Best way to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco via train?
Hi all,
What's the best way for a person to travel from LA to SF via train? Will they need to show a passport (they're travelling from Europe) or other ID for travel by train?
Your friends could take Amtrak from LA to San Jose then take Caltrain to San Francisco. If they are going to SFO, they would get of Caltrain at Milbrae station and take the BART to the airport.
Amtrak's "Coast Starlight leaves the LA Station @ 10:24am and arrives San Jose around 8:30pm. Connecting train to SF leave about every hour at that time of night. One leaves at 9:30pm.
I'm not sure about showing passport. When I buy Amtrak tickets and pick them up at "willcall" I have to show ID.
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you can take the Coast Starlight direct to SF w/ a connecting bus
We had to show ID when getting ON the train. I don't know if a non-citizen would need to show a passport but some picture ID would be necessary
If you are going to San Francisco itself, you can book the Coast Starlight directly to SF with a connecting bus as part of the ticket. If you are going to SFO , then the prior instructions are the best.
If you want an actual train trip make sure you book the coast starlight and not the San Joaquin which is primarily on an Amtrak bus.
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Unless you have nothing better to do, a flight will probably be about the same price and will take much less time.
I've found this to be true as well. I wanted to give the train system in America a try but it just doesn't compare to other nations. I wish it were easier/cheaper to get from LA to SF or Vegas via train. I wouldn't mind the extra time if it were cheaper but I haven't found a way to make it cheaper.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by squeakr
If you want an actual train trip make sure you book the coast starlight and not the San Joaquin which is primarily on an Amtrak bus.
Well, partially on the bus (I'm a native of Fresno and rode the San Joaquin many times). The Amtrak Bus runs from LA Union Station to Amtrak in Bakersfield (maybe 110 As Crow Flies miles), then transfer to the San Joaquin from Bakersfield to Emeryville (maybe 280 ACF miles), then another Amtrak bus for the short jaunt over the Bay Bridge into downtown SF. The price includes the bus rides at either end. Not especially scenic, unfortunately.
Because Amtrak's Coast Starlight shares the track with freight trains (the freight systems own the track) this train is very often quite late. A few years ago, my trip was 11 hours late, and I understand this is not at all unusual. Amtrak has much better services in the Northeast, and also in the Northwest (the Cascades from Eugene, OR to Vancouver, BC). The only scenic part of that trip will be in S. California along the beach - actually more scenic going north.
Coast Starlight does have its delays for sure. I live in ear shot of the tracks just south of San Jose's train station and always look at the clock to see how close to their schedule. I heard the whistle a bit late tonight - only about 15 minutes (heading north).
There was a time where there was a complete change of schedule due to track work. That's over and done with. Not sure what will happen when they start upgrading for the high speed rail.
It's not your most reliable mode of transportation, but certainly one that affords you some beautiful scenery. Coast Starlight travels through areas that cannot be seen by any other mode of transportation. There's some beautiful wildlife areas (sloughs - between San Jose and Santa Barbara) that are awesome.
It's not your most reliable mode of transportation, but certainly one that affords you some beautiful scenery. Coast Starlight travels through areas that cannot be seen by any other mode of transportation. There's some beautiful wildlife areas (sloughs - between San Jose and Santa Barbara) that are awesome.
Plus, one doesn't have to get to the airport through traffic and go through their security.
The only train is the Coast Starlight, which is an Amtrak route. It goes to Emeryville, and an Amtrak bus connects across the bridge to San Francisco or you can take BART across. This is a very scenic ride.
If you are looking for the cheapest option, it would be the bus. I recommend cashuttlebus.com rather than Greyhound.
As others have said, flying may not be too much more expensive.
