SF to SJC?
 

Hi everyone :)

I'm not sure if this is the right board, but it's the closest I can find :confused:

As a new immigrant to the Bay Area, there's still quite a lot of things I don't know and even now, I occasionally run into nasty surprises. I compose this thread in the hopes to seek confirmation of commuting to SJC.

(and hopefully to get a confirmation before my 24h flight refund window expires)

......

I just booked a ticket out of SJC departing on a Saturday noon in August. The problem is that I live in Daly City. I seek confirmation whether this is do-able or not via public transit.

I think it's theoretically possible since the first BART train on Saturdays depart Daly City at 6:49am for Millbrae. I can then take a Caltrain down to Santa Clara and transfer to a VTA shuttle bus.

Has anyone else commuted to SJC on public transit? Will my plan work? Are there better ways?

Thank you!

I think you have identified the best route via public transit. Driving is the best way to get to SJC, but it can be done as you suggested. Check the schedules carefully (does Caltrain run that early on Saturday?) and give yourself lots and lots of time (probably more than two hours each way). Also be sure to check for service outages on Caltrain. They will occasionally decide to not run trains on weekends to get track work done.

I've taken Caltrain to SJC a few times from the mid-Peninsula, and it was seamless, although I did it on weekdays. On Saturday, the first train from Millbrae is at 8:39, which would get you to Santa Clara at 9:43. The shuttle bus should be waiting for you, and from there it is a 5-7 minute trip.

maradori - you did ask about better ways... I'd suggest checking yelp for a shuttle recommendation. I think Caltrain is going to be running a few less weekend trains after July http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula...e=most_emailed

Bart to Caltrain to the VTA shuttle is the current best way, as others have noted, but you do need to check the new Caltrain schedules (have they appeared?) to see if the trains will still be running when you need them.

I bet a shuttle from SF to SJC will be at least $50, but I've certainly been wrong before. If you consider the shuttle route, it might be a bit cheaper to use Bart to SFO and shuttle from there. Then again, it might not!

Beware of long waits in shuttles, as they often won't go for many minutes if they aren't full.

new CalTrain schedules start in July
 

but double check...

The Monterey Airbus charges $20 for an SFO-SJC shuttle. It's just airport-to-airport though. http://www.montereyairbus.com/rates-2.php

I live in the city and use SJC a lot. Usually just rent a car at SJC and drop it off an hour later (or the next morning) at one of the Fisherman's Wharf locations. Cost varies by day and week (presumably according to demand and inventory). Usually about $40-$50 OW. From Daly City, BART to SFO and the Monterey Airbus sounds like a pretty good deal, although running every 90 minutes, you might be waiting a while.

They're still trying to find money for Caltrain and the new schedules effective July 1 aren't out yet. It's already known that they've found enough money so the cuts have been reduced, now they're going for eliminating any cuts.