LOCATION: As railroad
fans, we love classic rail-
road stations. But they are be-
coming rarer each year and, in
larger cities, are not always in
the classiest part of town.
Then there is Los Angeles
and its Union Station.
More than just a place to
catch a train, this 1939 Art
Deco destination is simply a
great place to go and enjoy in its
own right. Just a tie plate’s
throw away from the heart of
downtown, the 80-year-old
complex is still a relevant force
for not only travelers, but visi-
tors looking for a great LAexperience. There is a classy
brew pub — The Imperial
Western Beer Co. — in the old
Harvey House area, and a sit-
down-dining, French-themed
restaurant — Café Crepe — in
the main lobby. The station also
houses a number of “faster” res-
taurants, including Subway and
Starbucks, among others. And
don’t forget the well-maintained
outdoor sitting areas, enabling
patrons to take a break from the
hustle of a big city.
In 2019, the station is every-
thing and more the original de-
velopers hoped it would be-
come; a bustling, rarely sleeping
community of its own.TRAIN-WATCHING: Part of
the Los Angeles CountyMetropolitan Transportation
Authority since 2011, the sta-
tion is an integral part of the
nerve center of area rail-transit
service, seeing daily Amtrak,
Metrolink, and Metro light rail
trains, as well as connecting bus
service and other forms of tran-
sit. It was built as a magical en-
trance for rail passengers head-
ing west to visit or make a new
life in California and a wonder-
ful reminder of Los Angeles as
they depart.
As a bonus to those tired of
endless street congestion and
full parking lots to reach any
destination, the station has the
advantage of being one of the
few places in Los Angeles that
avoids it all. Just ride the train
or light rail in, walk down theMore than a spot to change trains, the station is a great destination in its own right
Hot spot: Los Angeles Union Station
50 SEPTEMBER 2019TRAIN-WATCHING
The entrance to the station
faces North Alameda Street.
Across the street from the
station here is where the city of
Los Angeles was founded in 1781.
Union Station’s main waiting room is recognizable from decades of
movie and television production. Two photos, David Lustig
An inbound Metrolink commuter train arrives at Union Station with a
Hyundai Rotem cab car leading in September 2015. TRAINS: Brian Schmidt