LAX metropolitan lounge

[blue streak 1]

Amtrak announces grand opening.  However has been used since late September 2013.

Visited it its first week and appears somewhat small for a LD passenger crowd but found one big problem.

1. Lounge is located west of the south end of station.

2.  There is a surface service road from the station & lounge that crosses at the south end of the station to access all track platforms.

3.  This road before did not cross any station tracks.

4.  However the light rail extension from LAX US going south now crosses this surface road .  The  LRT extension is protected by flashers and crossing gates.

5.  When a southbound LRT approaches the Union station platform the crossing gates are activated even though the LRT was not even in view.

6.  During the whole dwell time at the station the crossing gates remained active until the  LRT passed the  service road.. 

7. Lounge passengers and disabled are carried across the LRT tracks in small 8 passenger carts..  We had to wait 17 minutes 

8. During off hours a LRT appears to wait at its platform for time.

9.  There is no time out provision in the crossing gate mechanism.

10.  The back up for both passengers and baggage caused a slight delay in departure of the Sunset..  This problem needs to be fixed  

NOTE:  all this was late September and may have been fixed now but if not  ? ?

http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/406/751/Amtrak-Metropolitan-Lounge-Grand-Opening-LA-ATK-13-155.pdf

 

[henry6]

Businesses often open without fanfare and operate being sure all works well and is stable.  A grand opening is just a paper celebration when business is ready to hype and holler.  Mc D's, Kmart, and even Mom and Po's will open but delay the celebration to when they are ready.  It's not a Grand Opening until the owner/operator says it is.