or DC's Union Station sometime?
the Gold Line has been replaced at the station by La Union Station by the Blue Line. There are a few restaurants on the west side across from the ticket office. You also did not include the Metropolitan Lounge.
Correction: LA Union Station serves: - Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - All of Metrolink (except Arrow, and IEOC) - Southwest Chief - Coast Starlight It does NOT serve Texas Eagle (San Antonio and Chicago are their termini). - Elevators, Trains, And More
Correction: Los Angeles Union Station DOES serve the Texas Eagle. While the dedicated Texas Eagle train (train 21 southbound, train 22 northbound) does terminate at San Antonio, there are through cars which continue on to Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited (train 1 westbound, train 2 eastbound). For all intents and purposes, Amtrak considers these through cars to be part of the Texas Eagle service (listed as train 421 to Los Angeles and train 422 back towards Chicago).
From what I can find, there is long term parking in the Union Station East lot for a maximum of 30 days, although the Union Station website asks that people using the lot for more than 3 days fill out a "Parking Form," which can be found online.
There are two entrances to the subway, one by the Subway (sandwich shop) and one by the bus plaza. The entrance to the Gold Line light rail is in the tunnel, near the older section.
Nice! Safe at night ? Arriving from LAX by freeway flyer at night to get on Amtrack to San diego...this station safe for foreign tourists ? No mugging ? No shooting ?😢
@@dylanoregan838 The trains were fine as well. Never once did I feel unsafe while onboard. Granted, you have to keep your wits about you like you would with any transit system, but beyond that it’s totally okay.
I love the history and station but I was just there and the homeless population is destroying L.A. and the once beautiful train station. I will return in a few days and I refuse to let the homeless policies of California stop me from living.
Both sides of the station are quite beautiful, and both sides are missing roomy, clean rest rooms. A very sad and silly manifestation of American urban public spaces.
At least both sides have a restroom. Almost no MTA rail stations do, by design. This means that parts of the stations become de facto restrooms, usually the elevator.
@@Geotpf Most all European station shave restrooms with attendants who keep them clean and you pay one euro.. I suggested that to Metro but of course they rejected my suggestion. They are too pc.
At night, and even early , this station is nasty. They left people outside because they station staff say they close at night, not caring putting the passengers on danger of the crazy drug addicts surrounding the station.
Wow! I use the station pretty often They must have cleared out the vagrants and homeless to make this video. Quick tip. Whatever you do try not to use the restroom near the Trimana Market. Shocking! Remember. Your not in Berlin or Copenhagen. This is LA.
I worked for Amtrak for 37 years at Los Angeles Union station, it was a blast now i am retired :)
Union Station takes me to Pasadena. I always enjoy that ride when visiting L.A.
Your report was nicely done. I rode Santa Fe trains in and out of Los Angeles Union Passenger Station in late 1963. I remember some of what your video showed. I’m glad this station was brought back to life.
L.A. resident here. Good description. I've been to some massive rail stations around the world where I'm lucky to ever find my way out. Los Angeles Union Station is different. Not too big and easy to figure things out.
I love Union station. It’s beautiful. I been to it a number of times for Amtrak
It really is a gorgeous station. I just wish that more stations across the US looked like this.
thanks for the great info about union station. it is really helpful for me start to take public transportation in order to save some traveling expenses. 👍👍👍
In the early 90's I worked part time for a catering co and we had a function there. During a break I wandered around and came across a closed off area that had a bar that was being used for storage. It was done in the Art Deco style, and it was beautiful. I thought to myself what a waste.
I love Union Station, thanks for sharing this. Great video!
Thanks for the video tour of LA’s Union Station. I am on the east coast and have only been to LA two times. But I have not been there since the subway system was added and all the new regional rail service was added. I was impressed with the appearance of the station. It was well built and Amtrak has done a good job keeping it clean and well maintained. The high ceilings remind me of my home station here in Philadelphia, 30th street station also built around 1930 has high ceilings and has access to both the city subway system and our regional commuter rail lines. One difference is our Amtrak trains run below the station on 10 tracks so you go down an escalator or stairs to access the track your train is on.
This station, incidentally, is owned and operated by L.A. Metro, the transit authority for L.A. County.
The only thing I don't care for is the new apartment complex and MWD buildings they have put on the property.
LA Metro did a complete restoration of Union Station several years ago. They did a fantastic job that is why it looks like new.
My favorite building in LA.
It’s a beautiful station, and was renovated so well and with care
Some of the best parts of the station are its gardens, courtyards, and plazas.
Missed the Metropolitan Lounge on the 2nd floor near the Car Rental area.
My grandfather worked for the Santa Fe Railway for more than thirty years, and his last great achievement as a civil engineer for them was his responsibility for some of the design and construction of Union Station there in Los Angeles. He got to see the use of the station at its busiest during WWII. Had he lived longer, he would have designed and built the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 🚡 as well.
i love art deco!
I haven't been there in close to 30 years. I live in Central California. My daughter was stationed at a San Diego Naval base. So when I would go to visit her, I'd Sometimes take Amtrak, then the bus at Bakersfield, then the train again from Union Station to San Diego. I once saw Keanu Reeves there while I was waiting for my train.
At LAUPT, one can imagine that they’re going there to wait on one of the many Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe trains that called at the terminal like the Coast Daylight, Lark, San Joaquin Daylight, Super Chief, Grand Canyon Limited, Overland Limited, City of Los Angeles, and many others.
Ah, the prime of American public transit. How you dance within the dreams of those who like public transit and rail travel in general.
It's not that I like public transportation. It's just that the freeways have gotten so crowded and mean that I prefer someone else do the driving and I can just relax. Although long distance rail is quite expensive, it seems like a nice option when one considers how air Travelers are often treated like cattle
One scene of film criss cross 1948 starring Burt Lancaster and Olivia De Havaland was shot here , it has changed little
Lovely heritage
i've actually never seen the entirety of union station, it looks so pretty imo
Taken trains in and out of the terminal several times. Beautiful. ITs one of the remaining great RR stations in the U S. Last time I was there, the 'Trains' restaurant had closed. Too bad. The waiting area for first class passengers is a disappointment.
Fun historical fact Union Station was built on top of the original Chinatown . I took an anthropology class in college and the professor told us that when Union Station was being built, there were artifacts that were discovered that proved there was a Chinatown there.
Part of the reason it was built where it is was to destroy Chinatown. Racism was very strong in the 1930s.
I was there on a visit to LA in 2021. The architecture is amazing. The courtyards look really nice, but I could literally smell the homeless sitting about there. I took the train from LA to Albuquerque.
Really enjoyed this report on a great American Rail Station! I had never seen this before I saw it as part of the 93rd Academy Awards on April 2021. So glad you covered it well as I could tell it was a great station from the one room the event was broadcast from with a couple of shots outside.The reason why it was chosen for the Academy Award as stated by the show's producer is Union Station is an iconic landmark in the movie capital of the world, where such features as crime noir Union Station, The Way We Were, To Live and Die in L.A., Blade Runner and The Dark Knight Rises were shot. Would you consider doing a report on Philadelphia's 30th Street Pennsylvania Station or DC's Union Station sometime?
As an addendum, will the Harvey House ever be open and used again as a restaurant for the public like it was at the inception of the station?!
Hello from Kansas 🇺🇸
the Gold Line has been replaced at the station by La Union Station by the Blue Line. There are a few restaurants on the west side across from the ticket office. You also did not include the Metropolitan Lounge.
Very nice and like 2
Correction: LA Union Station serves:
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
- All of Metrolink (except Arrow, and IEOC)
- Southwest Chief
- Coast Starlight
It does NOT serve Texas Eagle (San Antonio and Chicago are their termini).
- Elevators, Trains, And More
don’t forget sunset limited as well
Correction: Los Angeles Union Station DOES serve the Texas Eagle. While the dedicated Texas Eagle train (train 21 southbound, train 22 northbound) does terminate at San Antonio, there are through cars which continue on to Los Angeles on the Sunset Limited (train 1 westbound, train 2 eastbound). For all intents and purposes, Amtrak considers these through cars to be part of the Texas Eagle service (listed as train 421 to Los Angeles and train 422 back towards Chicago).
This was where they filmed the ending of Drag Me To Hell 2009
Is there anywhere to sit if you have a few hours between trains? Mine would be 5 hours. Thanks!
Does those trains go from Los Angeles to like San Francisco
Yes the trains go from L.A. to S.F. the Coast Starlight goes to the City by the Bay
is there long term parking for cars?
From what I can find, there is long term parking in the Union Station East lot for a maximum of 30 days, although the Union Station website asks that people using the lot for more than 3 days fill out a "Parking Form," which can be found online.
@@LonestarTrips thank you very much
@@archmichael04 Of course! Happy to help.
Why didn't you go underground to the red and purple line?
Is the entrance to Metro red line by Starbucks or is it down the long corridor?
It’s next to the Starbucks. The gold line entrance is down the corridor.
There are two entrances to the subway, one by the Subway (sandwich shop) and one by the bus plaza. The entrance to the Gold Line light rail is in the tunnel, near the older section.
FOLLOW THE DAMN TRAIN!
ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS FOLLOW THE DAMN TRAIN, CJ
Nice! Safe at night ? Arriving from LAX by freeway flyer at night to get on Amtrack to San diego...this station safe for foreign tourists ? No mugging ? No shooting ?😢
Its very safe, its a staffed train station with millions of daily users. Also its "amtrak" without a c
A youtube blogger said she wished she had taken a padlock with her so she could lock her roomette when she was out of the room. Is this possible?
This reminds me of gta san andreas
Is it safe?
The station? Yes it is! I had no issues while I was there, and never felt in danger while roaming the station complex.
Yeah and the trains?
@@dylanoregan838 The trains were fine as well. Never once did I feel unsafe while onboard. Granted, you have to keep your wits about you like you would with any transit system, but beyond that it’s totally okay.
No. Just go to your train, make no eye contact and try to avoid the restrooms near the Trimana Market.
I love the history and station but I was just there and the homeless population is destroying L.A. and the once beautiful train station. I will return in a few days and I refuse to let the homeless policies of California stop me from living.
Both sides of the station are quite beautiful, and both sides are missing roomy, clean rest rooms. A very sad and silly manifestation of American urban public spaces.
That's putting it mildly.
At least both sides have a restroom. Almost no MTA rail stations do, by design. This means that parts of the stations become de facto restrooms, usually the elevator.
@@Geotpf Yup. So sad.
@@Geotpf Most all European station shave restrooms with attendants who keep them clean and you pay one euro.. I suggested that to Metro but of course they rejected my suggestion. They are too pc.
At night, and even early , this station is nasty. They left people outside because they station staff say they close at night, not caring putting the passengers on danger of the crazy drug addicts surrounding the station.
Wow! I use the station pretty often They must have cleared out the vagrants and homeless to make this video. Quick tip. Whatever you do try not to use the restroom near the Trimana Market. Shocking! Remember. Your not in Berlin or Copenhagen. This is LA.
GTA San Andreas