Amtrak San Joaquin is launching a “Morning Express Service” on Monday, May 7th that reconfigures its schedule in order to bring riders throughout the San Joaquin Valley north to the state capital by 8:00AM.
On May 7th, the daily Morning Express service will begin in Fresno, CA, departing at 4:25AM and will make stops in Madera at 4:50AM, Merced at 5:20AM, Turlock-Denair at 5:42AM, Modesto at 5:57AM, Stockton (SKT) at 6:30AM, Lodi at 6:44AM, and will arrive at the downtown Sacramento Valley Station at 7:41AM. Return service will depart Sacramento at 12:41PM and 5:30PM, making stops at each of the stations along the San Joaquins southbound line.
This new schedule is expected to be transformative for the service – making it a much more convenient option for business travelers and same-day leisure travelers alike.
Until the launch of this Morning Express service, the first northbound train along the San Joaquin line was not scheduled to arrive in Sacramento until 11:20am. That has made it a challenge to attract business travelers who may need to spend more than just a few hours in Sacramento.
Passengers can transfer to Sacramento Regional Transit’s local bus and light rail system once they arrive in Sacramento, or the station is only a short walk from the Capitol, as well as many state agencies and downtown businesses. Additionally, Amtrak has a formal partnership with Lyft, as passengers who sign up to request a Lyft through the Amtrak App will receive $5 off each of their first four rides.
Amtrak San Joaquin also feeds into to the larger regional rail network, including a connection at the Stockton (SKT) Station to the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE Rail) service to San Jose, as well as a connection to Amtrak long distance trains, including California Zephyr and Coast Starlight at the Sacramento Valley Station.
Amtrak San Joaquin’s onboard amenities make travel time much more productive and enjoyable compared to driving. Comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi allow passengers to work or relax while they ride. And the trains feature a regional selection of snacks, sandwiches, coffee, craft beer and more.
Tickets for the Morning Express service can be booked now at www.AmtrakSanJoaquins.com, by calling 1-800-USA-Rail or on the Amtrak App. Multi-ride passes are available, including 10-Trip books and monthly passes, and there are a series of additional everyday discounts listed at www.amtrak.com/california-everyday-discounts.
