We had two women in wheelchair. Four of seven of us approached the bus stop in front of Sales Force Building at 7:38 and said the other three are a block away. The driver became angry and said he wasn't waiting even though the bus wasn't supposed to leave until 7:40. We arrived with a wheelchair and two others at 7:41. Yes we were 1 minute late as he saw us approaching. We said thank you but he was clearly pissed. No compassion. So unkind. Not happy with this experience. read more

Refreshment bar never seems to be open Station is drab and uninviting. It's convenient for Sacto read more

The Emeryville station serves as sort of a hub for various rail lines, so it is a busy place. It's also used as the connecting point for buses that will take you into San Francisco. Despite the busy nature of this station, I thought it was clean and the staff was courteous. There's a small coffee place that sells drinks and snacks right inside. There are also several hotels nearby. You can walk to most of them, but you'll probably have to cross over the tracks using a pedestrian bridge. It's two flights of stairs at either end and there's also an elevator on each end , both of which were out of service the day I was there. Crossing over with the bridge may not be the easiest thing to do if you're carrying a lot of luggage, so you can always take a taxi for the short ride if that's your preference. Some, but not all, of the hotels provide rides to and from the station. read more

Amtrak - Pedestrian Bridge that crosses over the tracks to nearby hotels. - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

Very clean, quiet station with polite staff and very clean bathrooms. We were catching the overnight from San Fran to Portland and had a few hours to wait. One note...no charging areas as advertised. Everything is unplugged. read more

Ok , booked the auto train from Sanford, Florida to Lorton, VA on Sept 2, 2020. We booked a family sleeper car , which comes with dinner. I picked the baked manicotti. What I received was some nasty pasta noodles in a watery vegetable sauce. No where near the description on the menu. Now due to Covid there really isn't any other options , like food in the cafe car , since it's mostly microwaved pizzas..... food is inedible and that's being nice. Our car attendant was surly and seemed to really not care. For 3 people it cost $1000, for that price I would hope there would be some decent food. Next time we will skip the expense and just drive. Now I know why Amtrak is dying off.... read more

Amtrak - Menu - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

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I took the "most scenic route" the California Zephry from Chicago to Emeryville (San Francisco). The estimated trip was 52hrs, but the trip added 6 hrs, which is longer than flying time. The train is somewhat "vintage", dirts can be found on door gaps and the windows are covered with fingerprints. On the plus side, the conductors are nice and informative. Amtrak executive should take a look of how Japanese Railway runs. read more

Amtrak has definitely stepped their game up from how their cars cleanliness used to be. Food is still 7-11 microwave type, so I suggest BYOF. The pics i posted w/this review are inside a San Joaquin train. San Joaquin route is a quiet empty route on weekdays, but on weekends.. especially when it hits the stockton station..the shit show starts. LOL read more

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Finally decided to take a cross country train trip on the infamous California Zephyr in January. I booked the basic roommette for sleeping accommodations. From previous reviews and experience, being in a sleeper vs. coach, makes or breaks your trip. Being able to lie in an adequate bed is crucial for long trips as well as having all meals included. Our car attendant Stephanie went above and beyond to make her passengers feel comfortable - books/magazine to read, cookie days, and always having a pot of coffee. I almost felt like I was at a b&b! The views were amazing and I really fell in love with the novelty of the train. The rest of the crew were also amazing and when I lost a personal item, they were very helpful in attempting to find it... But to no success. I admit that these types of trips are not for everyone. But if you have a great crew, sleeping accommodations, and appreciate the novelty of a train this is a must take trip! read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

Two years ago, I wanted to do something different with the wife, so I suggested the Zephyr "Snow Train" ride to Reno. We boarded the train in Emeryville and headed North along the Suisun Bay towards the Sierra's and Reno, NV. Hitting all the major cities and stops along the way, I got to see areas and sights I'd never seen before. When we did finally make it to the Sierra's, we sat in the observation car. Sipped on cocktails and took in the sights. While we rode and watched, the entire history of the Sierra's, Donner's Pass and the Zephry rail-line we're narrated by an extremely knowledgeable conductor. Once in Reno, we we're dropped off curb side at our hotel and picked up a few days later in the same manner. The train itself was a lot of fun. On the ride up, we sat in general seating. On the ride back home, I paid the extra cash for a 1st class car, which came with two beds, a table, a private restroom and meals. The only negative about the trip was it's length. It took us over 7 hours to travel from Emeryville to Reno. A trip that normally, even on a bad day, takes about three hours max. I also thought the food and drinks were a bit pricey. But knowing what I know now, I'll BYOB next time. If your interested in doing something unique this winter, here's their website: http://www.keyholidays.com/st.html read more

The main thing to update about the Zephyr, to and from Reno, is that for the past four years or more it has arrived at its destination right on time, and way early on its westbound run to Sacramento and end-of-the-line stops. It would be merely speculation whether that's a result of reduced freight traffic in a sluggish economy freeing the line for Amtrak, but it works for us rail passengers. My most recent trip to Reno in early January featured fresh snow pack in the Sierra mountains and clean, fresh-smelling rail coaches and facilities. Even better, when the westbound No. 5 out of Chicago arrived in Reno for the return trip, it was in possibly the best shape (i.e. it didn't stink of sewage) that my friends and I have encountered in 16 years of these winter excursions. In the previous review I mentioned that the annoyances and shortcomings on an Amtrak trip only add color to the railroad experience. Conversely, a less colorful trip also has its merits. Only problem is, it doesn't provide fodder for a riveting, newsy or haranguing update of the service. My one question might be, if the Zephyr has a full boat on most of its runs, as it seems to have on our trips, and dining-car meals are kinda' spendy, and thinly traveled passenger routes have been eliminated (RIP Desert Wind), how is it that we always hear Amtrak is losing big money? Amtrak--open your books! read more

The absolute worse ride of my life! My train (the California Zephyr, train 6) was delayed for 6 hours! We didn't board on time because of a GPS issue, but the conductor made up for that initial delay. What really set us back was the fact that we were stuck on the tracks for 4 hours in Nevada because of maintenance work. Maintenance work that Amtrak knew about because on the app that I downloaded the day of my trip I saw a disclaimer. When I booked my trip in early April on the Amtrak website there was nothing mentioned about maintenance work from July 18th-24th. That leads me to believe that it was scheduled after April and I didn't receive a email about possible delays because of this or even the option to cancel my trip and receive a full refund. This is completely unacceptable, I'm so disappointed because I really wanted to enjoy this. I was a coach passenger and the workers barely accommodated us, they just kept apologizing as if we have a choice of finding another way to get to our destination. There wasn't a discount on the snack store or a discount on the meals. Everything stayed the same as if we're on time and everything is smooth sailing, it was far from that. The snack car offered "complimentary" snacks and water but it was only mentioned one time when they set out snacks and water twice. It wasn't complimentary because they didn't make sure that everyone received a snack and a water, it was first come first served. People were grabbing 6 or 7 snacks and 6 or 7 water bottles just for themselves. Absolutely ridiculous! I was supposed to be in Denver on Friday July 21st at 6:23pm I didn't arrive until 12:30am July 22, a SATURDAY! I lost half of the day because of these ridiculous delays. I arrived in a state that I don't live in at MIDNIGHT, in a train station! That's not safe for anyone, let alone a woman. I'm just extremely upset at this experience. I called Amtraks customer service and was transferred over to customer relations and was left on hold for over an hour, just to be told that you don't give refunds, but I can get a $300 voucher. I don't want a voucher, I want my money. I'm not interested in being on another Amtrak train for as long as I live. I feel completely robbed of what should've been a nice experience. While on the phone with an Amtrak representative named Lee, she gave me a case number and the email to the corporate office because of course there's no phone number, how convenient. Lee told me that she can't guarantee a refund and that it would take 6 to 7 weeks before I hear from Amtrak. This is ridiculous! How do you expect to keep people coming back when you leave them on hold for over an hour, have delays that you know about and don't communicate it with your passengers prior to the trip? I will be emailing that office and I'll be waiting my 6-7 weeks because I want my money back. If I could give this bitch zero stars I would. GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK! read more

This Amtrak station is the most convenient to my home in Albany, unless you count the Whistle Stop at Berkeley or the Banana Republic that's called Richmond. Emeryville has it's own issues as it develops in all sorts of different directions and themes, trying hard to imitate Houston for zoning "excellence". I have used this station as a travel jump off point in various ways. That includes the Coast Starlight (North and South), the California Zephyr to Denver and Chicago, the San Joaquin Train to Visalia, and of course the Capital Corridor Trains to Martinez, Sacramento, and San Jose. Someday, I may add the Snow Train to my list. The Station itself is handsome and roomy, with high ceilings and a convenient coffee shop. Parking is easier if you do so on the Emery Market side and walk across the pedestrian bridge. Amtrak also runs a bus bridge to the Ferry Building in San Francisco. read more

I have mixed emotions about train travel; especially taking Amtrak. Part of me appreciates the romantic aspect of train travel and I recall the introduction of Dostoyevsky's "The Idiot" of how various people with various backgrounds converge over a long distance sharing stories and info. On the other hand, another side of me skeptically wishes I were at point B already. I've concluded that a train ride is only as interesting as the people running train, the cleanliness of the train, and the cleanliness of the passengers. That's the problem with train travel. You never know when you'll pull into a city and an odd smelly chap's gonna walk on board and be a killjoy to the experience. While on the Coast Starlight, I found that people who enjoyed the train ride were the following: 1. Older People looking to slow down the experience of their journey 2. Scraggly looking people, 1 of 1000 who end up becoming amazing writers, visionaries, poets, or musicians. 3. Airplanephobes who somehow think they have more control over their survival by taking a train; 4. Extroverted people who like to have cheesy conversations and play solitaire. 5. People who think slowly 6. and lazy people who like things that are convenient. I don't want to overlook some advantages to train travel: One is that of getting on and off a train, especially if you go on a shopping binge somewhere 500 miles away. Another advantage of train travel is that you see the underground of America, the sleepy cities that are often overlooked, some which have a lot of charm. You also have the chance to view, at a safe distance some of the more run down cities like Fresno, Stockton, and Bakersfield. I was actually amazed of Earlimart, Calfornia, a city off of I-99 because I love the band Earlimart. Their music and even song lyrics made a lot of sense whilst training thru this town in what took all of 3 minutes. The food on a train is never good enough. If I ever had to take a train, I'd reserve such experience for either Austria or Switzerland. Here in California, it's a bit of a run down institution in serious need of a face lift for it ever to fully catch on. read more

The people that work here are rude. Lazy people. I'm sure they put up with some stuff but that doesn't mean you gotta act the way you do. Dirty on the inside because the workers don't work. Racist as well. Would not let me have the bathroom code until I stood in an empty line. While several other people walk up and got the code for bathroom no hassle. Lady was mad about something and took it out on me. Luckily my train was only a few mins away. read more

You must be meticulous in making your reservations when it comes to the people traveling. We bought tickets for a large family group -- 9 adults and 13 kids. One of the kids dropped out and another kid took her place. You'd think it'd be an easy switch -- they're even the same age! Nope! We were asked to cancel the whole ticket, and instead of getting a refund, we'd have to buy a new ticket. Then they'd give us a voucher for the canceled ticket. Thanks for effortlessly adding all kinds of stress to our family reunion, Amtrak! Our options were to spend several hundred dollars to fix the mistake or hope that the conductor only counts heads. I readily admit that I was human and didn't get my reservation perfect. But Amtrak made *zero* effort to make a very simple correction. I'll never use them again. read more

Omg ! What a shitshow Amtrak is !!!! Our 6:25 Bus in SF never arrived to take us to Emeryville to catch a train to Sac. The 7:55 bus arrived at 8:30 due to " poor communication with driver" ( their words, not mine). The 8:40 train in Emeryville was delayed indefinitely due to "a car on the track" and on and on ..... Then due to. " police action". And then due to " mechanical difficulties ". No way to call them. You just get a voicemail that says they'll call you back in 2 to 3 days. What a joke. My friend left SF 2 hours before me. His bus didn't :arrive from SF to Emeryville. He took an Uber to Emeryville and HIS train was 2 hours late because :.............." a car on the track". Hahahaha. ... The same excuse they told us two hours after my friend's train arrived and departed !!!! Amtrak is ghetto service and piss poor management. read more

Nice and clean. Seems like a safe and secure station. Really helpful station agents. The parking lot is under construction and while there is a nearby garage, it closes at 11:00pm. My return was at 12:00am, so lost a star. read more

Service was amazing, and the sleeper cabins had all of the necessities while still being comfortable. The food was not bad- definitely better than airplane food. The views of the coast and overall surrounding land were gorgeous- we even got to see several Dolphins and seals from a distance. The conductor was very attentive at updating passengers on the time schedule and even shared some facts about the places we were passing over. I would definitely take this train again. Just be prepared for any delays that may happen. read more

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We took the Zephyr yesterday for 80 dollars a ticket to see the views but the train was 2 hours late! Otherwise, it was a perfect trip. Nice comfortable seats, lots of food choices and nearby garage for 30 dollars for the day. read more

My son arrived in Emeryville with a dead phone. The bus driver to San Francisco very nicely let him on -- and didn't check him in. So his father and I and a very nice police officer had no idea where he was. Phrases like "missing person report" were used, and I aged about twenty years. I couldn't even call the station because their number isn't listed. This was a nightmare. read more

An experience of a lifetime. You never know about what time your train will arrive, most likely it'll be late. Ours was 1 hour late coming from Seattle. We boarded, San Jose, Ca to Burbank, CA. It was a 10 hour train ride, that went by rather fast. So much leg room, lots of functioning bathrooms. We booked a dinner reservation, so much fun, it is pricey, but such a fun moment. There is a little area downstairs where you can pick up fast food, like beer, chips, etc. My tips for riding on the train, bring a blanket, neck pillow, camera, book, money, and games. You'll have a nice relaxing time looking out at remote areas you can't get to by car. When you book your trip, they accept AAA discount. Choo-choo!!!!!! read more

Rode the legendary California Zephyr from Denver to Emeryville. I wouldn't refer to it as "fun." It was a unique adventure that provided a perspective on America you don't experience on an airplane or vehicle. I'll not likely do another cross-country train excursion but I'll cherish the memories, both good and bad. Bad - With but two exceptions, the service was horrendous, unfriendly, slow, confused, rude, uncaring. The food was expectedly uninspired and over-priced. They "ran out of lettuce" at the beginning of a 36-hour run and did not restock. The lavatories are actually smaller than those on a 737 (although there are more of them per capita than on a plane). The legendary clickity-clack has been eliminated with continuous track technology to be replaced by the never-ending creak and groan of cars in dire need of replacement. Good - Excellent people watching. The rail-riding contingent is not unlike what you'd find on short-distance public transportation (think NY Subway) and you get observe them for hours. The scenery on the route I took was spectacular (California Zephyr). Unlike a car or plane, you can get up and walk around at your leisure. Good/Bad - You can relax/they notoriously run late. Many trains have no internet. The scenery is either awesome or sad (lots of homeless encampments along the tracks). Great people watching/uncomfortable table mates at meals. I was seated at breakfast with a guy who had two teardrops tattooed under one eye, who ordered $30+ worth of breakfast "to go" and had three credit cards declined. My lunch pairing was a retired professor of bio-chemistry who has mastered the art of one-word answers to any and all questions. In all - riding the train is an experience not all would appreciate. I'm glad I did. Probability of a repeat performance is not high. read more

Late as usual. They need better planning. Trains are horrible and bus transfer is late again

I decided to purchase a monthly pass to see how the ride would be versus driving each day. I thought the ride would be less stressful than my normal commute. Boy, was I so wrong! I have never seen such chaos and tardiness with a state and federal subsidized transportation service which is managed as a for-profit organization. The constant delays are systemic of a larger problem, a poorly ran organization. Every single ride I have taken this month has been delayed, some several hours. Many instances, we broke down on the tracks with no airflow, power, or communication by AMTRAK personnel. I also experienced have to get a broke train and get on another train in the middle of nowhere. No safety directions were given and handicap people were assisted by other passengers. A lady fell out of the train and was injured during the transfer because no directions was given. We had to wait even longer to wait for paramedics. This transportation service is horrific. I will continue driving into work and refuse to buy another monthly pass. read more

**Functional Review*** This page will be updated as I travel to Emeryville Amtrak station. Seniors given preference lower level train. Restrooms are at lower levels. Overhang compartment will fit maybe 11 inch high. Tho at side there is a 3 bag stackable compartment regulation size. Wifi Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquin Trains. Tickets collected on train. Super nice conductor. Looks like eating service next car( I can see forks, spoons, M/W, sandwiches, Cups, Bananas, etc) I also saw peoples taking their food orders back to thier boardind cars. Im on car 8015. Which is maybe 3 cars up is the Train engine. Not all cars allow initial boarding. Back of car has single seat each side facing forward travel. Haha. Im on a double seat facing rearward travel. There is also 4 seat sections with Table. Great for cards, laptop, writing. And there are 4 seat area with no Table. Seems back all seats there is a small fold down table. Seats comfortable. If you 250 pounds... middle arm rest will need to be swinged up. Atmosphere and Comfort definitely surpass riding in Bus. With my $5 Triple AAA card discount... one way to Emeryville is $42. Yeah. Theres 120 volts to plug in. And window have sliding cloth drapes. Theres on/off switchable lights. Note- At the station. You need not check in your two carry-on's. Before train doors open line up safely by it. Pick your Car. Think. For majority of Travel do you want the Sunny Side of the Car. Some Yelpers states losing bags. Seats with view of stackable bag section would be fine. Under seat may hold 3 ish inch laptop bag. Haha. Just North of Wasco I lost Sprint LTE. Glad this route has train Wifi. Think wt Brain. Haha. Food Service is Car #3. At train front. If you sit in the Rear Car... enjoy the Hike Wow. This is So F... Rad. Just Yelp pictured the Food Service Car Menu. Intersting that Upper Level cars seems less Bounceeeee. And more Homey feel. Now I know. Prefer to have the seat by the Thru Way. Unless Lots Scenic Window viewing is important. Like you going thru Majestic Country. Hmmmmm. Saw people coming out Food Car with Big Bags M&M Peanuts. Yum. Now thats certainly tempting. Note. At car #3 Food Services they sell Bart tickets. $8. Thats regular $10. Bart is of cource the Richmond-Bart get off Amtrak station. Important. Just noticed. At four seat sections 2 seats faces 2 seats... and the ones with the Table has more Leg room. Imagine without the Table facing someone* you do not know thats a Large person... you ain't going to have leg room. Really. Serious. Their feet would likely be under your seat. So for two small kids and Mom Pop its ok. Four adults better grab the ones with the Big Table. Man. I just Love my 2 seat only section Lots Leg room. Actually Quite private and Homey. Just Observed. If you a Big Guy... Grab the single seats at end of each car. It extends near 18-20 inch wider than the seat. Lift the arm rest out of the way. Space Heaven! I seen riders put Shopping Bags or Carry-On's in that free space. Cars 2 4 and 5 are the ones destination arriving riders are Let Off. Renember car 3 is the Dining Bar Car Well. At Martinez, Calif. Soon will be at my arrival Amtrak Emeryville. Lotsa nice stuff around Emeryville. This Train ride on 713 been Nice. Im sure Kids with their Mom and Dad would have a blast. Think this is my second Train Ride. The first time was to Roseville to finalize purchase of a new SUV. read more

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This is newer station and it is bright and clean. There is plenty of seating, and the announcements are loud and clear. There is also plenty of parking. read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

I missed my train because I spent too much time in the restroom Kim took care of everything, quickly, booking me on the next train so I could still make my connection in LA. And she even saved me $10. Excellent service. When there is a problem with transportation I've grown accustomed to waiting only to be disappointed. It's good to know that some folks still care enough about about their customers to be conscientious about doing their jobs well in service of their fellowman. Thanks Kim keep up the good work read more

I love trains! But once you've experienced trains in Europe or Japan and you ride Amtrak...well...you start to question American values. Riding the train is not cheap...especially if you want a sleeper car for overnight travel. If you're young, I guess sleeping next to a stranger in a seat that doesn't quite get horizontal is acceptable, but not for middle aged folks like me. The sleeper car is not a luxury, it's just privacy. Privacy for sleeping as well as toileting. On this recent trip we were in coach for 12 hours to LA. Spent a night in an LA hotel and caught the 6:15 p.m. train to Albuquerque the next day in a sleeper car. The 12-hour coastal trip is pretty for most of the way. Just leaving Oakland you're treated to the outskirts of Newark and they're scary. The public restroom on the train was disgusting. I complained to one of the Amtrak staff and she assured me it was a male who peed all over the toilet; apparently trains have that effect on men. I took a train from NY to California earlier this year and had access to a microwave in the "cafe" car. Unfortunately this "luxury" was not available on this train. The cafe attendant was surly and would not allow us to use the microwave for food we brought, only for food purchased on the train. Picture the soup nazi. The dining car has better food options (yes...pasta for vegetarians!) but it's expensive. And there's the forced intimacy of dining with strangers. Sometimes I just want to eat without making chit chat. One more thing about the coach area, we traveled around Thanksgiving and there were more people on the train than usual. A young man seated across the aisle from us slept most of the 12-hour trip...and snored loudly for about half that time. read more

I'm not a frequent Amtrak Traveler, I traveled to Sacramento from the last time I was here. The waiting time for a train was ~10-20 minutes excluding delays. I really enjoy the amenities in this station. Amenities at this station include: - Restrooms - Cafes - Vending Machines - Ticket Machines (Quik-Trak kiosk) - Ticket Office - ATM read more

I took the California Zephyr all the way from Emeryville, CA to Chicago, IL. It was a lovely trip! With the purchase of a room, all your meals are included, and the food is delicious! This is such a civilized way of traveling. I loved every minute. The view is 10/10 and meeting cool, unique people makes the trip very enjoyable. read more

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The station agents and train personnel are super helpful and very pleasant. The Coast Starlight train is clean, but the restrooms are pretty small. Food is nothing to write home about, but it's pretty inexpensive. read more

I have ridden this train (The Coast Starlight) multiple times during my trips to Seattle. I might do it again this year. Although the accommodations have changed dramatically, I'm not bothered by the fare, coach and sleeping cars. During my first trip in coach, I'm really impressed with how there's ample leg room and free water. For my second trip in 2013 I used the sleeper car and boy it felt really comfortable, almost couldn't get out of bed because the suites have really crisp sheets and linens. Luckily I did make it in time for breakfast and the first thing you do is "make room" you're paying a lot for the right portion of breakfast. The parlor room is also my favorite because they have clean couches you can actually sleep on. Better yet you can grab a glass of wine from California, Oregon or Washington State. Love the selection. The train is especially clean for the solo or family traveler Drawback: food in the lounge car is severely overpriced. Don't get it. Bring your own blanket and pillow because it's not provided for free read more

5 Stars for the parking garage, we didn't know what to expect and felt super safe leaving our car there. 1 Star for the ticketing problems with others in our group 5 Stars for making our trip back from Santa Barbara epic by putting all of us in the same car, 5 sleeper rooms in a row, Amtrak rocked this. 5 Stars for being left alone on our trip back, we were a large and loud group having way too much fun. :-) ZERO Stars for the dress code in the dining car for dinner, dress code? what is this 1930? zero Stars for Loyd/William, he was a rude dude on a power trip but he did make me laugh a few times with his sarcastic humor, or was he just being an ass? now I am questioning things, hell who cares, we were having a blast. read more

L.A. to Seattle Never again, false advertising, 1 Star service. We paid $995 to travel with a second rate crew who provided no service. Brochures depict one thing and the line offers another. Bar service is shoddy, and the staff moves you through dinner like a herd. They rush. The Terrain and Scenery of Calif, Oregon, and Washington made the trip bearable. If you plan take this trip please Tip the Help IN ADVANCE!!! read more

Amtrak - the train - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

Covid review of Amtrak from Deciding to leave our bay area home and travel to Ohio in July with Covid on the rise was powered only by the need to support a family member. But, we wanted the safest way to get there so that when we arrived we wouldn't be forced to quarantine before being with said family member. Obviously, if this were an "emergency" we would have had to fly, but we had a little bit of time. After some research and reading reviews, we decided to take Amtrak and reserve a "bedroom". Arriving at the train station in Emeryville, we immediately made our way outside to wait for the train. While the train station was busy, we were able to find a bench without any problem that was more than 6ft from anyone else, all of whom were wearing masks. Though outside, some did remove them. Boarding the train was a bit more difficult to maintain the social distancing. We attempted to stay six feet away from everyone, but climbing the odd, turning stairs to get to the second level behind a couple with another couple behind us was difficult to maintain the distance. Once we got to our room, however, the only person we encountered was our "room agent" and, occasionally, a person in the dining car to get water and coffee refills. We could have ordered these from our agent, but while he was friendly and accommodating, it did not seem like bringing regular drinks was part of his job. Instead, you could go to the dining room and ask for coffee, water, juice throughout the day. Generally, the attendant comes to the room a few hours before each meal and takes your order, asking you if you want food delivered or you want to eat in the dining room. For us, the social distancing felt generally safe and effective. Much better than encountering people at motels, restaurants and gas stations if we'd driven. And, much preferable to a plane where even the best airline cannot maintain social distancing and don't get me started on the bathroom situation. Our room was very comfortable. Yes, it's small, and if you are over 6ft, you may be bumping the ceiling. The furniture was surprisingly comfortable for hours of seating. The bathroom in the room was serviceable and charming with the idea of sitting on the toilet while showering both intriguing and bizarre. We did each manage one shower, and actually it was fine (we are average size people). We managed to easily store a suitcase that was 24 x 14 x 10 under the seat and an average size duffle above the seat. There was additional room under the bench seat for night time storage of purses and backpacks. The room had three plugs, a table to work and eat on, a small closet and under seat storage for a few things. There is NO wifi on this train. And multiple places across the country where you will not be able to get cell service. The only train station that had xfinity wifi was Sacramento. The menu offered very basic breakfast (egg mc muffin, cereal, yogurt, muffin). Lunch and dinner are off the same menu of about 8 choices. We tried the veg enchiladas which are stuffed with some kind of mixture of veggie stuff with a surprisingly flavorful sauce and a bit overcooked rice. The Asian pasta was udon with a bunch of fresh veggies and a spicy sauce (this was my fav). I would say both of these dishes were good as train fare. We also tried the Chicken Marsala, which I would say was average if you don't mind overcooked pasta; the meatballs (ditto on the pasta but the meatballs had a lot of flavor--really no sauce, however); and the creole rice with shrimp and sausage. Sausage was good, shrimp not so much. Meals start with a small salad, a warm roll and end with a surprisingly good brownie that is made by "Street Sweet" and has no weird, unpronounceable ingredients. Wine is Barefeet, red or white, and comes in small plastic bottles and you pour it in small plastic "wine" glasses. All of this is surprisingly good (or average). Your room waiter will bring everything to you, or you can venture to the dining room. It is made for social distancing with plenty of room between tables. We ate one breakfast in the dining room and there was just one other couple there. The waiter wore a mask. The room is NOT cleaned at all during travel. We brought wipes and just wiped everything down in the morning. When we got on, the room seemed clean, but we wiped it down nonetheless. Stops. You can get off at stops, very briefly, if there is time. But, don't go far from the train. Nothing is open right now in the stations that we saw. The longest stop we had was Denver for twenty minutes. However, stop length does depend on whether your train is running late. Our was consistently at least one hour behind schedule because of freight trains needing the tracks and track repair. The scenery is amazing. We've been all over the country and this is some of the best scenery from Reno to Denver. There are mountains, red rocks, read more

Since I was threatened by physical violence by a fellow passenger, it should be zero stars. The overnight.train from Needles to LA Station passed uneventfully. Hit and miss on mask policy adherence; no checks for that on board. Don't book lower level- one cramped compartment looked like a Covid hive. Train arrived 50 minutes late for a 0120 departure. No big deal. Washroom trash bins overflowing with paper towels. People hanging out in restroom hall without masks; holding court, brushing teeth. No distancing possible. Arrived (early) in LA for Connection Bus to Bakersfield. Amtrak Connect. The restroom requires finesse: a dozen homeless people inside a small room; washing hair, hanging out, drying hair with hi powered hand dryers. A swirling mess in there, with luggage, since no lockers available. Literally waiting minutes for a gap to squeeze through to the three open urinals. Homeless woman screaming intermittently outside. Homeland Security was there. I asked an airport security type about it. He wouldn't answer, and you know, was shaming me to his associate. His associate recognized the validity of the inquiry, answering that "No alert, it's their normal posting". Thank you. You know, I get it, I've done their job before. I don't think I ever looked at it like national security. I mean, there are parallels to airport security. Air Traffic Control, airport perimeter, and that seriousness. Okay, but yes, I felt mine was an appropriate question, and wasn't handled professionally by the person I asked. I could be wrong-maybe it was not any of my business. Maybe, with my flower print Dd's bag full of pillows, blankets and pads plus my daypack and small duffel he couldn't easily profile so defaulted back. Not an easy job- but something about his creating power in that role, his belt and walkie-talkie teaming up with Federal Agents, put an extra zeal when he mocked and intoned subtle warning in his side glance as he reinforced the play he made on my interaction to his friend. Hot stuff man. Remember when you see people feeling people watch them when they talk on the radio. Something of importance happening there with that person! Lol. Anyways, I suspect we had early Covid release people from LA Jail riding on my Amtrak Connect Bus that morning. I had a guy ask to travel together, who later took calls from his probation officer, and his lady during which call he stated, "that guy woulda got cut if doing that to me". Smoking in the bus patio made my excellent Subway sandwich taste slightly less so. The driver of the first bus to leave for Bakersfield yesterday didn't respond when I initially said "Hi" Gruff and jaded? There's a lot of racial movements right now, which I applaud, but I wondered about that being a possible reason. Hope not, but that doubt played into a dangerous situation for me soonafter. There's definitely variability in customer service between The Southwest Chief train conductors singing us a heartfelt song, and platitudes over and over, about the nice "love for California" day versus how profiling works to differentiate receptions at the station in preparation for life threatening bus connection trips. After loading first, the driver moved me out if rows he hadn't belted but only signed up high on the window. Now I was last to get seated. I ended up one row back, with a homeless looking guy with severe sniffles. The wet kind. I moved again, now to the back. The only plan and concern for social distancing was for the the driver counter to the message posted about "everyone". I had been up all night on the train, and my slipped off the foot rest 3 times. I apologized to the person in front of me, who wore a hoodie and earbuds, and based on our interaction at the station didn't want to talk either. That is until he asked to "handle it like men because I was kicking his seat". His inability to emotionally self-regulate, and use of profanity, and yell at me in menacing ways were magnified by his size, racial undertone (again), and culturally couched death threats. " Sleep you", etc. He didn't "give a *uck about further apologies, he repeatedly demanded I provide him, and mentioned that we he was going to do it upon arrival in Bakersfield, if not now (at Hollywood Airport stop (some busy street somewhere) with driver looking on. I guessed another reason driver didn't come back is because only one person was yelling. I did his job for him. Realizing that there was an ongoing threat upon arrival, and not feeling any support from the other early release riders, I texted 911, which went nowhere. I thought just a police presence would be prudent just to keep the peace. Security-police contact and process was lacking on Amtrak E Ticketing emails. Here is the Amtrak PD Text Line # 27311 Amtrak PD text Line non-committally responded that "they would pass the message along". I didn't get a cop. read more

If you want to ride Amtrak to or from San Francisco this is basically the place to be. I suppose you could consider taking the train to Oakland and Richmond and BART into the city as an alternative - But I have not tried that yet. My experience today thus far has been positive with staff being friendly and helpful. read more

Amtrak - Train Stations Near Me - Emeryville, California

Amtrak is an awesome adventure. I've rode their Coast Starlight between Emeryville to Los Angeles. I've also taken them many times to Sacramento. It took 12 hours but it went by very fast. Driving between SFO and LAX during the holidays is a pain in the @ss and can take just as long due to traffic. I've never done the Coast Starlight between LAX and SFO and finally, I had the time to do it. This is a great way to travel, especially during the hectic holiday season. Since this is a cash-cow long-distance route for Amtrak, they make sure that the trains run on time and service is top-notch. We actually ran ahead of schedule. Riding Amtrak is an adventure. It's a relaxing way to get between two cities. Very interesting people on board as well. My trip had a lot of musicians on board that were playing their guitars, harmonica and percussions and singing vocal harmonies. These guys were incredible. The last cart in the very back was a little rowdy but made the trip fun. Someday I'd like to take a tour through the Colorado Rockies during the winter. I like the fact that you can buy your ticket at the counter right before your trip. No need for a 21 day advance purchase like with the airlines. No need to deal with traffic when you drive yourself. Amtrak is the way to go to other destinations if you aren't on a tight schedule. read more

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If you're not on a strict schedule, are able to deal with things not being perfect, and don't expect everything to be new and perfectly clean, it's a good deal. But there are drawbacks. My husband and I booked a round trip to Salt Lake City. Amtrack only has one train from Emeryville to Salt Lake which gets in at 3:30 AM. Or so they say. The coach seats are NOT comfortable. They suggest you bring your own pillows and blankets, which we did, but the seats don't recline all that far, and they leave your legs dangling from the knees down. Food is expensive and only about average. We packed a lot of snacks which turned out to be a good thing as they closed the dining car after lunch because the air conditioning wasn't working. (this was in July) and so they quickly ran out of sandwiches at the snack bar. My husband bought two cheeseburgers which smelled awful. He threw the second away. Due to several problems, the train was four hours late. This wasn't that bad since at 3:30 am we would have been hard put to find someplace to wait for things to open up. Instead we arrived a little before 8 am. On the way back, the train was 3 hours late before it got to Salt Lake. I'm nearly 70, so the walk to the last car of a very long train wore me out. But we did sleep better this time. We had breakfast in the dining car and met a wonderful mother and her ten year old son. We finally had to be told to leave the dining car so they could set up for lunch. But it was fun. (I encourage you to be friendly and talk with people. It's a sociable environment and helps the time go faster.) Unfortunately, I went up to the dining car for lunch, and they were out of salad which was the only thing on the menu I wanted. But I met a nice family from Berkeley there and had an enjoyable time. Since the train had been supposed to arrive in Emeryville at 4:30, there was no dinner service. Someone parked a car on the line, and the train impacted it. No one was in it. But there was a long delay while they made a report to the Highway Patrol, and removed the car from the tracks. The train on the way back had very old restrooms and they were filthy. I do hope they decide to do something about that. So we got in about 8:00 instead of 4:30. This was not good since we still had to collect our checked luggage, get the car from public parking, load up and drive back to Santa Rosa. So we got back much later than we expected, and my husband had to go to work the next day. read more

Got dropped off for the morning train to Denver. Helpful Amtrak employees. Clean waiting area. Snack bar open. Go to the ticket windows for the key to the restrooms. Train showed up on time and we walked to the right and down the sidewalk next to the tracks for a bit of a distance before we showed our tickets to the train personnel and boarded in the appropriate car. Throw your bags into the luggage area if you're in the the sleeper roomettes since there's no room for luggage in your sleeping compartment. A good experience in the Emeryville station. read more