Amtrak Overnight Luggage Storage

[msii]

We're planning a trip this summer that will include San Diego, Universal Studios, and Disneyland. We are thinking of taking Amtrak from San Diego to Los Angeles, staying one night in LA to do Universal, then taking Amtrak back to Anaheim (I know we could just rent a car, but our son is really into trains).

I e-mailed Amtrak and they said it was no problem to check the baggage we don't need directly to Anaheim and only deal with an overnight bag in LA. Has anyone left their baggage at the Anaheim Amtrak station overnight? Does anyone know how secure the baggage storage area is at the Anaheim station?

 

[bumbershoot]

Intriguing! I had no idea there was a proper station there at the station. I walked through so quickly I must not have noticed *anything*, LOL. It's a weird stop; you'll understand when you see it.

But their Anaheim station page does show that there is luggage storage, though it also says there might be a fee.


Be sure to reply back how it goes, OK? Interesting!

 

[msii]

I had no idea there was a proper station there

That's my biggest concern: how proper the station really is for storage bags overnight. Everything I see on the Amtrak website and their reply says this shouldn't be a problem, but the few pictures I've seen of the station on Google don't show much there. To add to the concern, I read somewhere that they just broke ground on a new Amtrak station and I didn't know how that effected the current station.

 

[bcla]

I haven't really dealt much with checked baggage on Amtrak, but have used a station to store luggage for a few hours to do touristy stuff for a few hours before heading for the airport. We were charged a fee per bag, but the train we took had no luggage service. They didn't check our tickets, but I understand that the service can be restricted to people who have used Amtrak.

The following claims that they charge $2 per bag at Los Angeles Union Station and supposedly only for ticketed passengers. You could also ask them about how long you have to pick up your luggage (if you don't have to pay) and whether or not you need to claim then recheck them. I think the luggage storage is for up to 24 hours and the fee is paid upfront.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,1147016

 

[msii]

bcla, Have you stored your luggage at Anaheim or a different station? If it was Anaheim, was there a secure room they used for storage somewhere in the station?

Based on the other reading I've done, it appears Amtrak will store checked baggage for two days with no charge. My understanding is that they will also hold other bags for the day for a small fee.

 

[bumbershoot]

That's my biggest concern: how proper the station really is for storage bags overnight. Everything I see on the Amtrak website and their reply says this shouldn't be a problem, but the few pictures I've seen of the station on Google don't show much there. To add to the concern, I read somewhere that they just broke ground on a new Amtrak station and I didn't know how that effected the current station.

The little that I do remember of the station was that it was sort of under"ground". Not really ground, but it felt like a bunker. But I really get focused on the destination sometimes, and my destination was getting out of there and to a cab, so it's all very hazy in my memory. It was also very early in the morning (I had caught the first train out of San Diego).

I figure if they say they can do it, they'll do it and do it right. They've been very good with updates to my local station in Seattle, and all the work they are doing and how early to get there, etc etc, so I figure they are accurate with the ANA station as well.

We like trains, too.

 

[bcla]

bcla, Have you stored your luggage at Anaheim or a different station? If it was Anaheim, was there a secure room they used for storage somewhere in the station?

Based on the other reading I've done, it appears Amtrak will store checked baggage for two days with no charge. My understanding is that they will also hold other bags for the day for a small fee.

New York Penn Station. $5.50 per bag for up to 24 hours. I believe at the end of the night they'll lock it down and you can't get it until baggage opens in the morning. Besides that, it's right next to the Amtrak Police desk, so who would be stupid enough to try to break in? I believe LA Union Station is similar.

It's been my understanding that if you arrive at a station with checked luggage, you'll have a certain amount of time to claim it unlike an airport. Still - they seem to have a baggage carousel like at an airport. I can't inline link this photo, but you'll notice that it says "BAGGAGE CLAIM/PARCEL CHECK".

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoffarth/8150899179/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hoffarth/8150921706/

It looks like they can probably lock down the entire baggage claim area. Still - it sounds as if all the baggage goes to the carousel, although I'm not sure if they have an Amtrak employee ask for claim checks matched to the tags. I've been to several stations that have checked baggage, and none have a carousel. The luggage goes to a check room to be claimed, and an Amtrak employee brings each bag individually to the passenger.

Every station is different. I mentioned NY Penn Station with a separate baggage counter. One station I use has a combination ticket counter and check-in area. I'm not sure where baggage would be claimed though. I didn't even know that LAUS had a baggage carousel.

 

[msii]

Thank you both for the information. I figure we'll double-check with Amtrak when we check in at San Diego, but we'll plan to do this and see how it goes.

 

[bcla]

I did a little more research. Los Angeles Union Station does have a baggage carousel. If you don't pick up your luggage by the time they shut down the carousel, they'll take it off and store your bags, at which point the bags will need to be retrieved individually. You probably have until at least the next day to collect your bags before you get charged for it, but you could ask when you get there. Nobody is allowed to leave with a bag from the carousel without a claim check, so no worries about someone stealing your bag. Don't lose your claim check. It might be possible to present ID to look up your claim check #, but it would be a hassle.

I sort of asked the question on a railroad message board. I didn't directly ask, but I think you'll find what you're looking for here:

http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/topic/55060-baggage-carousels/

 

[Amy1118]

I just got back from a trip on Amtrak from San Antonio to Anaheim (via Los Angeles). I checked my bag all the way through and it came into Anaheim on an earlier train from LA. They had my bag in a locked area behind the counter at the station (inside the tiny little building) and asked for my claim check before giving it to me. I wouldn't worry about storing luggage there.

 

[msii]

I just got back from a trip on Amtrak from San Antonio to Anaheim (via Los Angeles). I checked my bag all the way through and it came into Anaheim on an earlier train from LA. They had my bag in a locked area behind the counter at the station (inside the tiny little building) and asked for my claim check before giving it to me. I wouldn't worry about storing luggage there.

Thanks Amy1118.....that's very reassuring. Did you notice if they have begun construction of a new station building? If so, did it effect the current building any?

 

[Amy1118]

Thanks Amy1118.....that's very reassuring. Did you notice if they have begun construction of a new station building? If so, did it effect the current building any?

I didn't notice any construction, although I wasn't looking for it. If it's in progress, it isn't affecting the current building.

Have a great trip! I'm into trains, too.

 

[bcla]

I'm starting to feel a bit silly since I didn't quite get the original question.

However, pretty much every station that has baggage service will allow you at least until the next day to claim your luggage and most will store your luggage afterwards for a fee. It will be properly waiting for you or delivered to your connection. Today I was at an Amtrak station for National Train Day, and I saw baggage being offloaded from a train to the station and also to a connecting bus.