The Lake Merritt connection usually just misses the train, requiring another 15-minute wait (true on weekdays). The double transfer provides the fastest total travel time.

I thought Lake Merritt would be a good bet on a Saturday, since the waiting time is only about 4 minutes. But NO, along comes a 4-CAR train from Dublin packed to the gills with San Francisco-bound passengers. I jockey my luggage in the aisle while standing. Almost all the passengers are going to Powell, where the train clears out and IMMEDIATELY another SRO crowd gets on, headed to San Mateo County and SFO.

Not good, not good at all.