As summer winds down, many students prepare for the new school year, whether heading to a new college or university campus or walking a few blocks from home. Amtrak San Joaquins is here to help you transition into a new chapter of life.
With our student discount, you can travel home, visit your friends, head to the coast, or take a much-needed nature walk in Yosemite National Park.
Our trains offer free wifi and a piece of mind if you need to study for an upcoming exam or just want to kick back with music, videos, or a good book as you travel to your final destination. Enjoy 15% savings on Amtrak San Joaquins by entering code V353 during checkout, or get 30% off tickets with our 6TIX Student Pass. For more information, please see the Amtrak San Joaquins Student Travel page.
Roberts Family Development Center, 766 Darina Ave, Sacramento | Sunday, August 14, 2022 | 1:00 PM PDT - 5:00 PM PDT
The Roberts Family Development Center in a Back to School Block Party! Celebrate summer's end with free backpacks, live music, jump houses, water slides, and more. Families can relax to the live entertainment, enjoy water activities, and do some last-minute back-to-school shopping with the vendors.
Directions: Once Amtrak San Joaquins Riders arrive at the Sacramento Valley Station, they can take a quick 11-minute Lyft or Uber ride to the Roberts Family Development Center.
St. Paul Baptist Church, 3996 14th Ave, Sacramento, CA| Saturday August 20, 2022 | 11:30 AM PDT - 3:30 PM PDT
The St. Paul Baptist Church will host a Back to School Giveaway and Kicks for Kids Drive. Swing by St. Pauls on Saturday, August 22nd, for a free Back to School giveaway event. Kids must be registered to receive free items like shoes, clothes, school supplies, and more. Donations are still accepted and would be a huge help to make this event a success. After the giveaway, stay for the free food, live music, vendors, and informational booths. For more information, including donation drop-off locations, visit the St. Pauls Baptist Church's Eventbrite page.
Directions: Amtrak San Joaquin Riders arriving at the Sacramento Valley Station can take a 15-minute Lyft or Uber to the St. Pauls Baptist Church.
Family Resource Center, 1661 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA | Tuesday, August 23, 2022, | 2:00 PM PDT - 4:00 PM PDT
Join the Stockton Unified School Districts Family Resource Center for free groceries. The team will hand out free groceries at their main office, off Pacific Avenue. This is a great way to feed Stockton Unified District Families and build community. The event will be located in the Annex parking lot. For more information on how to attend this event, please visit the Stockton Unified School District Calendar.
Directions: Amtrak San Joaquins Riders arriving at the San Joaquin Street Station can get a quick 8-minute Lyft or Uber to the Family Resource Center.
123 Macdonald Ave. Richmond, CA 94801 | Thursday August 11th | 9:00 AM PDT - 4:00 PM PDT
The start of the new school year is just around the corner, and the Bay Area Rescue Mission is helping students by having a Back to School Backpack Giveaway for children enrolled in the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Students in grades Pre-K to 12 are welcome to be a part of the giveaway. All children who plan to participate must be registered before the event and be present at the giveaway with an adult to receive their backpacks. To register, please click here. The event will occur on Thursday, August 11th, at the Bay Area Rescue Mission.
Directions: From Amtrak San Joaquins Richmond Station, head toward Nevin Plaza. Continue walking straight on Nevin Plaza and turn left on 13th St. Turn right onto Macdonald Ave. Walk nine streets down Macdonald Ave, and your destination will be on your right.
5800 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94621 | Saturday, August 6th | 12:00 PM PDT - 3:00 PM PDT
Find all the school supplies you need at the Our Youth Matter 15th Annual Back to School Bash! All students grades Preschool to 12th Grade are encouraged to attend. There will be books, backpacks, school supplies, and free items at the event! The event will take place Saturday, August 6th, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. To register for the event, click here. Registration does not guarantee you will receive supplies as backpacks, and school supplies will be given on a first-come, first serve basis. All children need to be present to receive the giveaway items. Throughout the event, students and their families are encouraged to enjoy free activities, food, household giveaways, and more!
Directions: From Amtrak San Joaquins Oakland Station, walk toward 2nd Street. Turn right onto 2nd Street and left on Jackson Street, walk straight for nine streets, then turn right on 11th St. At the Madison SB BART stop, hop onto BART and take 1T San Leandro BART via International Blvd. Continue on BART for 14 stops and get off at Seminary. The destination will be across the street.
702 M St., Fresno, CA 93721 | Wednesday, August 10th | 3:00 PM PDT - 8:00 PM PDT
The West Fresno Family Resource Center is celebrating 20 years of supporting youth with free educational supplies and services for a healthy start to the school year. So come on down to the Valdez Convention Center this Wednesday and enjoy live music, resources, free haircuts, free COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters, and health screenings! This event aims to provide school supplies, access to health screenings, education in nutrition, medical enrollment, college and employment resources, and more for K-12 students and their families. So don’t wait, be there early to participate in the free giveaway of backpacks and school supplies while supplies last!
Directions: From the Amtrak Fresno Station, walk toward Tulare & P St. and hop on the 22 bus and hop off at Tulare & M St. Turn left onto N St and walk a block to the corner of N St & Kern St. and turn right onto Kern St. Walk to the corner of Kern St & M St, and turn left on M St. The event is located a block down the road next to the Saroyan Theatre.
13375 Lake Ming Road, Bakersfield, CA 93306 | Saturday, August 20th | 2:00 PM PDT - 7:00 PM PDT
Bring your chairs, sources of shade, and all the cozy picnic gear to enjoy a family fun day on the shaded picnic grounds of the Kern County Pyles Boys Camp Ground Picnic Area. The Impala Car Club and Loyal Familia Car Club have organized an Autism Family Friendly event to enjoy good food and a custom car show for the Kern Autism Network. This event hopes to bring awareness to Autism and highlight going back to school for Autistic children. Enjoy the car show and numerous food vendors, BBQ, and festive activities, including judging the best cars for trophies! For tickets to the event, click here. To enter a vehicle in the show, please email Kern Autism Network directly.
Directions: Kern County Pyles Boys Camp Ground is located off Alfred Harrell Hwy. Take the exit to Lake Ming Road and follow the road to the campgrounds, where you will find parking available along Lake Ming.
425 South Pacific Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90731 | Saturday, August 13th | 10:00 AM PDT - 1:00 PM PDT
Join Harbor Community Health Centers for their most significant, most popular event of the year, the Back to School Fair! There will be a free backpack, school supply giveaway, free resources from community nonprofits and organizations, entertainment, games, and prizes! To receive a backpack, you must be in physical attendance at the event. To register for the event, click here. Don't miss your chance to score some free school supplies for the 2022-2023 school year!
Directions: Harbor Community Health Center is located on South Pacific Avenue between 4th and 5th street.
(October 30 -- Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have secured $54.5 million in federal grant funding through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) MEGA initiative to support the Madera High-Speed Rail (HSR) Station Project.
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Take a trip to the Inland Empire for a unique California experience. Riverside offers visitors a look at the historic origins of the region and exciting cultural attractions, with the charm and ease of quaint small town America.
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Trains 712 and 717 are both cancelled Tuesday, October 2, 2024. For passengers that intended to travel on those trains, please contact 1-800-USA-RAIL to rebook.
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