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

#BikeTooter #Cycling #Amtrak

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

#Trains #Amtrak #California #CoastStarlight

Somewhere in central California

#California #Amtrak #Trains #CoastStarlight

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

#LosAngeles #LAmetro #Transit

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

#Bus #Transit #LosAngeles

Union Station, Los Angeles. Guess where I’m going next?

#Trains #Amtrak #Transit #LosAngeles

I haven’t been in a single automobile this week.

I might break that spell when I get to Atlanta in a few days, although I do plan to ride a lot of MARTA

#Transit #Trains #Atlanta

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

#Transit #Trains #LosAngeles #Amtrak #SouthwestChief

Multiple announcements about the importance of wearing shoes on the train..

#Transit #Trains #LosAngeles #Amtrak #SouthwestChief

Conductor was explaining communal seating in the dining car. Apparently this really shocks people who’ve never ridden the train before.

#Transit #Trains #LosAngeles #Amtrak #SouthwestChief

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)

#Food #Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

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!

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

There’s a couple of their honeymoon.

Everyone’s congratulating them. An Amtrak employee’s family is on board with his kids and they’re expecting another child.

This is why I like train travel. Proper cutlery, views, observation lounges, rolling into city centers, no TSA

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

The dining car attendant is showing photos of his family to the newly weds.

He calls his wife (who he married 40 years ago) his beautiful best friend

Awwww

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

We’ve been stuck outside Winslow, AZ for two hours

Freight trains take precedence here especially on the west coast (Amtrak doesn’t own the tracks here)

Major delays occur on US trains primarily because of this, I would say

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

I’m sitting with some Amish people. They seem to have a telephone (landline style) inside a black leather bag. I’m so curious about how that works

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

Crossed state lines into New Mexico!

Two new states for me in a day (one day I’ll get out in AZ properly)

#Amtrak #Trains #SouthwestChief

I feel like I’ve lived my life as an endless series of side quests.

This is also how I play video games

We’ve been stuck outside Albuquerque for 1.5 hours (on top of the earlier stuck for 2 hours in Arizona)

There’s a couple of other trains including this train in the other direction that have to pass through and also get service in Albuquerque.

Glad I had the diner car breakfast. I was hoping to get to Albuquerque for.. brunch. Ahahaha

Just started moving after 3h of waiting. 5 more min to Albuquerque.

I feel fine. I’ve been in a train for 24 hours at this point. I slept well (I can sleep anywhere) and I was well fed. I need a shower, but mostly feeling fine. (I was prepared for severe delays…)