Taking a series of trains, buses and fun facts about them
1. Civic Center, San Francisco to MacArthur, Oakland
Fun fact: BART uses the broad gauge, same as Indian Railways (another train system I know super well)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_ft_6_in_gauge_railway
EDIT: adding prices as a record. This was $4.80
2. MacArthur BART station has a bunch of free shuttle buses. The one I use most is the EmeryGoRound, primarily to the Amtrak station in Emeryville.
Fun fact: the Hollis route runs from 5:45am to 9:20pm on weekdays, every 15 min
EDIT: adding prices as a record. This was $0
Not everyone knows this but you can ride your bike and check it in on many of the long distance trains. They check in the bicycle on bike racks at the front of the train.
Not every train or stop has this, but the major ones along the west coast do (California Zephyr, Coast Starlight). When I was going to Reno a lot (long story) I used to take my bike on BART, cycle from West Oakland to Emeryville, check it in on the train, get out in Reno and cycle away.
Of course you’ve got to figure out an easy luggage situation (something easily detached) but I only ever had a small bag with me so it was fine.
I just saw a bunch of people checking their bikes. They’re taking the train to Santa Barbara with their bikes. It’s a $20 one way add-on
Bike policy here: https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard
3. Coast Starlight to Los Angeles
Fun fact: This train will travel through some of the most beautiful areas of the Pacific coast, and at least one rocket launch base
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Space_Force_Base
EDIT: adding prices as a record. This usually costs $48-120 depending on when you book it. I got it as part of my rail pass
The other indispensable travel accessory for me: a portable bidet. With pressure control. (Way better than using a water bottle)
I just can’t with toilet paper
Where am I going? That’s a good question.
London, actually. But I’m taking a series of trains (and later planes. Eventually)
4. Union station to Downtown LA on the LA Metro D line
Fun fact: LA metro was just selling T-shirts with the slogan ‘Ride the D’. It was sold out very quickly
EDIT: adding prices as a record. This was $1.75
5. Bus no 4 from downtown LA to the fashion district
This was $1.75
Fun fact: if you take another bus or train within 2 hours on LA metro, the transfer is free. So going there and coming back can cost just $1.75
Union Station, Los Angeles. Guess where I’m going next?
6. Riding the Southwest Chief to New Mexico (what a name)
It’s sunset soon but I’m pretty sure I’ll wake up to some incredible desert views. I’ve never been south or southwest
The cost of riding this train in coach is usually $78ish between LA and Albuquerque, with highest prices around 200+ if you book super late. But I’m riding it as part of my rail pass
Edit: forgot my Southwest Chief fun fact. This route (which runs LA to Chicago) is pretty much the modern version of the Super Chief. There used to be a San Francisco Chief that did San Francisco to Chicago, between 1954 and 1971
Multiple announcements about the importance of wearing shoes on the train..
Conductor was explaining communal seating in the dining car. Apparently this really shocks people who’ve never ridden the train before.
I recently found a spreadsheet of my train rides around India in 2005
With prices and dates. I used to go on 40-60 day trips! (Stopping several days in each place..)
Will be fun to take screenshots and share that part of my train life
Looked at ‘notable people’ for Kingman, AZ:
- a serial killer
- Timothy McVeigh & friends
(Closes tab..)
Somewhere near Flagstaff
#Amtrak #SouthwestChief #Trains #Transit #Arizona #Flagstaff
I’ve got my Aeropress, but frankly on a train I don’t always want to deal with the whole process.
I have emergency drip coffee bags of good coffee. They seem much more popular in Asia (most Asian specialty coffee places in Taiwan, Singapore, Seoul will carry a variety of these. And in fact I got these from a Korean coffee shop in LA)
#Amtrak #SouthwestChief #Trains #Transit #Arizona #Flagstaff #Coffee
I’ll know that I’ve reached a new phase in life when I start traveling with one of these in addition to my travel kettle
It would be so nice to have my good tea leaves with me and one of these
Passengers in the sleeper cars get all meals included, coach passengers can opt in for meals.
I’m a fan of their breakfasts, I think it’s a nice way to start the day and it’s pretty good (diner quality omelets)
(I generally like breakfast and dinner on the train. I don’t love the sandwich / melts / burgers for lunch. They have other dishes at breakfast and dinner)
There’s a little child who’s really into trains and they’ve been letting her make announcements all night and morning
Could have been me!
@skinnylatte Ah, true enlightenment!
I need to get some of these. 🍵
@skinnylatte I mean I'm not entirely surprised to see The Barn being sold over there, but still a little bit maybe.
Enjoy it! (the coffee and the trip)
@skinnylatte I hope the train goes past Macarthur Park
🎵Someone left their shoes off in the train 🎶
@SVChucko surprisingly the last two times I took it, it was on time.
The time before that (during the winter with lots of issues), delayed by 8h
@skinnylatte We took a trip from the Bay to central Pennsylvania by train in November. Out of 8 trains, the very first (Capitol Corridor) was the better part of a hour late, but we met family in Sacramento, so the timing wasn't critical. Only one other train was more than a few minutes late. But that one, the Floridian, was almost 4 hours late for what was supposed to be a midnight departure. That was not a fun night at the Pittsburgh Amtrak station.
The California Zephyr was great in both directions.
Planes, trains, any automobiles?
Adrianna Tan
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