No real building station here, but just an outdoor area a digital sign telling you train arrival times. It has easy car pick up and drop off and some metered parking under the highway overpass. It's adjacent to the 4th Street area, so you can easily pick up some eats for your trip. Overall, love me taking the train to Sac or San Jose when I can! read more

I took a road trip between Emeryville and Sacramento via Amtrak - Capitol Corridor train service 3 years ago. This is an unstaffed station with no ticket office and restroom. I'll probably be getting on and off Amtrak at this station if I attended UC Berkeley or Berkeley City College. You are better getting something to eat and drink from a nearby restaurant, coffee shop or other eateries and use the restrooms there prior to coming to the train station. This is definitely the station to get on/off at if you or anyone you know is going to work in Berkeley, attending Berkeley City College or University of California, Berkeley! Parking: - Maybe a bit challenging at times Nearby college (s): - Berkeley City College - University of California, Berkeley Public Transportation Options: - AC Transit (refer to the signs at the bus stops nearby to see the routes available) - Downtown Berkeley BART - North Berkeley BART - Ashby BART For information on Amtrak Train and Bus Stations: - http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732508&cid=1237608345105 Map of staffed and unstaffed stations: - http://www.capitolcorridor.org/included/popups/routemap.php read more

I like going from UCB to UCD to visit my girlfriend and friends, and this is one of the really two best choices out there. The other option is to use the UC Davis-UC BerkeleyShuttle system which all students, staff, or faculty of either college can use. The downside, however, is the time (departs UCB 11:30 AM or 6:30 PM weekdays). So, on Valentine's Day, this AmTrak was my next best thing. It's definitely more expensive than the shuttle ($24 vs $12 respectively for one-way), and the station is.... like many people say, unwelcoming. It's just a station. There is no booth helping to get you tickets, it's a machine, just out there beside benches. It's cold down there and noises echo dramatically because of its location under the overpass (brace your ears for those train horns). Time wise, it gets to Davis in the same amount of time the shuttle would take. The route, however, is much more scenic and beautiful with the train. It's a lot more spacious, and a lot more convenient with fitting into what times you're able to get home. But for a cheapo college student like me, I do heavily prefer the much cheaper shuttle. read more

The Berkeley Amtrak is located below the University Avenue Overpass (just west of Third Street). There is minimal metered parking below the overpass... but you might find parking in neighboring retail/restaurant lots (though, I wouldn't recommend leaving overnight). This is location only has a platform and is not staffed (i.e., no ticket counter/lobby/bathroom). However, there are two QUIK TRAK automatic ticketing kiosks and a bulletin board with train arrival times. So... you could reserve your tickets online and print them out at the kiosk or presumably buy them right there. The Capitol Corridor line (btw San Jose and Sacramento) stops here... the passenger trains are open seating and really nice. Lots of room for bikes, luggage, and tables upstairs WITH OUTLETS for those with laptops or other electronics. A conductor walks through the cars and checks your ticket and then marks your booth with your stop. There's also food/drink/liquor available in the middle cars (though I didn't check this out). All in all, a great experience... just wish there were more facilities at the berkeley stop. read more

Amtrak Station - Berkeley - Berkeley Amtrak Platform at night - Train Stations Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am going to apologize upfront for the boring nature of this review, but really, people, it's a low-budget train station...how much can really be said? OK so from what I remember, the train itself is far better than the station! You'd probably only know it was a train station because of the tracks and fellow passengers standing around said tracks. It's kind of ghost-townish and I'd never want to be there at night! At least it's convenient to reach by bus, which I happily rode around for free back when I was a UCB grad student. Oh and there's one of those discount market/outlet things a short walk from here in case you need some snacks before your trip. read more

I just had the weirdest experience with Amtrak. I was on a Capitol Corridor train going to Berkeley, and the conductor on our section of the train was a little creepy. When people were buying tickets, he didn't speak to them, or smile or anything, he just looked at them stone-faced. It was unsettling, and he did the same to me when I requested an AC Transit pass. But the really odd part happened when we arrived at the station. I was reading a book as we were leaving Richmond, so I didn't get up right away, but the conductor stopped, turned around, and stared at me a bit. I figured he was trying to wordlessly hint that I leave my seat, so I packed up my things and headed downstairs. Someone announced on the overhead that only the doors in cars 2 and 4 would be opening. So I line up with about 6 other people in Car #2, and wait by the door. The conductor walks right through our waiting group to the other end of the car, but he doesn't say anything. The train comes to a stop, the doors don't open, and after a few seconds the conductor pokes his head around and barks at us, "You're supposed to be waiting down here!" So we all start heading to that end of the car. In the front of the line was a frail, elderly couple, and then some people with bikes. As we make our way to the end of the car, the train pulls out of the station! Everyone was furious, and the conductor was acting like a nasty cop, barking at us that we should have listened to the announcement. At no point does he acknowledge that a) the announcement said we were to wait in cars 2 and 4 (which we were doing), and b) he knew we were there long before the train came to a stop. He just treated us like it was all our fault. He wrote us tickets to get on the next train back to Berkeley, but without apology and in the rudest way possible. I was so livid, I told him I'd report him by name to the company, to which he snappily replied, "FINE!" This isn't the first surly Amtrak employee I've encountered, but it IS the first one I've witnessed to actively take out his nastiness on the customers. Angry that he had to work a holiday, perhaps? The whole thing was just so strange. read more

This Amtrak station is awkward, wish it was staffed or had a real station not just a platform. Loved the Amtrak train to San Jose. Would definetly recommend it! Seats were comfy, there was a table for us to use and power outlets! The cafe car is disappointing and the worker was very sassy with me; bring your own goodies! Unfortunately I cannot recommend the Amtrak bus from San Jose to Monterey. I was expecting a nicer charter style bus with a restroom on board. What we ended up with was a regular city bus similar to AC transit. Stick with the trains! read more

Started commuting from Berkeley to Davis via the Capitol Corridor line and it's pretty fabulous! The trains are generally on time and most often, there a plenty of seats you can enjoy all to yourself. Pretty decent and reasonable Cafe Car with friendly and polite service. The Conductors are equally courteous and sometimes entertaining. There's plenty of off street parking, without time limits or residential parking permits. My monthly rail pass is fairly reasonable and Amtrak accepts pre-tax Commuter Checks. All aboard! read more

Not a lot to say about this little whistle - stop station. There is direct access to AC transit buses to get to Berkeley and Cal. You can also catch a transbay bus nearby to San Francisco as well. There is a restaurant and bar in the old depot and a variety of shopping options nearby. For me personally the best thing about this station is that it is right outside my apartment. read more

Amtrak Station - Berkeley - A view of my home from the boarding platform. - Train Stations Near Me - Berkeley, California

Dear conductors I heard your horn the first time and the 5th time if somebody is in front of you through the third blast of your blaring horn please hit them and just stop making sound they deserve to be hit if they can't see or hear any of the several warnings read more

Berkeley Amtrak is a reasonably safe stop that is actually less convenient than Richmond station for passengers traveling East, especially if one lives closer to a BART station than this one. For people who live up by UC Berkeley, I'd recommend using this station only if you are traveling South toward SJ. Otherwise, just hop on BART and take the train from Richmond. Taking the bus down to this station is way less reliable and convenient than taking BART to the Richmond station. read more

No adequate indoor seating but its an amtrak. My trains always come on time, but I'm always freezing to death to wait for them. So bring proper clothing and don't come TOO soon. read more

This is an Amtrak stop. Calling it a station is too generous. There are two kiosks here where you can buy tickets, but no building or anything. I am a fan though because it is easy and convenient. How did I not realize how easy it was to take the train to San Jose? I wish there was a shelter though because it is really windy here. It is also a little hard for a small person like me to climb up on the train when it pulls in (it is a BIG step up). read more