4:10 - "The Grapevine" is the part of the 5 Freeway from Tejon Pass to the San Joaquin Valley. The route up past Castaic and Pyramid Lake are not so famous. It's mostly the former Ridge Route Alternate (U.S. 99).
I feel like every time I hear about taking transit through the valley, it gets more and more convoluted. I think ACE is also planning to use that San Joaquins alignment that doesn't go to Sacramento Valley Station, making it the third frustratingly placed station set, after Fremont's ACE-BART lack of interchange and of course the Stockton weirdness.
Honestly, there's a lot of really interesting options here. As always, one seat rides are better, but it's nice to know that there are still a plethora of ways to get to Sac from LA. CAHSR is going to really improve these times too, once it's built out. I've heard pretty good things about the Amtrak thruway bus services too, and the bus you were on was pretty nice. it's pretty cool that Amtrak also functionally operates an intercity bus network on top of its rail corridors.
3:10 - You are welcome to wait inside the station in the historic waiting area and then board when your bus is called. There is no need to wait outside.
A couple months ago I took a thruway bus from roseville to sac as I had missed the 1 daily train westbound.. I remember the seat pitch being terrible and them having these carpeted seats that were too thin. How were the seats on the la-bfd bus? Also, they are planning with expansion to chico/oroville (they haven't fully decided) to eventually go to redding (I love redding) (go to redding) in the north valley rail plan. Placerville is pronounced like "plaster-ville" without the T
Oh yeah, I once took that bus from Rocklin to Sac, I remember the seats were pretty tight together. The legroom and seats on the LA-BFD bus were notably superior to the Stockton to Sacramento one. Wow, I'm pretty sure I've heard people pronounce Placerville like that, but my mind just refused to accept it or something lol.
The comet car is for axle count only Bnsf (the host railroad) has a form A restriction due to 4 crossings (3 on the Bakersfield sub, 1 on the Stockton sub) that if Amtrak trains have less then 28 axles in the train they have to stop and flag the crossing The comet car is only there to get the axle count up to 28 axles to nullify that restriction.
Vote: God I hope so 🙏. I grew up in the SGV myself and my mom is currently living in Pasadena. I travel down there all the time from Santa Rosa these days. I really wish I had better transit options. It seems the best for me is somehow hooking up with the San Joaquins (via Richmond or Martinez) down to Union Station (xfer to Gold Line). It's hard to spend all that time though when I have direct flights from Santa Rosa airport to Burbank.
They plan to add a station in Oakley, a city next door to Antioch. Like 5 minutes away. And like... an argument can be made with Oakland and Emeryville, but for a suburban city vs urban city and Oakland having 2 stations, i just dont see it making sense. The money that would go to making a new station, should instead go to making the bus system in the area better, because as of this comment, it sucks a$$. It needs to be expanded and more comprehensive since the population mostly drives. Oakland and Emeryville are service by an overly excellent bus system making the two cities and their downtowns further for many people. Plus Emeryville is servicing Berkeley which, though close to Oakland, still quite far from the station and too far from Richmond. Idk. I might be talking too far out my a$$ rn.
I believe Antioch is supposed to close once Oakley opens. Emeryville exists, because Oakland took long to build a new station after the Loma Prieda earthquake in 1989. While Oakland was undecided Emeryville built their station. It's existence is why the CA Zephyr "now" originates. EMY instead OAK. No more deadhead moves.
When I booked this trip, it didn't tell me the Coast Starlight was unavailable until the very last step in the payment process, and then just said "one or more segment is unavailable" and I had to go back and retry it with every possible combination of options until I ruled out the Coast Starlight for the return trip that was the sold out one.
Yep, I especially don't like how you can't see return trip options until you've purchased an outgoing ticket. Of course, I can cancel, but but it is annoying to not even know if you can get back without buying your first ticket.
STAWKTENNNN!!! LOL The high-speed rail ain’t gonna happen, dewd- they’re already hundreds of millions in the hole and they haven’t even even made any progress yet. In fact, they’re already asking for an extra $100 billion to make “headway”. LOL
1 transfer trip from LAX to SAC via Chicago? Sign me up
I am at the point where I'm begging them to bring back that second Bakersfield-Sac frain
I would rather have more trains and busses than private cars
6:28 that’s not how we pronounce Placerville in california 😅
4:10 - "The Grapevine" is the part of the 5 Freeway from Tejon Pass to the San Joaquin Valley. The route up past Castaic and Pyramid Lake are not so famous. It's mostly the former Ridge Route Alternate (U.S. 99).
I feel like every time I hear about taking transit through the valley, it gets more and more convoluted. I think ACE is also planning to use that San Joaquins alignment that doesn't go to Sacramento Valley Station, making it the third frustratingly placed station set, after Fremont's ACE-BART lack of interchange and of course the Stockton weirdness.
Another banger video 👏🏻
Lots of good lnfo. Thanks for the creative video on the San Joaquins.
Honestly, there's a lot of really interesting options here. As always, one seat rides are better, but it's nice to know that there are still a plethora of ways to get to Sac from LA. CAHSR is going to really improve these times too, once it's built out. I've heard pretty good things about the Amtrak thruway bus services too, and the bus you were on was pretty nice. it's pretty cool that Amtrak also functionally operates an intercity bus network on top of its rail corridors.
It's happening.
3:10 - You are welcome to wait inside the station in the historic waiting area and then board when your bus is called. There is no need to wait outside.
A couple months ago I took a thruway bus from roseville to sac as I had missed the 1 daily train westbound.. I remember the seat pitch being terrible and them having these carpeted seats that were too thin. How were the seats on the la-bfd bus?
Also, they are planning with expansion to chico/oroville (they haven't fully decided) to eventually go to redding (I love redding) (go to redding) in the north valley rail plan.
Placerville is pronounced like "plaster-ville" without the T
Oh yeah, I once took that bus from Rocklin to Sac, I remember the seats were pretty tight together. The legroom and seats on the LA-BFD bus were notably superior to the Stockton to Sacramento one.
Wow, I'm pretty sure I've heard people pronounce Placerville like that, but my mind just refused to accept it or something lol.
You could be the next Huell Howser. 😂 yes, i know he' is irreplaceable.
That’s all gunna happen. That transfer to sac rt is free when you ride the train
Good to know
Not sure why the Comet car is in the consist that is otherwise operating with California Cars. Crush buffer?
The comet car is for axle count only
Bnsf (the host railroad) has a form A restriction due to 4 crossings (3 on the Bakersfield sub, 1 on the Stockton sub) that if Amtrak trains have less then 28 axles in the train they have to stop and flag the crossing
The comet car is only there to get the axle count up to 28 axles to nullify that restriction.
Vote: God I hope so 🙏. I grew up in the SGV myself and my mom is currently living in Pasadena. I travel down there all the time from Santa Rosa these days. I really wish I had better transit options. It seems the best for me is somehow hooking up with the San Joaquins (via Richmond or Martinez) down to Union Station (xfer to Gold Line). It's hard to spend all that time though when I have direct flights from Santa Rosa airport to Burbank.
....lol also what is that NJT car doing on that consist
i think th bus brigd to the airport is gonna happen
They plan to add a station in Oakley, a city next door to Antioch. Like 5 minutes away. And like... an argument can be made with Oakland and Emeryville, but for a suburban city vs urban city and Oakland having 2 stations, i just dont see it making sense. The money that would go to making a new station, should instead go to making the bus system in the area better, because as of this comment, it sucks a$$. It needs to be expanded and more comprehensive since the population mostly drives.
Oakland and Emeryville are service by an overly excellent bus system making the two cities and their downtowns further for many people. Plus Emeryville is servicing Berkeley which, though close to Oakland, still quite far from the station and too far from Richmond.
Idk. I might be talking too far out my a$$ rn.
I believe Antioch is supposed to close once Oakley opens.
Emeryville exists, because Oakland took long to build a new station after the Loma Prieda earthquake in 1989. While Oakland was undecided Emeryville built their station. It's existence is why the CA Zephyr "now" originates. EMY instead OAK. No more deadhead moves.
It'll happen... 40 years after I'm long dead.
placerville... pronounced Pl Ass er Ville
some of it will happen. most of it won’t.
I hate the amtrak interface for purchasing tickets
When I booked this trip, it didn't tell me the Coast Starlight was unavailable until the very last step in the payment process, and then just said "one or more segment is unavailable" and I had to go back and retry it with every possible combination of options until I ruled out the Coast Starlight for the return trip that was the sold out one.
Yep, I especially don't like how you can't see return trip options until you've purchased an outgoing ticket. Of course, I can cancel, but but it is annoying to not even know if you can get back without buying your first ticket.
Vote: no, not happening
STAWKTENNNN!!! LOL
The high-speed rail ain’t gonna happen, dewd- they’re already hundreds of millions in the hole and they haven’t even even made any progress yet. In fact, they’re already asking for an extra $100 billion to make “headway”. LOL
Then how come there's already infrastructure built if there isnt any "progress"
LA to Las Vegas is happening a private company is building it.