Trip Planning
The Amtrak San Joaquins schedule or timetable can be found by visiting the following page [San Joaquins Timetable].
Amtrak San Joaquins services 18 train stations, including: Oakland, Richmond (Direct BART Connection), Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto, Merced, Fresno, Hanford, and Bakersfield. In addition to our train service, we offer an extensive Thruway Bus network serving destinations, including: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yosemite, Napa, Las Vegas, Arcata, Chico, and San Luis Obispo. For trip ideas, click here.
Amtrak San Joaquins serves 18 stations directly with a train including: Bakersfield, Wasco, Corcoran, Hanford, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Turlock-Denair, Modesto, Stockton, Lodi, Sacramento, Antioch, Martinez, Richmond, Emeryville, and Oakland. For trip ideas, click here.
Amtrak San Joaquins connects directly to BART at the Richmond (RIC) Station.
The trip between Stockton and Oakland is a scenic part of the corridor with spectacular views of the Delta and Bay. The trip between Lodi and Sacramento runs through beautiful vineyards. The trip between Merced and Fresno features views of the sierras and San Joaquin Farm Land.
Most of our thruway busses leave from the Temporary Transbay Terminal (SFC) with limited service out of Fisherman’s Wharf (SFW), Financial District (SFF), and Union Square (SFS). Another option is to take BART to the Richmond (RIC) station and transfer to our service.
Yes! A large portion of our riders utilize the San Joaquins for trips to/from LA via a Bakersfield Thruway Bus connection. Please see our Thruway Bus page for more information.
Most of our trains and buses offer full accessibility for disabled passengers and are equipped with wheelchair lifts.
Yes! Our trains do operate on the weekends.
Groups of 15 or more passengers traveling together are eligible for a 30% group discount, and we specifically designed a program for K-12 student and youth groups called Kids ‘n’ Trains.
All groups of 15 passengers or more will need to submit a Group Travel Request at least 21 days in advance of travel. Please visit the Group Travel section of our website or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) for more information. Groups of less than 15 passengers should check our Deals and Promotions page for any applicable discounts.
Purchasing a Ticket
You can buy tickets online, from the Amtrak mobile app, from a station agent at staffed stations, from a Quik-Trak machine or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245). Quik-Trak machines are located at all stations and accept debit and credit cards.
If you purchase tickets on board, you will only be able to buy a one way ticket and a surcharge will be applied. The conductor will accept payment with cash only. Certain deals and promotions can only be purchased online and require advance purchase.
The SJJPA is currently unlocking bus-only trips throughout its Thruway Bus network. Currently, Route 10 (Santa Barbara - Bakersfield - Barstow - Las Vegas), Route 18 (Hanford - Lemoore - SLO - Santa Maria), Route 1c (Bakersfield – Burbank Airport – Santa Monica), Route 19 (Bakersfield – Pasadena – Riverside – San Bernardino), and Route 7 (Martinez – Napa – Santa Rosa – Arcata) are available via Amtrak ticketing. Route 15 (Merced – Yosemite) also offers bus-only ticketing through YARTS.
Bus-only tickets must be purchased in advance or at a manned train station. Bus drivers cannot accept cash or credit cards (show your printed ticket or electronic ticket to the bus driver). Bus drivers for Route 10 and 18 accept cash.
Sorry. Discounts cannot be combined.
To take advantage of the Friends and Family Discount, book your trip 24-hrs in advance using the ticketing widget [link to ticket widget]. Select “Adult” as your passenger type for all travelers (including seniors and children), then enter V302 into the promotion code field. You can also purchase tickets by calling 800-USA-RAIL or visiting a staffed station and referring to Discount Code V302.
A reservation can be modified online, in the Amtrak App, at a station, or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245). Amtrak does not charge change fees, but customers will be charged the ticket difference should a reservation change increase the fare amount.
In accordance with Amtrak’s refund policies, one-way and round-trip tickets will be refunded minus a 25% refund fee. Monthly unlimited tickets will be fully refunded only if returned before the month for which it was issued begins. If returned within the first 10 days of the month, you will get a 50% refund. After the first 10 days, you cannot refund your monthly ticket. A 10-ride ticket is fully refundable, only if none of the rides have been used; if one or more rides have been taken, then no refund will be offered. Please note that the 25% refund fee is applied to the total amount refunded on all ticket types.
Boarding
Parking varies by station and is often run by the local municipality. For parking information specific to your location, please check our Stations page.
The Thruway Buses will be in marked locations at the station, but if you are having trouble locating them, ask a station agent for assistance. If your train is running late, the Thruway Buses will wait for you to arrive.
If your trip starts with a bus segment and you don’t have a ticket in hand or on your smart phone, then you will be required to surrender your photo ID to the bus driver temporarily until you arrive at a staffed train station.
Yes! Bike racks are available onboard the San Joaquins at no charge!
No, kids do not need booster chairs.
Yes! Strollers can be brought onto the train and stored in designated baggage areas.
Each passenger is allowed 2 Smaller Personal Items and 2 Larger Bags up to 50lbs each. Any additional bags will be $20 each. For more detailed baggage policy information, visit our baggage page [here]
Onboard
Yes! The Wi-Fi is free and available to all passengers. Look for OnBoard Wi-Fi in your device’s list of available hot spots. The Wi-Fi does not support high-bandwidth activities such as streaming movies and music or downloading large files. Read more about Wi-Fi and other on-board amenities.
We make every effort to stay on top of our Wi-Fi security protocols. Passengers do access the Wi-Fi network at their own risk.
Yes! There is a Café Car on select San Joaquins trains. Passengers can purchase premium sandwiches, fresh salads, snacks, beverages, and more! Enjoy your purchase in the Café Car’s dining seating or take it back to your seat in the passenger car. The San Joaquins offers complimentary snack boxes for the fleets with no Café Cars.
You may also bring your own food onboard but outside food is not allowed in the Café Car. Additionally, Amtrak does not allow you to drink alcoholic beverages you’ve brought on board, however, you may drink alcoholic beverages purchased in the Café Car throughout the train.
Children 16 and older can travel unaccompanied without restriction, but must have valid photo identification when purchasing tickets and when on board the train or when riding buses. Children 13, 14, and 15 years old may only ride unaccompanied in accordance with the conditions of Amtrak’s Unaccompanied Minor Policy. If your child is 12 years old or younger, they are not permitted to travel alone and must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old.
Only certified service animals are allowed on the San Joaquins. You can read about our pet policy here: [Pet Policy Page]
Operations
Our trains may be delayed for several factors including but not limited to train corridor congestion, trespasser or vehicle strikes, and other factors. Our goal is to deliver our passengers on-time, and we’re constantly working with the host railroads to improve on-time performance.
Yes! Our busses are dedicated to the train service (with the exception of the YARTS Yosemite Connection). The busses will wait for the train to arrive or passengers will be accommodated on alternative busses or modes.
Yes! Train travel is the safest way to travel.
Amtrak San Joaquins trains travel up to 79mph.
Yes! Amtrak utilizes a Lost and Found ticket system. To claim or report a lost item, click here [lost and found link]
About Amtrak Joaquins
Amtrak San Joaquins is the brand of a particular intercity passenger rail service. Amtrak San Joaquins is operated by Amtrak and managed by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) [link to sjjpa.com] with authority to do so and funding from the State of California.
We pluralized ‘San Joaquins’ because it is meant to feel more inclusive of the whole of the San Joaquin Valley!
Amtrak San Joaquins operations are funded by the State of California through the San Joaquins Joint Powers Authority (sjjpa.com link).