Best way to drop passenger off at Amtrak station in DC - Please help with advice
#1
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Best way to drop passenger off at Amtrak station in DC - Please help with advice
Hello!
I will be driving a friend to the Amtrak station at Union Station on Saturday morning. This friend will just have had a medical procedure so will need assistance with bags. Will I be able to help her carry her bags on to the train when I won't have a ticket myself?
Also, I've never been to Union Station before. What would be the most stress free way of getting my friend to the station and on the train? Is driving a bad idea? Should we be taking a cab instead?
Thank you very much for your input!!
I will be driving a friend to the Amtrak station at Union Station on Saturday morning. This friend will just have had a medical procedure so will need assistance with bags. Will I be able to help her carry her bags on to the train when I won't have a ticket myself?
Also, I've never been to Union Station before. What would be the most stress free way of getting my friend to the station and on the train? Is driving a bad idea? Should we be taking a cab instead?
Thank you very much for your input!!
#2
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You won't be able to take her bags onto the train without a ticket but they have bellman or whatever you call them with a train that you pay to take your bag or bags on. You also get to board early before the mad rush of other people.
#4
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There is Red Cap service at the front of Union Station (the drop area used by taxis and other cars) so you could easily just drive your friend as well. It is located approximately at the lowercase "m" of the word Columbus Circle on this map:
http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../unionsta.html
Red Cap Info:
http://tinyurl.com/2uqkx3
http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../unionsta.html
Red Cap Info:
http://tinyurl.com/2uqkx3
#5
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There is also hourly parking in the Union station parking garage (entrance off H street) if you want to walk your friend to the train.
http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../unionsta.html
http://www.stationmasters.com/System.../unionsta.html
#6
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If a cab is feasible, that's what I'd recommend. Parking will be a bit of a logistical hassle, especially if your friend is mobility impaired and can't walk to the train area from the parking garage. They won't let you out onto the train platform without a ticket, but you can wait with your friend in the waiting area. There are always plenty of redcaps around happy to help out (for tips, of course). You can then take metro home/to wherever you parked your car.
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Denice, NY Traveler, Bardo and Nicegirl, Thank you all so much for the replies!!
Bardo, thank you for the links, especially the map and the detail about the lowercase m!!!!! I love specific, helpful details like that!!
If I were to drop off my friend at the front of the station, how far would she have to walk to first pick up her ticket and then get to the train platform area? How will the Red Cap guy at the front of the station know where to put her bags if she doesn't have her ticket yet?
Please forgive all the questions, but, as I said, I've never been to this station before so don't have my bearings.
Thank you so much!!
Bardo, thank you for the links, especially the map and the detail about the lowercase m!!!!! I love specific, helpful details like that!!
If I were to drop off my friend at the front of the station, how far would she have to walk to first pick up her ticket and then get to the train platform area? How will the Red Cap guy at the front of the station know where to put her bags if she doesn't have her ticket yet?
Please forgive all the questions, but, as I said, I've never been to this station before so don't have my bearings.
Thank you so much!!
#8
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The walk from the front door to the Amtrak counter is maybe 500 feet, and then another 500 feet to the track waiting area (depending on which track). Maybe. I'm not good with distances. It's not too far but not right there either. The redcap can take her bags to the counter, and then once she buys her ticket she can get another porter to take her bags to the waiting area and then another to actually put them on the train. This will add up to a lot of tips and she'll have to handle her own luggage while in line to get her ticket unless she wants to tip one guy really, really well to accompany her from front door to ticket counter to track waiting area (and to train, depending on how long a wait she has). I don't know if they have wheelchairs like they do at the airport.
Is there a reason she can't buy her ticket online in advance? That would save some hassle. There are also automated kiosks where you can buy tickets, but I seem to recall them being sort of out of the way (it's been a while since I bought an Amtrak ticket).
Is there a reason she can't buy her ticket online in advance? That would save some hassle. There are also automated kiosks where you can buy tickets, but I seem to recall them being sort of out of the way (it's been a while since I bought an Amtrak ticket).
#9
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Hi Nicegirl,
The ticket has been purchased online already, but there isn't enough time to receive it by mail, so she'll have to pick it up at the station.
Thanks for all the advice. I think that the best course is going to be taking a cab, followed by my husband and I accompanying her to the waiting area with the bags. Then we can get a redcap guy to take it from there.
Thank you very much!!
The ticket has been purchased online already, but there isn't enough time to receive it by mail, so she'll have to pick it up at the station.
Thanks for all the advice. I think that the best course is going to be taking a cab, followed by my husband and I accompanying her to the waiting area with the bags. Then we can get a redcap guy to take it from there.
Thank you very much!!
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That sounds like a great plan, Katherine. I am sure your friend will really appreciate you helping her out like this. I am single and have had to have medical procedures a few times and having friends willing to take me to the hospital and bring me back was SO wonderful.
#12
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If she has purchased her ticket online, she can use one of the computer kiosks. There are some to the left of the ticket counter and some on the aisle side of the gates. I suggest that you go directly the gate (look at the computer monitors--like an airport--for the gate/track info) and then one of you can take her credit card to the nearby kiosk to print out the ticket.
#13
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Thanks, everybody!!
Ruff, when you say to go to the "aisle side of the gates", what do you mean? Are they passed the waiting area, and will my husband and I be allowed there without tickets?
Thank you!!!
Ruff, when you say to go to the "aisle side of the gates", what do you mean? Are they passed the waiting area, and will my husband and I be allowed there without tickets?
Thank you!!!
#14
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Katherine - I tried to reply to your driving post, but because of the long link, I couldn't.
I just wanted to give you an alternate route to Arlington, at step 10.
Instead of taking PA Ave, go past it. The next exit is Howard Road. Go left at the light at the end of ramp, then go left at the next light. This will put you at a point where you will see a big sign for 395 south. I find this to be easier than the PA loop-around.
Karen
I just wanted to give you an alternate route to Arlington, at step 10.
Instead of taking PA Ave, go past it. The next exit is Howard Road. Go left at the light at the end of ramp, then go left at the next light. This will put you at a point where you will see a big sign for 395 south. I find this to be easier than the PA loop-around.
Karen
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The waiting areas at Union Station are like the gates at an airport. If you are walking from the front entrance, there will be a wide corridor or aisle before these waiting areas/gates. On the other side of the waiting areas/gates is the door that leads out to the tracks. You can sit in the waiting areas with your friend, but you can't go through the door leading out to the tracks.