Great idea. What Amtrak really needs to do is to introduce and promote the heck out of first class day service in other cirridors besides the NEC. They should also try a reintroduction of the old-fashioned parlor car for a premium fare and hopefully rake in some badly needed extra revenue.
But if I am doing an “across the platform” transfer from the Pacific Surfliner to the Coast Starlight am I still forced to schlep my carry-on baggage all the way to the lounge and back instead of just stepping across the platform like I did 15 years ago?
I’ve been waiting for this for 20 years! The last time we left L. A. we had to check out of our hotel at 12 noon and wait for the Southwest Chief leaving at 6:45 p.m. To split the time we hung around the hotel lobby for 3+ hours before going to Union Station. The station is grand but as we were keeping our baggage with us to go on the sleeper, we couldn’t go anywhere due to it. Those are long boring stretches. The lounge, if similar to those in Portland, Chicago, NYC, Washington and maybe a few more places will be a welcome addition when we return to L. A. in March.
Nice picture of a random train; but I can’t see the new lounge!
Jeffery Guse is way off base, and should stay away from AMTRAK so he doesn’t say more stupid things.
The new lounge could not have come at a better time as the grand old station gets ready to celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. It’s long overdue. Pacific business class passengers ought to be allowed to wait in the lounge as well.
This is good. Now how about one in King St. station in Seattle?