Amtrak California Prepares for Busy Thanksgiving Travel Week

    OAKLAND  -  Amtrak, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) anticipating the busiest travel week of the year, are planning ahead for Thanksgiving by adding extra train cars and encouraging passengers traveling throughout California to make their reservations early. 

The week of Thanksgiving - Tuesday, November 25 to Monday, December 1 - is typically Amtrak's busiest travel period of the year, carrying more than 665,000 passengers last year systemwide. To accommodate more passengers traveling during this holiday week, more capacity will be added to the Amtrak San Joaquin, Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes.

Six additional cars will be added to the San Joaquin service (Bakersfield-Oakland/Sacramento) beginning Wednesday, November 26 through Sunday, November 30.  More than 700 seats will be added to Pacific Surfliner trains (San Luis Obispo-Santa Barbara-Los Angeles and San Diego).  Reservations will also be required on all Pacific Surfliner trains. More than 500 seats will be added to the Capitol Corridor service on Wednesday, November 26, with trains 551 and 553 extending from Oakland to San Jose for that day only. 

On what is anticipated to be the heaviest travel day of the year for Amtrak, Wednesday, November 26, the railroad expects ridership nationwide to reach nearly 128,000 passengers - a 65 percent increase over the 78,000 passengers Amtrak carries on an average Wednesday.

Travel Tips - Amtrak offers the following tips for holiday passengers:

  • Avoid the Rush: Busiest travel days are Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving. Purchase tickets early using Amtrak.com, QuikTrak ticket vending machines, and ticket windows at staffed stations or calling 800-USA-RAIL.  Allow plenty of time at stations prior to departure - at least 45 minutes before if tickets need to be picked up.
  • Know the Limits: Note the limit of two carry-on bags per person (excluding laptops, purses, briefcases), and be sure all luggage is tagged with name and address.
  • Carry photo ID: Passengers are required to show valid photo identification when purchasing tickets.  Make sure to carry valid photo ID at all times, as it may be requested aboard trains. Amtrak's Mobile Security Team will be deployed at various locations throughout the holiday season conducting passenger and baggage screenings.

Amtrak operates the Pacific Surfliner service, with 12 daily roundtrips between San Diego and Los Angeles, with five extending to Santa Barbara and two continuing to San Luis Obispo, under a contract with Caltrans. 

Amtrak also operates the San Joaquins service under the same contract with Caltrans, with six daily round-trips to Bakersfield from Oakland or Sacramento.

The Capitol Corridor service operates 32 weekday trains and 22 weekend trains between Sacramento and the Bay Area, with direct service to San Jose and Auburn. For train schedules visit  www.capitolcorridor.org.

Amtrak California Thruway motorcoaches provide service to over 150 additional destinations throughout California from the three major routes ? the Pacific Surfliner, San Joaquins, and the Capitol Corridor.

About California Department of Transportation

The California Department of Transportation partners with Amtrak to provide service on three intercity rail corridors in California.  Through a $80 million per year annual state operating assistance program and the largest capital assistance program in the nation, the State's Division of Rail supports service between the Bay Area and Sacramento on the Capitol Corridor, between San Francisco/Oakland and Bakersfield on the San Joaquins and, in Southern California, between San Diego and San Luis Obispo via Los Angeles and Santa Barbara on the Pacific Surfliner.  The California Corridors, operated under the partnership banner, Amtrak California, are the busiest in the nation behind the Washington - Boston Northeast corridor and the Empire corridor serving Albany - New York City.

About Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority

The Capitol Corridor serves 16 stations along its 170-mile rail corridor, and offers a convenient way to travel between the Sierra Foothills, Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley/San Jose.  Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) manages the Capitol Corridor service with day-to-day management support from the S.F. Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). The CCJPA partners with Amtrak, Union Pacific Railroad, Caltrans and the communities comprising the CCJPA to offer cost-effective, viable and safe intercity passenger rail service.

About Amtrak

Amtrak has posted six consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year.  Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail services to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system.  For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.