seetheworld

Son is taking Amtrak to DC on a Wednesday evening. The train is scheduled to arrive at 12:20 in the morning. (He's not certain if he'd be able to make the 8:15 Acela, which would get him in US at 11pm).

Question:

Will there be plenty of cabs available at that time of the morning to take him to our hotel?

Trying to figure out if he should come early Thursday morning (and take a cab to hotel) or if DH should pull his car out of the hotel lot to pick him up at 12:30 am.

Thanks.

Dukey

Generally if there is a scheduled AMTRAK arrival at whatever time there will be a few cabs waiting out front.

Which hotel?

seetheworld

Good Morning, Dukey.

The JW Marriott Hotel Pennsylvania Avenue. Do you know how far away that is from Union Station?

Thank you.

AnnMarie_C

It's 2 miles, STW.

AnnMarie_C

Here's the Amtrak site for Union Station.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten..._Page&code=WAS

Dukey

The JW is at the corner of 14th and Pennsylvania, across from the Willard and a block from the White House. No way he is going to walk that (not that he was thinking of doing so) and at that hour the Metro won't be running (stations close at midnight during the week) so a cab is probably the easiest.

I wouldn't haul the car out of the JW garage unless I absoluetly had to.

seetheworld

Thanks, AnnMarie.

We really don't want to pull the car out at that hour either, Dukey. However, I don't want a desperate call from him saying that he can't get a cab!

I would imagine that it's not possible to pull up to the curb and pick up passengers at Union Station...or is it?

Thanks for your help.

AnnMarie_C

I wonder if you could make arrangements with a cab at / through your hotel to pick up your son. Perhaps they know of a reliable cab driver / car service?

DCGuy73

I often take late Amtrak trains back from NY and arrive at Union Station after midnight (sometimes as late as 2 or 3 am.). Just tell your son to walk to the front of the station to the taxi line. While he may have to wait a bit (depending on how big the line gets) there will be taxis there to pick him up. Just be aware he might have to share the ride with another passenger if anyone else is going to the same part of town.

seetheworld

Thanks for the thought and suggestion, AnnMarie. But I think my DH would rather just pick him up (we don't want our DS to get used to such royal treatment, lol).

Thanks, DCguy...good to know the procedure and that you've actually taken a cab at that hour.

I'm hoping that he can take the Acela and get in at a more reasonable time.

Thanks for your help.

DCGuy73

Another option to consider is the metro. The last train departs Union Station for Shady Grove at 11:59 PM. If he catches any of the earlier trains its a quick 3 stop ride on the red line to metro center and an easy, very safe 2 block walk from the metro to the hotel. Obviously this won't work if he gets in at 12:20 but with any of the earlier trains this is the best option I think.

seetheworld

Thanks, DCguy!