Amtrak to DLR?

Originally Posted By velo

Sorry I'm late - what specifically do you need to know HRM? I'm not sure which part you need explained so just let me know.

And, just to let everyone know, there are more taxis waiting at Anaheim station than there are in Fullerton.

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Fullerton is the THIRD busiest Train station in the State, just behind Union Station and Downtown San Diego.

Why do you say there are more cabs at Anaheim Velo? When I have gone to Anaheim, I have had to call for a cab!

Based on what other folks have said in posts, I have seen more complaints about Anaheim than Fullerton....

 

Originally Posted By velo

I say it because I take Amtrak to DL at least 3 times a year and I've never had to call for a cab, including when I've been with my kids. There have always been at least 3 waiting. I have always looked when we get to Fullerton but I haven't seen one waiting there. Personally, I'm glad I choose Anaheim station because I DON"T want to take an AT bus, with my bag or two, after a full day of travel by train (and bus). The cab to HoJo's costs me $11 plus tip and is well worth it, especially if the kids are along. This is just my experience as a seasoned Amtrak traveller. Everyone else's mileage may vary ;>

 

Originally Posted By Jenny512

Last April my family traveled from Seattle to Disneyland by train; we used frequent flyer miles (60,000 miles for 2 two-person sleepers) that we mostly earned from our Alaska Airlines credit card. We charge EVERYTHING and pay it off every month. Anywho. We told the kids that we were going to Vancouver on the train--about a 3-hour ride--and they were disappointed that we weren't going to be on the train longer. Over breakfast we broke the news that we would have a 36-hour train ride and the we were going to Disneyland. The kids went nuts and were really happy to have the long train ride. We spent most of our time in the parlor car playing games, reading, talking. Our meals were included with the sleepers and it was really a lovely family time. It was tremendously, spectacularly late, however. We were supposed to get to LA at 9:30 or so, and catch the commuter train to Anaheim. Our train got into LA at about 2:30, and they bussed us to the Anaheim train station, assuring us that there would be cabs. There were about 14 families (two Make-a-Wish families) standing in the dark at 3 am with NO cabs. I think there were 2 cabs available in all of Anaheim. We were at one end of the line, and it happened to be the front end when the first cab came. OF COURSE we had one of the M-a-W families take it. Finally a second cab came, ditto on the M-a-W family. We decided to start walking, and made it out to Katella (a LONG way in the dark with 2 tired kids) when the first cab returned, which we snagged. We got to our hotel at 4:30 am. God knows when the last family got out of the train station. Of course, we had been sleeping in a bed until 2:30, so it's not as bad as it might have been. It was still really bad. I'd have to think long and hard about risking that again--but I might do it if the tickets were free . We still made it to the gate by 8:00 am. Both kids went all out all day, and after closing they melted in grand fashion, but a good night's sleep fixed it all. No more melts that trip. It was great to have the return train trip to look forward to as it's always hard to leave DL. We got to rest, play, spend time together, reminisce about our great trip. We were about 5 hours late getting back to Seattle (I hear that's common), but got a cab right away, made the last ferry to Bainbridge Island (it was a nail-biter, though) and were snug in our beds before we knew it.

Would I recommend the train? For the ride: Absolutely!

For the 3:00 am to 4:00 am visit with the darkened parking lot of Edison field (which I didn't even know was there in the dark): Absolutely NOT!

 

Originally Posted By HRM

>>For the 3:00 am to 4:00 am visit with the darkened parking lot of Edison field (which I didn't even know was there in the dark): Absolutely NOT!<<

Now this is a definite concern... what would you recommend - or anybody else recommend - to avoid this scenario (besides fly, that is). I would really like to take the train for the experience, but it is a story like #41 which has me thinking twice about it. Maybe, stopping at Fullerton Station would be the answer.

If a person had reservations at a Hotel which provided airport transportation, would the hotel also pick-up at the train station?

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Route 43 runs up and down Harbor Blvd. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week...

<a href="http://www.octa.net/bus/pdf/dec2005/route043.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.octa.net/bus/pdf/de
c2005/route043.pdf</a>

Now overnight, it is once an hour, but that isn't bad for between Midnight and 4 AM, and the bus does run much more often during the day....

And since Fullerton is the Third busiest train station in the state, I presume you would find more taxi's waiting for the trains, even if the trains (or substitute buses) are running late...

 

Originally Posted By Mr X

Wow, some of those horror stories are really terrible!

I'm sure there will be lots of groans here, but I live in Japan (insert groans) and it is unlikely that you will ever see a train arrive 90 SECONDS late never mind 90 minutes (or 5 hours, yikes!).

Why doesn't Amtrack simply co-ordinate better with the freight companies to design a state of the art system that takes all this into account in order to design realistic schedules!? It shouldn't be that hard to do, it seems to me they just don't care.

Ugh, I enjoy rail travel (and even DID the Amtrak Boston to Florida once...never again although I'd be willing to go for a trip that was 10-12 hours or less), but they should NOT be able to get away with such bad service!

I feel sorry for the family walking from the train station in the middle of the night, how awful!

 

Originally Posted By Jenny512

If I had it to do over again, I would have taken a cab from the LA train station. Whatever it cost would have been better than the experience we had; I can't imagine that it would be more than $50. I didn't say this in my first post, but it was dang scary walking across that parking lot.

The Amtrak personnel said that the private railroad companies have right-of-way on the rails, and they are perceived (by Amtrak folks) as taking pleasure in making Amtrak trains wait. We sat for hours in the middle of the night because of a train stuck on the tracks, and numerous other times because of other trains.

 

Originally Posted By berol

They need a 2nd set of tracks where they currently have 1. The 1-track sections are so long and freight trains are so frequent that it's rare for Amtrak to find timely open space. To check general train lateness, go to amtrak.com daily for a week.

 

Originally Posted By HRM

Jenny512...
What about the suggestions given of taking a cab from the Fullerton Station? Would that have been a feasible option in your opinion?

Darkbeer, how much do you figure the cab fare would be from Fullerton?

Also, how is the OCTA? and the #43 in particular? Some City Bus lines are questionable with regards to passengers and route itineries through certain neighborhoods...

 

Originally Posted By dzy76

My oldest son just took amtrak from Portland OR to San Diego CA and the train was 8 hours late! And that was on top of a 36 hour trip. Horrible. He said he'd NEVER do that again. And someone else was paying his way!

 

Originally Posted By norcaldisney

We've taken the San Joaquin train from Sacramento into Anaheim about five or six times now and I definately have no complaints. The only time that was not was so much fun was my own fault on one trip when we missed our train and had to take basically an all night trip from Anaheim back to Sacramento. Other than that we have never experienced any late or stuck trains.

If you are willing to spend about eight to nine hours travelling it is definately worth it. Plus you can always take a nap or get a snack on the train with lots of room to move around.

Only had to call for a taxi at the station once we arrived a couple of times but waited only about fifteen minutes.

Try it, you'll have fun.

 

Originally Posted By Jenny512

I'm afraid I don't know where Fullerton is in relation to LA--which is the end of the line for the Coast Starlight. Maybe someone else would have a better idea of whether or not that would work.

FYI, my husband just walked by and said "I'd do it again".

 

Originally Posted By HRM

>>FYI, my husband just walked by and said "I'd do it again".<<

What about the kids? Have they spoken about the "late night walk across the parking lot"?

 

Originally Posted By Jenny512

Frankly, they'd remember it if I brought it up, but it wouldn't be something they'd remember about the trip on their own. They love Disneyland and have really positive memories of that trip, including the train. They've been known to whine on occasion, but I know they'd do that walk in a heartbeat if it meant going to Disneyland. When I think about it...ME TOO!!!!!

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Basically, think of a triangle....

The Fullerton Station is at the upper left, Anaheim Station is at the lower right, and the Disneyland Main Pedestrian entrance is at the lower left.

The cab fare from Fullerton is about the same as from Anaheim, about $10 with light traffic. (plus tip)

 

Originally Posted By Jenny512

My question is:

Is Fullerton before LA on the Coast Starlight? If not, it doesn't matter because the issue is the Coast Starlight being so late you miss the connecting train. Darkbeer, do you know approximately how much cab fare from the LA Amtrak station would be?

 

Originally Posted By Darkbeer

Fullerton is the first stop south of Union Station, Anaheim is the second stop. So it is after Union Station if going southbound.

A taxi, my guess, close to $100 from Union Station to the DLR, maybe a bit less, depending on traffic.

 

Originally Posted By HRM

How about taking the train to DLR (for the experience) and flying back to OAK (because we'll be tired)?

 

Originally Posted By Gardyloo

Darkbeer, Thank you for the Amtrak code to give 25% off, I used it to get to SLO today.
For you others, here it is pasted: H570 - 25% off rail fare
The code is good for a while.