The historic Union Station. This train station is beautiful. I'm assuming they've had some…read morerenovations over the years, but it seems like they have kept a beautiful mid-century aesthetic. It almost feels like an airport terminal because of all the vendors in the station. I'll be honest I've never actually been inside until recently. But in the last couple of weeks, I've used this station multiple times now. My experience centers around the fact that the World Cup is in town. I've used this train to head down to USC for a Fan fest, I've used it to head to Koreatown for the large Mexico versus South Korea match. And once I learned how to buy or put money on my Tap card this train station is really easy to use. There's also a large screen in the main terminal playing all the World Cup matches, and there's some installations outside and on the inside It makes you hopeful for the train system in Los Angeles get even better because I'm becoming more of a fan using the Metro

It's a very well functioning train station! there's a bus plaza, metro link, Amtrak and transit…read moretrain lines! There are a few restaurants and the architecture is unparalleled. Try to take an art and architecture tour here if you can!

I love how the first time I've taken this is coming from Palm Springs. Well it doesn't actually…read morecome from there but a connection off the shuttle bus. Your classic train experience with both business class and coach. Same concept as you would with a flight. Always wanted to experience it down to San Diego but this will do. Train itself has nice comfy seats which is a major plus with a long haul. Windows seats does have curtains which is nice to block out the sun or when your on an overnight. They also have outlets for electronics. Restroom is also available. Not sure if it's every car or every other. They do come and check your tickets while it's running. Don't think I've seen them check when you're getting on instead it's when the train is in motion. A snack cart is also offered. What's nice as well, they have both the lower and higher floors. A good amount of pros to be but you have the cons. I've been where there was something going on with the station or tracks and being delayed can be a bitch. Just takes one thing to happen and it hold everything back. This morning, something was going on with one of the tracks and train kept on getting delayed to an hour and forty five minutes. Ruined my schedule which I ended up having to get an uber from Fullerton station to Union Station in downtown. That's the risk you have to take with public transportation. But it does help as I didn't have to drive.

The conductor on our trip from Irvine to San Diego was the one bright spot--friendly, attentive,…read moreand genuinely helpful. He took our large suitcase and stored it for us so we didn't have to haul it through the train. His service was appreciated. Unfortunately, nearly everything else fell well below any reasonable standard. On our return trip, the Café car attendant announced he had no refrigeration and was selling warm beer. He was also out of many basic items that should always be stocked. This is unacceptable. Amtrak doesn't keep a spare refrigerator at the Santa Fe station for situations like this? It comes across as sloppy, lazy, and completely avoidable. The bathrooms were filthy--worse than a gas station restroom. That level of neglect doesn't happen by accident. It's a management choice. Allowing restrooms to reach that condition is intentional failure. We paid for Business Class and were given a coach car. The real Business Class cars have leather seats, better spacing, and functioning AC. Lately, Amtrak has been slapping a coach car at the front of the train and calling it "Business Class" while still charging the premium. It's deceptive, and it's happening too often to be a mistake. We received an email 53 minutes into the trip informing us that the Wi‑Fi wouldn't work due to "technical difficulties." Nearly an hour into the ride is far too late to disclose that. It feels like an afterthought rather than honest communication. The train itself looked tired and dirty. Grimy windows, missing curtain ties, broken seats that don't recline, dirty carpet, unwiped tray tables--small things, but together they paint a picture of a company cutting corners and letting standards slide. It's disappointing because we genuinely love traveling by train. But this level of neglect and corner‑cutting makes it harder and harder to justify choosing Amtrak.

I wanted to make this review in appreciation to Metro for hosting a FIFA World Cup watch party at…read morethe station. Some of my favorite memories travelling through Europe and South America during multiple World Cups is the sense of community that is created by the event. Many cities will put up large screens in parks and central plazas for their residents to watch the matches for free, local vendors capitalize on the increased traffic, and residents all join together to watch the matches regardless of their affiliation. Not only will you will see fans of both teams joining together in friendly rivalry, but fans of soccer in general wearing the jersey of their local club, or kids in their youth league jersey, or even completely unrelated teams to two playing. Yesterday's event at Little Tokyo station was no different, with many attendees wearing the Mexican El Tri and Las Aguilas, coming to support Japan due to a controversal play by Netherlands in 2014. There were fans wearing Oranje, Feyenoord Rotterdam, USMNT, LA Galaxy and LAFC jerseys, and even Dodgers and Tokyo Giants gear. I also loved the Rally Wagon providing a creative activity for kids (of all ages) to participate, and in fact made a Samurai Blue pennant for myself as well... Some notes for future activations. While providing shaded areas is important, too much makes it difficult to fully appreciate the main viewing area. I feel that the shaded pavillion could have been pushed further south without the side wings so not to obstruct the view from the beer garden, restroom, or water station. As for non-FIFA notes, this is a great station, well placed for access to Little Tokyo and always feels clean and safe. I love the plaque recognizing of the legendary Atomic Cafe that previously occupied the location as well as a brief history of the neighborhood. Bravo Metro on creating and continuing to maintain one of my favorite stations in your system.

LT/AD Station is one of the 107 subway stations in LA county. This station hub connect the E and A…read moreline. Moreover, it is one of the cleanest and homeless free-somewhat, stations in the system. And you will also see those metro community staff and cops patrolling. Taking about safety and security. I liked the murals on this station as well. Overall, I liked this station.

The hub the connect most! If more stations were as connecting at 7th St/Metro Center LA would be so…read moremuch more public transit friendly! You can connect with the Metro Blue (A) and Expo Line (E) lines on the upper platform or the Red (B) and Purple (D) on the lower platforms not to mention the Silver (J) line above ground. There are tap stands and gates at every entrance and exit, even between switch and when you tap between trains it simple "Transfers" and doesn't reduce your fare at all. I think I had three transfers from near Studio City to NoHo to this station to the Blue line the other day... Was kind of cool! Definitely enjoy going green and riding metro when I can. I did here a rumor that the new K (Pink) Line might extend over to here as well at some point which would be pretty great. It's often busy here and the Expo and Blue are constantly running. The Red and Purple lines don't run as frequently as the others and as the day goes on, but it's about a 10 minute wait usually until after 5 PM where things shift and by night maybe every 15 to 30 minutes. I believe eventually Metro and this station will get back to later hours again and eventually run all night. Great Metro staff and the most you'll see at any station other than Union station. You can catch trains and/or exit from through The Bloc shopping center or across the street on the corner of 7th & Flower St.

Public transportation in Los Angeles, California…read more.. We don't have subways in Hawaii. That's why mainland transportation system is fascinating to me. It's organized and efficient! We had to use the Metro because parking at Exposition Park was sold out per information on an email. Tim knew that the 7th Street Station in Downtown LA would get us to the concert. We parked around 6th and Flower in a metered street parking. It's free after 10pm. Uhg. It's better than parking in a paid lot. We got Tap Cards at a kiosk, entered the station, hopped on the Metro, and got to Exposition Park in no time! Note: it's not the cleanest nor the safest. We just walked quickly and maintained awareness of our surroundings.

Civic Center/Grand Park Metro Station we re-meet…read more After a great night out in DTLA I caught the Red Line (aka B Line) back home. I've been to Civic Center/Grand Park Station more than a handful of times in the past, but it's usually not my default as Pershing is more central. It's a well kept station, minimal issues. I'm not a big fan of the installation of Flying men they have on the train platform. Something about it just doesn't resonate well with me. A for effort and I won't hold that against LA Metro. I do love all the other art, mosaics and overall layout of this station. This station always feels more relaxed and safer than some. You can catch the Metro Red or Purple (aka D Line) heading to Union Station or inbound through Downtown, Koreatown, and eventually through Mid-Wilshire/Central LA and beyond. I typically catch the Red through Hollywood back to North Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley/ area. Fare is $1.75 one way and $3 round trip. You have a lot of options for passes and fares both through the TAP metro app and at the kiosk for purchasing and reloading a physical card. Escalators, elevators and/or stairs available on both entrance/exit ends either at Hill/1st Street or at Grand Park. Q Tip: No metro parking at this station, but there is at Union Station (paid) and 100 free parking spaces at Westlake/MacArthur Park Station. Open 4:30 am until midnight-ish daily.

Civic center/ Grand station is a solid area to come by in the middle of down town Los Angeles. One…read moreof the cleanest parts of the area. My first time ever coming here. This place entails the b red line north Hollywood station & the purple line union station. I wouldn't mind coming back here again though. One of the safest parts of Los Angeles. Eastbound to Union Station Red B line Westbound to North Hollywood Red B line Eastbound to Union station purple D line Westbound to Wilshire/Western Purple D Line I still would drive around the city. But if you want to take a break to get around the city you can come to this location. They also have a nice park here as well.

We took the Amtrak to the valley from SJC we are on our way back, stopping at Union Station for 25…read moreminutes for some reason. It looks like a nice station but I'm still on the train so I can't really tell. They patrol the area well with security guards coming on the train

Really dirty and lots of homeless people. Also has a strange smell. Maybe urine? Convenient pick up…read morethough. Came to pick someone up from the train station. During this time the protests against ICE was going on so there were a lot of closures and a lot of people walking around protesting. However, it was nicely controlled and the union station area was clear of protesters. There are paid parking lots, many bus stops, and a pick up area clearly marked. I just texted my friend to walk out and picked them up really quickly. Fast and convenient. However, the trains are never on time. Most times late some times early. So if your train is late, you might miss your connection to the other train. That's why I had to come to Union station instead of another station. It is a landmark so lots of tourists during normal times. They like taking pictures of the outside and the paintings and decor inside. It is a beautiful station. Too bad there's a horrible odor

Was in the area and my friend and I decided to make this our first stop on our evening of…read moreadventure! I'd ridden Angel's Flight Railway many years ago, so it was really special getting to experience it again and make new memories. Such a fun and unique experience! Even though the ride is short, it's packed with history and offers amazing views. The railway is charming, well maintained, and makes for a great photo opportunity. The staff were friendly, the tickets were inexpensive at $1.50 each way, and it's the perfect little stop while exploring DTLA. Definitely worth checking out at least once--especially if you appreciate historic landmarks and classic LA attractions.

Celebrating 125 Years!!…read more Angels Flight, a 298 foot funicular / inclined plane, originally opened on December 31, 1901. It connects Hill Street with California and features two vintage cars, Sinai and Olivet. It is open from 6:45am-10pm every day! This was so fun I rode both cars - up, down and up again! $1.50 each way... such a deal! The ride itself takes less than a minute and besides a little shimmy and shake when the cars pass each other, it is a straight shot. You can pay with your metro card, debit/credit card or cash. It's a fairly streamlined process & you pay at the top. The gates for the funicular are automatic at the top and bottom of the hill & only the top is staffed by an employee. If you want to save $1.50, you can always walk up the nearly 300 stairs to the left of the funicular & get your steps in! Peace.

Lots of empty lands and there are multiple exits if it wasn't next to grand central market and…read moreangels flight prob not too much nearby the broad museum is within walking distance though. Hopefully they can have more densifcation here of either housing or things to do/eat

Pershing Square Station is a multi-access metro station in the heart of Downtown LA…read more You can access both the Red (B) Line and Purple (D) Line below ground as well as the Silver (J) Line above ground. It runs under Hill Street between 4th and 5th, with one main entrance/exit hub on 5th & Hill Street directly across from Pershing Square and two entrance/exit points on 4th & Hill Street parallel from each other. One on the same side as Angel's Flight and the other on the same side as Grand Central Market. Like any metro station you can find kiosk or purchasing, reloading or checking the balance of physical tap cards needed to ride metro below. You can find elevator access both at 5th as well as on the northwest side of 4th (same side as Angel's Flight). Trains run through here between 4am to 1am weekly, which if you're planning for a later night until close at your local watering hole, lounge, bar, speakeasy or nightclub ride share, a sober friend or the city metro busses are likely to be your chariot. They have been making some improvements and there are motions to extend things back to 2:30/3 am as they were prior to 2020. P.S. Station is one I know well from DTLA Proud and Summer Concerts at Pershing Square to adventures to the Last Book Store, meals at Beelman's, round treats at Donut Friend, concerts at The Regent plus trips to their Love Song Bar and also Prufrock Pizzeria for their adobe fries! Still typically busy during the day and on weekends with frequent service in the morning, afternoon and early evening with less frequency by 8 to 9pm. There isn't any direct metro parking for those riding from Pershing Square, but the Pershing Square Garage is 24 hours with a $9 flat rate + $20 max limit, overnight pricing. Other garages and lots in the area, but not all are late night or 24/7. They're doing their best to keep this station clean and safer, but that also means when need to do are part to when riding green/going metro :)

This is a must do if you like traveling by rail…read more You go from union station in Los Angeles all the way to king street station in Seattle. The Coast Starlight is the signature Amtrak ride on the west coast and offers spectacular views of the coast and mountains as you leave California. It is a reminder of life outside the city and a slow relaxing trip by yourself or with your significant others. We got a roomette which seems a bit cramped but it works. Some people might say it's a tight fit, it kind of is, but it's not really. Sleeper cars, roomette or actual room, include all meals and will have attendant service throughout. Sleeper cars are deemed first class. Or you can go coach for a lower fare. I recommend splurging on this. Our attendant Chris was very friendly and attentive with us and easy to talk to when needed. Food was really good and it's community seating, so if you're an introvert, be prepared to speak to strangers. Or lock yourself in your room. The viewing car is awesome and offers stunning forward throughout the journey. All in all, we really enjoyed it and want to do it again soon. We may look at other trips in the U.S. or Canada.

This was the second time I was on a real train. The first time was when I was in maybe 5th or 6th…read moregrade and had perfect attendance and the reward was going on a train ride. I loved it then, but I really loved it now. The Coast Starlight took us from Los Angeles to Seattle. They offer reasonable accommodations, a little tight, but reasonable. We had a roomette which had two seats facing each other and a bunk above the seats. We're both really tall, so we were almost knee to knee. I personally would have enjoyed having the bunk set up during the day to store items, but the tallness made it feel more cramped. We had an attendant, Chris. We were situated right across from him which was convenient. Luckily, we're low maintenance. Chris was great. He was friendly, helpful, readily answered questions, and helped us when we needed to set up the beds. The train made many stops along the way. Some were strictly for pickup and drop-off, other longer breaks were for fresh air and we were about to take quick walks. Inside the train, there were dining cars, an observation car, a snack bar with seating for viewing, and bathrooms and coffee stations in the sleeping cars. We had the ability to walk through the cars, but incoming traffic caused a couple traffic jams. It was a nice option for when we were feeling antsy. The views were beautiful, stunning, incredible. Words don't do them justice. It's just nice to slow down, take in the sites, appreciate the little things and enjoy the quality time. Also, the food was surprisingly good. Personally, I thought better than airline food!

A main Metro A Line stop if you're wanting to be in the Chinatown area. This station is near many…read morelocal businesses, including shops, many food places, low key tourist spots, or if you want to walk to Union Station, if you feel like getting some steps in for about a mile walk. This station has three levels: Street level, Second level for ticket purchase, and Third level for the trains. There's escalators and stairs here, and an operating elevator. Daytime hours there's a small pack of people waiting for trains, probably more on the weekends. It does have that urban feel if you happen to be here on off-peak hours. Didn't see any ambassadors at this station. Just stay mindful as you're still in the downtown area. To/from Union Station from here is about a 10 minute train ride.

Great views! Bathroom available. Seating for waiting available. Walking distance to LA Historic…read morePark. Elevators and escalators available and easy to pay fair with TAP and cards available for purchase.