Amtrak San Joaquins now offer a seventh daily round trip, an addition to service between Bakersfield and Oakland’s Jack London Square Station. The addition makes service more convenient for passengers to travel the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley cities, and other destinations throughout California.
“As the communities of the San Joaquin Valley continue to grow, we must meet their needs by striving to offer additional train service along the corridor,” said Merced County Supervisor John Pedrozo, chair of the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA). “Riders need frequent, convenient scheduling options to choose from in order to incorporate train travel into their business or leisure trips. Adding another daily round trip will improve Amtrak San Joaquins’ connection between the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley.”
This is the first expansion of San Joaquins’ train service in more than 14 years. The route between the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley has not had an increase in service in more than 23 years. The new round trip offers earlier morning northbound and afternoon southbound options. The new Train 709 departs Bakersfield at 4:25 am, Hanford at 5:43 am, Fresno at 6:18 am, Stockton (San Joaquin Street Station) at 8:33 am and arrives in Oakland at 10:26 am. The new Train 708 departs Oakland at 2:30 pm, Stockton (San Joaquin Street Station) at 4:21 pm, Fresno at 6:34 pm, Hanford at 7:11 pm and arrives in Bakersfield at 8:46 pm.
Enhancing service on the Amtrak San Joaquins was recognized by TRIP, a national transportation research group, as one of the state’s top priorities for transportation improvement and investment. TRIP’s recent report, “Project Green Light: Moving California’s Critical Transportation Improvements Forward,” highlighted this project as one that would improve the quality of life for California residents, spur and enhance economic growth and competitiveness, and encourage job growth.
“With population increases and a growing economy, we need more options to get drivers off congested roads,” said Lafayette City Council Member Don Tatzin, Vice Chair of the SJJPA, “As people travel for work or play between the Bay Area and the San Joaquin Valley, the Amtrak San Joaquins line offers a way to avoid traffic, help the environment, and travel comfortably and safely. I’m so glad the additional daily round-trip is coming online now to make the train a convenient option for even more riders.”