Rather than write one long post about my trip, Im going to write three shorter posts over the next few days.
This first one is about Burbank airports convenience for transit connections elsewhere in the region.
The second post will be about the train ride from Los Angeles to Portland on the Coast Starlights detour over the Tehachapis, and finally the third will concern my brief stay in Portland.
Id like to assume that all readers know that Burbank (BUR) is the most centrally located airport of the five commercial airports in the Los Angeles metroplex. But just in case you dont know that, then let me say so now: Burbank is the most convenient of the L.A. area airports. That is true, regardless of whether you are renting a car, using transit or being picked up by someone.
Long Beach is a close second due to its small, user-friendly feel (similar to Burbank), but its flight offerings are limited, it is not near downtown L.A. and it does not have the transit options that I’ll shortly describe about Burbank.
There are five airports in the greater L.A. area: LAX, Long Beach, Ontario, Orange County and Burbank. If your destination is close to one of the four other airports then the logical choice is to use it. But Burbank best serves a huge swath of the area including the entire San Fernando Valley, downtown L.A. (way, way better than using LAX), Glendale, Pasadena, Hollywood and environs
If youre driving, Burbank is a piece of cake because its very close to the Golden State Freeway (I-5) and also near the Hollywood Freeway (170/101).
But beyond an easy jump onto the famous/notorious L.A. freeway system, Burbank Airport offers a remarkably painless connection to rail that broadens the reach of the airport to the transit user.
Take a look at the picture below.
A VIEW OF THE BURBANK AIRPORT FROM THE AMTRAK/METROLINK PLATFORM
See how close the airport terminal is to the train station?
It is a very easy walk from the terminal to the train station. But if you have a lot of luggage, its raining or you just dont want to walk, you can take the Lot D parking shuttle instead. (Be sure to tell the driver you want to be dropped at the train station as its not a regular stop. When flying out of Burbank call from the phone at the train station if you need to be picked up.)
The Burbank Airport station is served both by Amtraks regional southern California trains on the Surfliner route (San Diego-Orange County-Los Angeles-Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo) and the Metrolink commuter system (all over the greater Los Angeles area)
BURBANK-BOB HOPE AIRPORT RAIL PLATFORM
Routes:
Rather than tell you all of the possible places you could get to using Metrolink heres a link to an interactive route map for the system. Metrolinks hub is Union Station in downtown L.A. Though youll need to change trains, you can go all over the region with one connection there. In some cases, even though your final destination may be closer to one of the other airports in the area, if are not renting a car or being picked up, then flying to Burbank and using transit may be the better way to go.
For example, you might be going to San Juan Capistrano. Thats in southern Orange County and obviously the closest airport would be John Wayne Airport (Orange County). But if the transit options are poor the better choice could be flying to Burbank, and using Metrolink or Amtrak to San Juan Capistrano.
Keep in mind that the Metrolink line that serves the airport (Ventura County line) does not operate as of this writing on weekends. Plan accordingly. Amtrak, on the other hand, operates 7 days a week.
Heres a link to a route and station map for Amtraks Pacific Surfliner trains in southern California.
Buying tickets:
If youre going to use Metrolink you buy your ticket before boarding the train. At the Burbank Airport station there is only one ticket vending machine (cash or cards) and its located on the north side of the platform underneath one of the canopies.
Amtrak riders may buy tickets on board the train from the conductor but it can be less expensive to buy in advance at Amtrak.com. Certain discounts such as AAA (10% off) cannot be bought on the train since they require a 3-day advance purchase. If youre traveling a longer distance on Amtrak (Santa Barbara or San Diego, for example) you may wish to consider getting a seat in the Business Class car. Its slightly more expensive but offers some amenities as well as a reserved (but not assigned) seat.
One more transit option at BUR, the Burbank Bus to the Red Line Metro:
If your destination is North Hollywood or Hollywood proper then another option is to use the Burbank Bus. The
The Red Line Metro runs south to Hollywood and ultimately ends up at downtowns Union Station. Click here to view a Red Line schedule and map. The Burbank Bus does not stop inside the airport area itself but youll reach it with a fairly short walk from the terminal east to the intersection of Thornton Avenue and Hollywood Way. Catch the bus to North Hollywood (NoHo) on the west side of Hollywood Way. On your return to the airport the bus drops you on the east side of the street.
A traveler could also take an airport parking shuttle bus to avoid the walk to the bus stop but as with the train station, it is such a short walk that it would make sense to do this only when the weather is poor, one has heavy or awkward luggage, or for passengers not physically up to the walk.
For more information about Burbank Airport’s transit connections:
Take a look at the airport’s webste .
