Celebrate National Train Day at Los Angeles Union Station
Union Station will host a major celebration for the fifth annual National Train Day on Saturday, May 12, marking the 143rd anniversary of America's first transcontinental railroad. Celebrate train travel by riding the rails to attend the event. Take Metro's Red, Purple or Gold Lines, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's San Bernardino Line or Orange County Line to Union Station.
Festivities start at 11 a.m. and admission is free. Metro will have a booth at the event to promote Metro's rail services, particularly the new Expo Line. Opened just two weeks ago, the light rail line offers a new way to travel to the Westside. Volunteers at the booth will be on hand to give away timetables and brochures promoting the Expo Line, as well as answer general questions about the line and Metro's expanding system.
There also will be free fun activities, interactive exhibits and model train displays to highlight the joys of traveling by rail. Attendees can take tours of Amtrak equipment, freight and commuter trains and notable private railroad cars. Live entertainment will include Amtrak Police K-9 Unit demonstrations, a performance by The All-American Boys Chorus and more.
Exclusive to Union Station is a visit by Dora the Explorer, a popular children's cartoon character, who will greet fans and explore various forms of train travel with attendees.
The event will last until 4 p.m. Make sure to arrive early as space is limited to first come, first served. American Sign Language interpreted tours for the deaf and hard of hearing will be offered at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
National Train Day includes events at four of America's most iconic train stations: New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles' own historic Union Station. Union Station serves Metro, as well as Amtrak and Metrolink, and is the major rail hub for Los Angeles.
For more information, visit http://www.nationaltrainday.com/
