The SJC <=> SD ride is quite iconic (as parts of the ride from Ventura <=> Vanderberg AFB) and one shoudl try it at least once as the tracks on the former section may no longer be viable before long (lots of shoring up work as portions of the track keep getting eroded away).
Originally Posted by
lrdpenn
Anyone know how busy the train is on Sundays these days? As others have already said, I took it once pre-COVID on a weekend and it was jam-packed; people were standing in the vestibules and sitting on the stairs. So the modest upcharge for business class is a good deal for guaranteed seating. People boarding at origin stations have less of a problem finding seats, but it's still nicer to have fewer people standing around in the car.
Mid-May last year, quite busy. Was surprised as I made a last-minute (<24 hr) award redemption. Was pretty full (80%+) in the BC carriage out of LAX and it might have been SRO in coach by the time it got to Anaheim (lots of people boarding there for some reason, baseball games, theme parks?) in late mid afternoon.
We had just gotten of a cruise ship at San Pedro and had some suggestions that it's be better to take the train from ARTIC transit hub. Glad we didn't listen.