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Would it be quicker/easier to get a bus into LA from Oxnard rather than catching the Surfliner? I'm planning a few days R&R at Oxnard (I know little about it but the Hampton Inn there looks nice besides the ocean).
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Why would you want to take the bus rather than the train? There are several Surfliners each day from Oxnard to L.A., and, in addition, the Metrolink commuter service also has several trains a day between Oxnard and downtown L.A.
heatherite Member # 6059
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Thanks for the info. I don't want to take a bus if a train is going to be more reliable and, hopefully, quicker. I also hope the scenery might be better by rail.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Barring some sort of major incident, the Surfliners and Metrolink trains are reasonably reliable. It's the Coast Starlight that has the potential to be hours late.
Jarrod Member # 4318
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The Surfliner would definitely be more scenic than the bus...
heatherite Member # 6059
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Is Metrolink run by Amtrak? If not, could I still use my US Rail Pass on this service?
RRRICH Member # 1418
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No, Metrolink is NOT run by AMTRAK. Metrolink is a local commuter rail service, funded by local/state tax money (I assume). I doubt if your USA Rail Pass would work on it.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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NOPE
At one time, Amtrak did hold a contract to operate Metrolink, but never for their own account.
I believe that operating contract is held by a French concern named Veolia Transportation, but I had best defer on that point to others at this West Coast oriented forum.
heatherite Member # 6059
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Thanks for these.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Heather--
Just a suggestion. Why not continue just a bit further north. Trust me, there is a WORLD of difference between Oxnard and, say, Ventura, the next stop on the Surfliner. There is also the sleeper town of Carpinteria just one stop after Ventura. If I didn't live in Santa Barbara, I'd move to Carp in a minute. It's one of the last true California Beach towns left without a lot of developement.
One stop beyond that is, of course, Santa Barbara. Either Carp or Ventura would probably be less expensive and both are very accesible on foot or using public transportation. I'm not sure where the Hampton Inn is in Oxnard but the town itself is pretty gritty. The beach is some distance from the station and I really think you might want to rethink it as an R&R destination.
Frank, just off #775 from BUR to SBA.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Heather--
I just checked out the Hampton Inn. It's at Channel Islands Harbor with is an OK location but I think you'd enjoy Carpinteria or Ventura more. You'll need to take a cab to get there from the Amtrak Station or, possibly, public transportation. Without a car there is not much to do in the area around the hotel.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
heatherite Member # 6059
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Thanks. I will check out the alternatives - any suggestions re hotels/inns in Ventura or Carp? The Franciscan Inn looks pretty good at Santa Barbara - is it?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I'm not sure to what extent you are a oenophile, or otherwise a "wino", Mr. Heatherite, but where Mr. SBA Frank is suggesting you stay is within Wine Country.
Santa Barbara Wine Country was best put on the map with the 2004 Oscar nominated film "Sideways'. Although the excellent actor Paul Giamatti is cast as an "unforgetable loser and louse", I somehow think that for both Mr. Giamatti and the two other principals, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh, wine is part of their off-screen lives.
heatherite Member # 6059
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Before I had to take daily medication for high blood pressure I adored my wine (and having lived in France I enjoyed plenty of great tipples). However, today it's just a fond memory!
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