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SIXTH DAILY ROUNDTRIP FOR AMTRAK'S Oakland, CA -- Amtrak is proud to announce the launch of a sixth roundtrip train added to Amtrak California's San Joaquin schedule effective Monday, March 18, doubling direct service to/from Sacramento and providing a greater array of transportation options for residents of and visitors to the growing San Joaquin Valley. The new train will be in service between Bakersfield and Sacramento and is the second roundtrip train traveling between those two destinations. Four other San Joaquin roundtrip trains operate between Bakersfield and Oakland. To introduce the new service, inaugural celebrations are scheduled along the route as the train travels northbound from Bakersfield to Sacramento. City and county officials, state legislaturors, commercial partners, Amtrak and representatives of the California Department of Transportation will take part in inaugural programs. Special activities will also be held onboard the inaugural train. Some of the onboard activities will include special raffles and guest appearances by sports mascots from cities throughout the central valley. The day is also a special one for the city of Lodi. It will become a regular stop for two daily San Joaquin roundtrips (four trains) in the Bakersfield-Sacramento service. Amtrak Thruway Motorcoaches provide a connection for Lodi passengers to other San Joaquin trains in Stockton. Inaugural ceremonies are scheduled to greet the first northbound San Joaquin train at Lodi, beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Sixth San Joaquin train will depart Bakersfield at 7:15 a.m., Wasco 7:42 a.m., Corcoran 8:14 a.m., Hanford 8:32 a.m., Fresno 9:10 a.m., Madera 9:34 a.m., Merced 10:08 a.m., Turlock/Denair 10:34 a.m., Modesto 10:49 a.m., Stockton 11:20 a.m., Lodi 11:34 a.m. and arrive in Sacramento at 12:30 p.m. On March 18, Inaugural Celebrations will begin in each city approximately 15 minutes before the train's scheduled stop. Reservations on San Joaquin trains are required. For reservations, fare and schedule information, call Amtrak at 1-800-USA-RAIL, visit www.amtrak.com or see a local travel agent. -- Source: Amtrak News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ADDITIONAL INFO FROM TRAINWEB: TrainWeb will be onboard this inaugural Amtrak San Joaquin train from Bakersfield to Sacramento on March 18, 2002. TrainWeb also covered the inaugural Amtrak San Joaquin train in the reverse direction from Sacremento to Bakersfield on Sunday, February 19, 1999. Click here for details. I think the big story here is missed by the above news release. This new Amtrak San Joaquin train now makes it possible for people who live throughout the San Joaquin Valley to go to Sacramento, take care of whatever business they may have at the state capital, and then return home, all in the same day by rail! Prior to this new train, one would have to take the evening train up to Sacramento, stay overnight, take care of business in the capital the next day, stay overnight again, and then leave very early the next morning. The only other alternative would be to fly, drive, or take bus connections between Stockton and Sacramento. With this new train, one can go to Sacramento and back all in the same day by rail from much of the San Joaquin Valley! A major improvement that we can wish for the future is for this train to be extended down to Los Angeles to provide a more convenient rail connection between Southern California and the state capital. Many of us do what we can to avoid the bus connection between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. As a matter of fact, the TrainWeb staff will be driving from Orange County to Bakersfield to avoid the bus connection to this inaugural train. |
