Amtrak

[californiamomof4grls]

Anybody ever taken the Amtrak before? It's 200 cheaper then flying. Dh and I need to leave our car here in case there is any sort of emergency. We are the only one in our family with a car big enough to fit all of our kids. We don't want them to go stir crazy either from being in the house that many days.
So we have a few questions: Is it in a "ok" part of town? How do you get to your hotel from there? If we were to take a cab about how much would that cost? Is there a direct bus route or anything like that? Any suggestions about how to do this?

 

[B9erSteve]

I've thought a lot about using Amtrak. Problem is... it stops in Bakersfield then you have to get on a bus and travel the remaining distance. All in all, your travel time is not much different than driving AND a lot more expensive. Until they get us that high speed rail I think that driving or flying is the only options.

 

[goofycathy]

You dont have to take the bus from Bakersfield, they do have a train that goes all the way to the LAX station, I believe its the starlite car. Look into it or call amtrack directly...You do have the option of taking the bus to get there an hour earlier or stay on the train and get there a little later....

www.amtrak.com

 

[Califgirl]

I often take the Amtrak up from San Diego. It stops at Anaheim Stadium. There are always taxis there - it usually costs around $10 to get to an area hotel. (Disclaimer, I haven't used the taxi for about a year, so prices could have gone up.) The Art shuttle is supposed to stop at the Anaheim station, but it was only there for the first train of the day (in my experience) and I never could find the bus schedule. The easiest thing to do is just flag down a taxi, or use the 'taxi phone' inside the station to call one. They do have vans, so that should fit your family.

I love traveling by train! Have a great trip.

 

[B9erSteve]

Just looked it up. No option w/o bus from Modesto.

 

[B9erSteve]

Price wasn't too bad though. $259 for the four of us. And 7 hours is the same as driving.

 

[AmberStar]

bus from Modesto? I live in modesto and will be taking Amtrack to so. cal in just a few weeks.

We board in Modesto then head to bakersfield where we hop on a bus the rest of the way. Yes the bus does make the drive long due to multiple stops but when a car is not an option it is cheaper then flying.

 

[Mazzy]

I often take the Amtrak up from San Diego. It stops at Anaheim Stadium. There are always taxis there - it usually costs around $10 to get to an area hotel. (Disclaimer, I haven't used the taxi for about a year, so prices could have gone up.) The Art shuttle is supposed to stop at the Anaheim station, but it was only there for the first train of the day (in my experience) and I never could find the bus schedule. The easiest thing to do is just flag down a taxi, or use the 'taxi phone' inside the station to call one. They do have vans, so that should fit your family.

I love traveling by train! Have a great trip.

Thanks for that info, as DD and I will be using the Amtrak during our stay, so good to hear that there are taxis and even a taxi phone at the Anaheim Station.

 

[nunzia]

I take AMTRAK all the time and love it. We leave from Albuquerque at 4:30 PM and arrive in Fullerton at 6:30 AM. very easy and the area is fine. We then take a cab to the park. The Anaheim station is fine also, right at the stadium, and an easy cab ride to the park. ART goes there also, but I can never figure that thing out. Coming from NoCal, I'm sure you'd have to go into LA Union Station..never had any problems there but it's such a cave I can never hear any announcements..and then take the train to Anaheim. It's a really pretty ride from No cal down..I've taken the train from LA to Oakland several times..very pretty. Try it!

 

[B9erSteve]

bus from Modesto? I live in modesto and will be taking Amtrack to so. cal in just a few weeks.

We board in Modesto then head to bakersfield where we hop on a bus the rest of the way. Yes the bus does make the drive long due to multiple stops but when a car is not an option it is cheaper then flying.

That's what I meant. No option from Modesto without the Bus ride from Bakersfield to LA

 

[bumbershoot]

Looks like if you can get to San Jose and get on the Coast Starlight, that avoids the bus situation. And from their service advisory on the Surfliner (take from LA to Anaheim), I wouldn't do that on Saturday, as you'd be on a bus, it seems.

The ANA station is in the parking lot, basically, of Angels Stadium. It looks like a wasteland, but just follow everyone down the path. You'll go through a tunnel of sorts (takes you under the tracks) and then you'll be in civilization.

The taxi I caught from there was $13 by meter to DLH.


The one problem with Amtrak is *time*. And especially if you're catching the Starlight, you would want to be prepared for it to be late late late. The more stops there are, the later it gets. Because freight owns the rails, and Amtrak has to wait if freight needs to go through. So you have to give yourself lots of time.

I took the Starlight from Seattle to San Jose, and it was scheduled for 24 hours but took more. Then, catching it home, my dad kept calling the station to check on it (didn't want to drive from Santa Cruz just to sit in the station for hours) and it was late late late. Finally just went, and still had to wait for an hour or so. You just have to KNOW it's going to happen and have ways to deal with it if it does.

 

[spidey_99]

Took the train from SD up to the Anaheim station last weekend. Fun for my kids and it was nice to wear myself out at the park and not have to worry about being crazy burnt/tired for the drive home (we are AP holders and do tons of day trips to the park). This was our first time on the train, usually drive.

The ride up went off without a hitch. The ride home was about 90 minutes late. The train is late lots and lots. As was said before, if you are prepped for that and cool with it, the train is a very relaxing way to get to and from DLR. Just be prepared to be late many times.

Spidey

 

[B9erSteve]

Looks like if you can get to San Jose and get on the Coast Starlight, that avoids the bus situation. And from their service advisory on the Surfliner (take from LA to Anaheim), I wouldn't do that on Saturday, as you'd be on a bus, it seems.

The ANA station is in the parking lot, basically, of Angels Stadium. It looks like a wasteland, but just follow everyone down the path. You'll go through a tunnel of sorts (takes you under the tracks) and then you'll be in civilization.

The taxi I caught from there was $13 by meter to DLH.


The one problem with Amtrak is *time*. And especially if you're catching the Starlight, you would want to be prepared for it to be late late late. The more stops there are, the later it gets. Because freight owns the rails, and Amtrak has to wait if freight needs to go through. So you have to give yourself lots of time.

I took the Starlight from Seattle to San Jose, and it was scheduled for 24 hours but took more. Then, catching it home, my dad kept calling the station to check on it (didn't want to drive from Santa Cruz just to sit in the station for hours) and it was late late late. Finally just went, and still had to wait for an hour or so. You just have to KNOW it's going to happen and have ways to deal with it if it does.

San Jose is out of the way for the Central Valley. I can drive to Pleasanton then Jump on BART to Oakland to Coast Starlight. However when I plug that in, I'm still getting a bus ride from San Jose to San Luis Obispo.

I'm with you on the time thing. Even if the Coast Starlight was not interrupted by a bus ride. It would take me an hour to drive to Pleasanton then another 30 minutes to get to Oakland Coliseum then onto the 7 hour train ride. And that's before delays!

This is why public transportation never gets anywhere in CA. It's wildly ineffecient and expensive. I've found it's much better on the East Coast.

 

[bumbershoot]

It must be something based on the dates you're looking at vs the date I picked from the air. I got something like 4 or 5 different options on the date I chose, and about the 3rd or 4th was just the Starlight, no bus, and then Surfliner.

It really depends on exact days, schedules, work being done on the rails, etc.



californiamomof4grls, has any of this helped you?

 

[Mazzy]

Took the train from SD up to the Anaheim station last weekend. Fun for my kids and it was nice to wear myself out at the park and not have to worry about being crazy burnt/tired for the drive home (we are AP holders and do tons of day trips to the park). This was our first time on the train, usually drive.

The ride up went off without a hitch. The ride home was about 90 minutes late. The train is late lots and lots. As was said before, if you are prepped for that and cool with it, the train is a very relaxing way to get to and from DLR. Just be prepared to be late many times.

Spidey

Wow, 90 mins late is not good. Thanks for the warning, we might be OK as all our trains are morning trains, so hopefully that will mean we won't get a delay, or maybe not! Hahahaha

 

[nunzia]

Looks like if you can get to San Jose and get on the Coast Starlight, that avoids the bus situation. And from their service advisory on the Surfliner (take from LA to Anaheim), I wouldn't do that on Saturday, as you'd be on a bus, it seems.

The ANA station is in the parking lot, basically, of Angels Stadium. It looks like a wasteland, but just follow everyone down the path. You'll go through a tunnel of sorts (takes you under the tracks) and then you'll be in civilization.

The taxi I caught from there was $13 by meter to DLH.


The one problem with Amtrak is *time*. And especially if you're catching the Starlight, you would want to be prepared for it to be late late late. The more stops there are, the later it gets. Because freight owns the rails, and Amtrak has to wait if freight needs to go through. So you have to give yourself lots of time.

I took the Starlight from Seattle to San Jose, and it was scheduled for 24 hours but took more. Then, catching it home, my dad kept calling the station to check on it (didn't want to drive from Santa Cruz just to sit in the station for hours) and it was late late late. Finally just went, and still had to wait for an hour or so. You just have to KNOW it's going to happen and have ways to deal with it if it does.

that is true.. But, I will say that lately the long distance trains I've been taking, the Sunset Limited and Southwest Chief have been amazingly on time..I've been shocked. I remember 1 trip the train was 8 hours late..yes..8...I also remember a couple of trips where it was so late I missed my connection in LA and got to take a bus all the way up the state...the only bonus being I got to see the exit for Hanford where Steve Perry is from . Anyway...I don't know about the Starlight, but I will say that timing is MUCH improved on the other routes. There is a website that you can check historical timing issues and also can always check to see how the train you're waiting for is doing. That said, I never make plans for day of arrival..no reservations for eating or anything.
PS..I'd rather be stuck for awhile on a train than sitting on a runway FOREVER on a plane..ugh

 

[B9erSteve]

It must be something based on the dates you're looking at vs the date I picked from the air. I got something like 4 or 5 different options on the date I chose, and about the 3rd or 4th was just the Starlight, no bus, and then Surfliner.

It really depends on exact days, schedules, work being done on the rails, etc.



californiamomof4grls, has any of this helped you?

You're probably right. I'm looking in April.

PS..I'd rather be stuck for awhile on a train than sitting on a runway FOREVER on a plane..ugh

Yeah I'd have to agree with that! Those AMTRAK coaches are really nice.

 

[californiamomof4grls]

You guys have been a lot of help! Thank you!
San Jose is about an hour from here but the airport is between an hour or two depending on which one we choose . So, I wouldn't be opposed to being dropped off at the train station to avoid the bus! LOL! With there being a taxi phone it should be really simple to get to our hotel! I think we could do it. I'm excited!