Amtrak Los angeles connection time

[matacaster]

My wife and I will be taking an amtrak train from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. It arrives LA at 16.48. I'm then on Southwest chief at 17.55 to Chicago. What are the chances of making that connection? Or is it risky as the trip to Chicago is in a pricey roomette and we'd be unlikely to get one the next day if we miss it?

 

[jamesontheroad]

I'm assuming that is Pacific Surfliner train 784. On the majority of days in the last month, it's been "on time" (i.e. arrived within 15 minutes).

ASMAD - Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database - Train History Search

ASMAD - Amtrak Status Maps History and Archive

juckins.net

However that's not a connection I would risk myself.

 

[matt]

I wouldn't risk that for a once a day train.

 

[ge-gn]

While I’ve not been on the train in question, Long distance Amtrak trains are frequently deleyed in my experience, often to be measured in hours rather than minutes. Get yourself a room for the night as there’s no comeback from Amtrak if you miss your connection.

 

[AlterEgo]

My wife and I will be taking an amtrak train from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. It arrives LA at 16.48. I'm then on Southwest chief at 17.55 to Chicago. What are the chances of making that connection? Or is it risky as the trip to Chicago is in a pricey roomette and we'd be unlikely to get one the next day if we miss it?

Mad idea. Do not plan on Amtrak trains, or in fact any trains in the US, arriving on time, or even close to being on time. Get the one arriving 1143, check your bags at LA Union and go for lunch in Los Angeles. Much more civilised and far less stressful, I guarantee.

 

[matacaster]

Mad idea. Do not plan on Amtrak trains, or in fact any trains in the US, arriving on time, or even close to being on time. Get the one arriving 1143, check your bags at LA Union and go for lunch in Los Angeles. Much more civilised and far less stressful, I guarantee.

I decided taking earlier train was best option. Spoke to amtrak last night. They wanted circa $900 to change reservation! Seems the journey from Santa Barbara to Chicago is booked as a single trip despite it being two different trains and me only wanting to take the earlier train from Santa Barbara with no change to the expensive long haul to Chicago. As it appears to be a single journey, despite having two different tickets I wonder if they are guaranteeing the connection? I only appear to have two options 1) book two new tickets on earlier train 2) try a more obliging amtrak reservations person.

 

[AlterEgo]

I decided taking earlier train was best option. Spoke to amtrak last night. They wanted circa $900 to change reservation! Seems the journey from Santa Barbara to Chicago is booked as a single trip despite it being two different trains and me only wanting to take the earlier train from Santa Barbara with no change to the expensive long haul to Chicago. As it appears to be a single journey, despite having two different tickets I wonder if they are guaranteeing the connection? I only appear to have two options 1) book two new tickets on earlier train 2) try a more obliging amtrak reservations person.

Amtrak will not guarantee a connection I'm afraid. Delays can be quite spectacular, running into many hours. If you get stiffed and arrive quite late, the Chief will go without you and there may also be no sleeper availability the next day as it is a very, very popular route especially in summer... Amtrak is a bit weird with connecting itineraries; no such thing as "Advance and connections" with their tickets.

If I were you I'd ring up again, just to see if you get someone who can work around the situation, and if not, pay for two new tickets. I think it's about 30 USD on that route but the peace of mind will be worth it.

 

[Taunton]

Amtrak does guarantee connections of more than 60 minutes, stated in their "Connecting trains" policy.

At the Station

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www.amtrak.com

Accounts of experience of this from Chicago, where it is a daily event, are that they provide hotel, and cab to/from the hotel. The trains from the middle California coast commonly have connecting passengers headed on east at LA.

 

[AlterEgo]

Amtrak does guarantee connections of more than 60 minutes, stated in their "Connecting trains" policy.

At the Station

Use our helpful tools to familiarize yourself with each train station you'll be visiting along your journey.

www.amtrak.com

Accounts of experience of this from Chicago, where it is a daily event, are that they provide hotel, and cab to/from the hotel. The trains from the middle California coast commonly have connecting passengers headed on east at LA.

They don’t guarantee connections! They just say they do, and then rescind that guarantee immediately after:

“A guaranteed connection does not ensure that such a connection will always be made. In the case of a missed guaranteed connection, Amtrak will provide assistance at Amtrak's discretion.”

At Amtrak’s discretion means you will probably be stiffed, there is no obligation for them to:
- hold a train
- accommodate you on the next one
- accommodate you in the same class

They may, ultimately, hotel you and then send you on a plane - it happened to me when the Silver Star was cancelled - but if your goal is to do the Chief, don’t rely on making a connection.

 

[ac6000cw]

The 16:48 arrival in LA should be Pacific Surfliner 784, starting from Goleta - next station north of Santa Barbara, where it appears to be the return working of Surfliner train 765 with about a 75 minute turnaround at Goleta. See: https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/gl...270_pacific-surfliner-timetable_may_2022.pdf/

These are Regional (not long-distance) trains, running on a primarily passenger route between Goleta or San Luis Obispo and San Diego via LA (it's only the LA to Fullerton portion that carries significant freight traffic), so I'd hope they have reasonable time keeping compared to the true long-distance trains running over primarily freight routes.

 

[nlogax]

Confirming the other advice above. Leave at least a day if you're booked onto something once-daily like the Chief. Surfliners are *fairly* reliable but it is absolutely not worth the risk and I would not trust Amtrak to assist you properly if your schedule goes fubar. Add to that - is this a winter trip and if so is your first night in Chicago potentially refundable? I've experienced a ten hour delay on the n/b Texas Eagle due to local weather conditions in the Chicago area. Not uncommon.

 

[ac6000cw]

If I were you I'd ring up again, just to see if you get someone who can work around the situation, and if not, pay for two new tickets. I think it's about 30 USD on that route but the peace of mind will be worth it.

I'd agree with that - otherwise you'll end up worrying about it during the earlier part of the trip.

Or as others have suggested, do the Santa Barbara to LA move the day before and stay in downtown LA instead of Santa Barbara that night - there is a Surfliner from Santa Barbara at 19:04 (arr. LA 21:56) if you wanted to leave it as late as possible.

 

[OldandRambling]

I have many tens of thousands of Amtrak train miles behind me, and while many hours delay are commonplace on long distance trains, the Surfliners are more local, and I would not expect to have to overnight in LA on that connection, myself.

The easiest option is to buy a couple of new tickets from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles for an earlier train, and just keep the original booking for the Southwest Chief.
I believe Amtrak booking staff are a "mixed bunch", some are very knowledgeable, some not at all.
I believe the term to use is that you want to MODIFY an existing booking, rather than cancel and rebook, might be worth another shot on the phone, ask for a supervisor too, if no luck...

Edit: I don't want to give you bad advice, but I am wondering now if Surfliners are "reserved seats only", you may be able to use your existing tickets on an earlier Surfliner. Worth a look?

 

[matacaster]

Thanks folks for the advice, much appreciated. I have just spoken amtrak again and thankfully got a more clued up operator. She has changed my santa Barbara to Los Angeles to train 774 which departs 08.49 and arrives at 11.43 for free! That gives me circa 6 hours to play with and if 774 fails to show up, I can still try the 784 of my original booking. Not completely stress free, but more safety margin!

 

[Royston Vasey]

Personally, I would be quite happy with it, based on my moderately extensive Amtrak experience. The Surfliner is a regional train, and quite reliable. Downtown Los Angeles isn't somewhere I'd choose to while away several hours if I could possibly help it.

 

[cle]

Yes 100% take an evening in DTLA - some very cool restaurants around there. Bavel, Bestia...tons more - stay at Soho Warehouse if you can, and have a pool day / Arts District / Little Tokyo mooch (some amazing things in and around DTLA, from classic to modern interests), and then be comfortably tired and ready for the Southwest Chief, after a day in a part of LA you might not check out otherwise.

 

[OldandRambling]

You will have free access to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at L.A. with your sleeper tickets. A place to rest up, grab some free snacks, or store your bags while you go out for a look around. The station building itself is very grand and impressive if you like architecture. There is (was?) a small walled garden area to sit at one side.
A selection of stalls selling Mexican food and such is very near to the station.

 

[P Binnersley]

Congratulations on getting your reservation changed.

For future reference it worth remembering that Amtrak operate a "No Show Policy" where subsequent segments are automatically cancelled if you miss a segment.

"No Show" Policy​

A "no-show" is defined as a passenger's failure to travel on a segment from its origin without first canceling that portion of the itinerary.
For all types of tickets, if your travel plans change and you do not modify or cancel your reservation before departure and then do not board your train, your entire reservation will be canceled, including all subsequent segments in the itinerary, and any remaining funds or points for that trip may be forfeited.

 

[OldandRambling]

Good point above, something to watch out for!

 

[matacaster]

Arrgh!