posted
We're thinking about taking the Starlight north and using the transfer to Fisherman's Wharf (SFW). Do passengers doing this get off at Oakland Jack London or Emeryville?
We'll be staying at the Sheraton Fisherman's Wharf the night before leaving on a cruise to Australia.
Frank in clear but crisp (34º when I went out for the paper) SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
I have a question concerning Amtrak thruway buses.
Are the Amtrak thruway buses dedicated to Amtrak passengers, only? There is a bus from my home, in Santa Rosa, to Martinez. It has a 5X/day schedule. It looks like it may originate from Eureka, but I'm not sure. It says it is for connecting with the San Joaquin and the Capitol Corridor trains.
I would be surprised, with its 5X/day schedule, if it is only for Amtrak passengers.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Thanks for the rapid response. Since these stops in the city so as no checked baggage I assume we pick up our bags at Emeryville and then take them to the bus? We will be headed out on a 23 night cruise so won't be traveling light.
Richard--
I believe it usually comes up as "Must be purchased with train travel" if you try booking it.
Frank in sunny but cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Frank ... yes you retrieve any luggage and take to the bus yourself. I would suggest that you alert the bus driver what you are doing to insure that he does not leave without you. (I suspect a taxi replacement would be a tad costly.) ... Dee
(Last time I made this transfer the driver was kind enough to drop me off at my hotel due to the late evening hour.)
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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Thanks, Dee, for the good advice. Perhaps we will have the same good luck. We are supposed to arrive at SWF at almost 10:00PM. The Sheraton is about three blocks from Pier 39.
Frank in cool and dark SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Richard: Per California state law, those buses are ONLY for those who have purchased a train ticket. It is ILLEGAL for them to take on passengers who are not traveling on Amtrak. I forget the specific reason(s) why the legislation was written this way, but it was.
Frank: The same bus and the same driver have been doing this route for years and years. He drives an MC-9 bus (if you're familiar with bus makes and models). As long as the bus isn't packed with people, you can kindly ask him if he wouldn't mind dropping you off right at your hotel's front door and he will probably do it (please remember to tip him for this). He does this all the time. And as Dee mentioned already, make sure he doesn't take off while you're getting your baggage. He *should* have a manifest and he should know to wait for you without you having to notify him. However, better safe than sorry! (Just know that in an emergency, a cab ride from EMY Amtrak to your hotel is very quick. It's just a hop over the bridge and BAM, you're there....especially at that time of night).
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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@ sbalax 1) To verify what I said, check Amtrak.com for your day of travel & 2) please take me with you to Australia.
The transfer from the northbound Starlight has always been done in Oakland for as long as I remember. Passengers traveling to or from north of San Francisco transfer at Emeryville.
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Interesting. According to the current Amtrak timetable, if you are connecting to/from the northbound Starlight, No. 14, you will connect to San Francisco from Jack London Square at 9:35pm. If you are going from San Francisco you will connect at Emeryville at 9:45pm.
On our last trip on the CZ we arrived Emeryville around 4pm and the driver offered to take us, and others, directly to our hotel. We were the third scheduled stop. Didn't even have to ask.
Posts: 2397 | From: Camden, SC | Registered: Mar 2006
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