LOS ANGELES UNION STATION

Description

Essentials about Los Angeles Union Station in brief

The probability of arriving in Los Angeles by train as a traveler these days is rather low. Nevertheless, a visit to Union Station is not just for die-hard rail fans. Located on the northern edge of downtown Los Angeles across from historic Olvera Street, Union Station is not only one of the last major train stations built in the U.S., but also an architectural gem. Especially the elaborately decorated waiting room is definitely worth a look.

The architecture of Los Angeles Union Station

Union Station was designed by John Parkinson and his son Donald B. Parkinson, who also planned Los Angeles City Hall and whose firm has made its mark on many of the city’s important buildings since the late 19th century. The station’s architectural style combines Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and late Art Deco with Moorish architectural details. On both sides of the waiting room are beautiful courtyard gardens with palm trees, magnolias and orange trees.

The lower part of the interior walls is covered with travertine marble and the upper part with an early form of acoustic tile. The floor in the waiting room is covered with terracotta tiles and marble in the middle. Other parts of the flooring of the station are colored tiles with Aztec influences.

The history of Los Angeles Union Station

The term Union Station refers to a railroad station in the United States that was shared by several railroad companies. The station originally served the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, the Southern and Union Pacific Railroad, and the Pacific Electric Railway and the Los Angeles Railway. Union Station replaced the stations of these companies located in various parts of the city and was chosen by popular vote as an alternative to an elevated rail system.

After enjoying a period of prosperity until World War II, the station steadily declined as a result of the automobile and airplane booms that followed. Due to declining ridership, about half of the platforms were removed over the years and many services were discontinued.

Today, Union Station is once again well utilized, due in no small part to the opening of the Metro station in 1993 and the introduction of the Metrolink commuter rail service. A special experience is traveling across the U.S. on one of the long-distance trains that depart from Union Station. There are currently connections with the Pacific Surfliner to San Diego and San Luis Obispo in California, the Coast Starlight via San Francisco to Seattle, the Texas Eagle via San Antonio and Dallas to Chicago, the Southwest Chief via Albuquerque and Kansas City to Chicago, and the Sunset Limited via San Antonio to New Orleans.