Amtrak San Joaquins Partners with Castle Air Museum and Merced Transit Authority for Open Cockpit Day, Labor Day Weekend

(August 4, Stockton, CA) – Planes, trains, but no automobiles needed for the annual Fall Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Amtrak San Joaquins announced a new partnership with the Castle Air Museum to provide discounted travel fare for the annual event on August 30^th from 9-4pm at the Central Valley aviation landmark.

In addition to free entrance to the museum, Amtrak San Joaquins riders save 25% on train ticket prices when using the discount code V661 while booking. In addition Amtrak San Joaquins has secured a free, round-trip shuttle service in partnership with Merced Transit Authority (“The Bus”) for visitors, making for a convenient connection from the downtown Merced Amtrak Station to the entrance of the museum.

In combining the discount and this new shuttle connection, the museum becomes significantly more accessible, not only to Central Valley residents but to visitors from the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Southern California traveling via the Amtrak San Joaquins corridor.

“This partnership helps bridge the last-mile gap between rail service and one of the Central Valley’s premier cultural destinations,” said Marques Cook, Marketing Director of San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. “This partnership supports sustainable travel while giving families and aviation enthusiasts a convenient, car-free way to enjoy Open Cockpit Day.”

The Castle Air Museum is one of the largest aviation museums on the West Coast, offering more than 80 restored military aircraft and unique experiences for aviation enthusiasts of all generations. Open Cockpit Day invites visitors to step inside rare and historic aircraft, meet veteran aviators, and explore a fleet of vintage military planes up close.

“Castle Air Museum is thrilled to welcome more visitors from across the state,” Maj Gen Clay Garrison USAF (ret), Chairman, Castle Air Museum. “By partnering with Amtrak San Joaquins, we’re making it easier and more enjoyable for guests of all backgrounds to discover and appreciate the wonder of flight.”

Take Amtrak San Joaquins to Merced, show your same-day Amtrak ticket, and get FREE admission to the event, and the shuttle, operated by the Merced Regional Transit System, to and from the museum.

Free Inbound Shuttle to Castle Museum

• Shuttle 1 – Departs 9:00 AM (Train 702 arrives 8:45 AM)
• Shuttle 2 – Departs 11:00 AM (Train 710 arrives 10:45 AM)
• Shuttle 3 – Departs 11:45 PM (Train 713 arrives 11:23 AM)

Free Return Shuttle to Merced Amtrak Station

• Shuttle 4 – Departs 2:30 PM (Connects to Train 715 at 3:23 PM)
• Shuttle 5 – Departs 4:00 PM (Connects to Train 716 at 4:45 PM)

 
To plan your trip to Fall Open Cockpit Day and to take advantage of discounted rail fares, visit www.amtraksanjoaquins.com/air. For more information on how to book a group trip to the Castle Air Museum, please contact Rene Gutierrez, community outreach coordinator for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) at rgutierrez@sjrrc.com.

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