Passenger Trains > Update on Metropolitan Lounge at LA Union Station

It's official... a Metropolitan Lounge at Los Angeles Union Station will open next week.
Most of the rumors have been confirmed (on the second level, access for Pacific Business Class passengers, cart only access to platforms.)

From an AGR official on flyertalk:
>A new Metropolitan Lounge is set to open at Los Angeles Union Station next Monday, 9/23.
>It will be a soft launch, with a grand opening planned for mid-October. Access will be granted to
>passengers in sleeping cars, Pacific Surfliner business class, and eligible AGR members
>(Select Plus, Select Executive, and day pass holders).
>
>The lounge will be open from 5am to 10pm daily, and will feature the usual Metropolitan Lounge amenities
>(staffed ticket counter, refreshments, WiFi, conference room, TV, etc.). Direct boarding from the lounge to
>train will be available, but only via Red Cap motorized carts (due to Gold Line tracks crossing).
>
>The lounge will be located on the 2nd floor of the station, above the ticket office, and can be accessed by elevator.
>
>More info as I get it!
>
>Best regards,
>Anthony Rizos
>Program Manager, Loyalty Marketing
>Amtrak
>Washington, D.C.

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/13 12:52 by rickycourtney.

It will be GREAT to have a place to wait away from the militant bums and panhandlers that hang out at LAUPT.

I am SO happy to hear this! LAUPT has needed one for years.

Why has there been such an attitude change in ownership and/or management? Remember before when there was NO WAY they allow a restaurant or new coffee place inside? And now we have Subway, Starbucks, and a Stop 'n Rob. LA is "movin' on up!".

MTA now owns the station. Of course, that means that they have been more relaxed on allowing people to lounge around the station than Catellus did (hence the panhandling and the nontravelers sleeping during the day), until a few months ago when they re-tightened the screws again and are kicking people without Amtrak tickets out after 1 am.

That's right---Catellus. Thanks.

Metro purchased Union Station from Catellus in 2011. They've been very vocal that their goal is to serve the needs of travelers and making Union Station a "destination" for Angelinos. That's why in the past few years they've added several food vendors and a 24 hour upscale convenience store. They are also perusing local restauranteurs... looking for someone to move into the old Harvey House. They also plan on adding new way-finding signage in the next few months.

Metro has also commissioned a "Master Plan" for Union Station that has proposed building a new passenger concourse and a new bus station.

In my opinion, while Catellus did a good job maintaining the historic nature of Union Station... they always seemed to be more interested in building out the surrounding property (hence the Apartment buildings, MWD building and First 5 buildings that flank either side of the historic station building.)

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/13 17:31 by rickycourtney.

Under the proposed plan, the apartments will go away at some future time.

If they could just open up the old ticket office instead of reserving it for functions.

A restaurant in the old Harvey House? COOL!!!

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they could just open up the old ticket office
> instead of reserving it for functions.

In the draft master plan... The proposal is to use the historic ticketing area for retail. Metro would lease out carts for vendors and would put down tables and chairs for people to eat at.

The ticket counter would be unused but preserved.

Posted from iPhone

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If they could just open up the old ticket office
> instead of reserving it for functions.

And do what with it? If you honestly think Amtrak is going to hire ticket agents then you are mistaken.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ptolemy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If they could just open up the old ticket
> office
> > instead of reserving it for functions.
>
> And do what with it? If you honestly think Amtrak
> is going to hire ticket agents then you are
> mistaken.

Doesn't Amtrak already have ticket agents? I'm missing something.

how has the Metropolitan Lounge space been used in the past?

The old ticket counter always reminded me of an old bank like you use to see in the movies. Now that I think of it I think it has been used as a bank in old movies.

It would be nice if instead of retail they made it into a museum.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Various Amtrak offices and storage.

I really wish the old Harvey house resturant would be re opened. And the bar next door....

They do a lot of filming atvthecticket counter area. I glad it will be preserved.

Looking for someone to lease it now. About 1964, they turned down "Bob's Big Boy"

Well if all goes as planned , it may not be too long til there is a Big Boy in LA station. Just sayin'!

MWP in CHI

mundo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looking for someone to lease it now. About 1964,
> they turned down "Bob's Big Boy"


But that is the secret lair for Dr. Evil!

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Ptolemy Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > If they could just open up the old ticket
> > office
> > > instead of reserving it for functions.
> >
> > And do what with it? If you honestly think
> Amtrak
> > is going to hire ticket agents then you are
> > mistaken.
>
> Doesn't Amtrak already have ticket agents? I'm
> missing something.

Yeah, they have maybe two or at the most three on duty at any one time.
To "man" that old ticket counter would take many more.
If you're not going to increase the staffing, why bother with the old ticket counter?