Amtrak to the Beach

[DavidSh]

None of the Texas beaches are reachable by Amtrak.

Speaking of the Gulf coast, it looks like the stations at Bay Saint Louis, Gulfport, and Biloxi will be quite close to the beach, with the Pascagoula station a little farther inland. (This being part of the reason why hurricane Katrina hit the line so hard.)

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

Back in the waaayyy far ago past, the Illinois Central created a series of posters for tourism to Chicago featuring our beaches. They are still here and still nice.

 

[Palmland]

And don't forget the Gulf beaches - whenever that service starts. A google search shows it's half mile, 10min. walk from the Biloxi station to the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino on the Gulf, past the MGM stadium ( home of the AA Biloxi Shuckers).

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

What?!? What's the deal with this fence and what's the definition of a transit center if it can't sell day passes or process cards?! And no bike racks?

I meant those rent-a-bikes, guess I was expecting them anywhere in South Florida.

Brightline is fancy, the Fort Lauderdale transit center is not. A friend who met me at West Palm's first remark was to ask me what I thought the median income of my fellow weekend travelers on BL was. The ticket booth worker at the transit center (outdoors but under roof) was helpful, and told me the nearby Mickey D's would change my twenty. But her system was down so it was cash only on the bus. At BL on the other hand, I can't say what the snack store clerk was like because it was a silent computer that detected my purchase. BL has a lot of real staff too, a bar with a neon sign, and security screening.

I ended up walking to the beach since I had the time. The one funny Florida thing that happened was that the number of coaches was off from the normal consist, and based on the big painted number I ended up in business class by mistake on my trip back. They let it slide. Slept comfortably.

 

[Matthew H Fish]

Oakland/Jack London Square is another station that has very nice beach access---although it is not an ocean beach, and it is not a sandy beach either. But at least some of the beach experience can be had there, very easily. For that matter, Martinez, California has some nice access to places where you can...see salt water up close. But again, not a classical beach experience.
In fact, I just looked and was surprised to find--the Coast Starlight has all of one stops between Los Angeles and Seattle where a traveller can get out and stroll down to the ocean.
(Santa Barbara, and possibly Oxnard, depending on what you consider a "stroll")

 

[Brian Battuello]

Okay, MBTA to the beach, but I was waiting for the Amtrak Downeaster at the time....

 

[Matthew H Fish]

This video has a time stamp showing the beach in Martinez! As I observe, it is not the type of beach for ice cream, beer or bikinis.

 

[fdaley]

It's not Amtrak of course, but via change at Newark, the NJT North Jersey Coast Line serves a whole series of beach towns, within walking distance of the shore, from about Asbury Park down to Bay Head.

 

[Maglev]

Amtrak's Cascades trains go through Larrabee State Park just south of Bellingham, and the station is only an eight-minute cab ride from the park. These folks on the beach can certainly see and hear passing trains:

 

[jis]

It's not Amtrak of course, but via change at Newark, the NJT North Jersey Coast Line serves a whole series of beach towns, within walking distance of the shore, from about Asbury Park down to Bay Head.

Actually, Long Branch onward. The good thing about Long Branch is service from NY is at least hourly electric service. Beyond Long Branch, diesel service usually involving change at Long Branch and usually less frequent, once every two hours or worse. In all cases the Beaches are about a half mile walk. Back when I lived in Monmouth County in Ocean Township, I would have avoided walking through Asbury Park. I don't know how it is now. If you are going South of Long Branch, might as well go all the way to Point Pleasant Beach or Bay Head. Nice beaches down that way.

From Penn Station NY, the LIRR Babylon/Montauk South Shore Line also presents many beach opportunities, though the really good beaches on barrier islands are quite a hike and may involve jumping on a ferry (e.g. Ho Hum Beach Marina Ferry from Bellport to get to Fire Island, where the endless beaches are).

 

[fdaley]

Actually, Long Branch onward. The good thing about Long Branch is service from NY is at least hourly electric service. Beyond Long Branch, diesel service usually involving change at Long Branch and usually less frequent, once every two hours or worse. In all cases the Beaches are about a half mile walk. Back when I lived in Monmouth County in Ocean Township, I would have avoided walking through Asbury Park. I don't know how it is now. If you are going South of Long Branch, might as well go all the way to Point Pleasant Beach or Bay Head. Nice beaches down that way.

From Penn Station NY, the LIRR Babylon/Montauk South Shore Line also presents many beach opportunities, though the really good beaches on barrier islands are quite a hike and may involve jumping on a ferry.

Yeah, what I remember of the LIRR Montauk line is that it hits all the beach towns from Westhampton to Montauk, but most or all of the stations are a good distance, often a mile or more, from the beach. In Montauk in particular, walking would involve navigating along the shoulder of a road that isn't set up for pedestrians; one would want a cab or Uber to get to the beach and hotels in the town center.

In NJ, I remember the beach being a comparatively short and straightforward walk from the Point Pleasant Beach station. The Bay Head station feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, but I remember that once I got oriented, the beach wasn't actually very far.

 

[JLChicago]

The Pacific Surfliner literally runs on the California beach. Some stops that seem convenient include Solana Beach, Oceanside, and San Clemente.
I haven’t used them personally, but perhaps others here have?

I’ll second this. And I’d also recommend the Pacific Surfliner Cabride DVD. trainvideodepot.com has it. 3 hours all from the front end from LA to San Diego.

 

[MARC Rider]

Given this thread

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hilary affecting Amtrak

Amtrak has announced "Service Adjustments" ahead of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hilary for the Pacific Surfliner this weekend. I have also seen mention (on Facebook) of similiar advisories for the Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle. Lets hope there is no ground movement down by San Clemente as a result of...

www.amtraktrains.com

maybe it's good that there aren't so many Amtrak stops close to the beach.

 

[Matthew H Fish]

Amtrak's Cascades trains go through Larrabee State Park just south of Bellingham, and the station is only an eight-minute cab ride from the park. These folks on the beach can certainly see and hear passing trains:

From the Bellingham station, Marine Park is actually a 5 minute walk, at a leisurely pace. But it might not fit some people's idea of a beach, because it is rocky, and is on an inlet of the ocean. Maybe it doesn't quite have the same feeling when you look out at the water and see land a few thousand feet away!

 

[pennyk]

The Pacific Surfliner literally runs on the California beach. Some stops that seem convenient include Solana Beach, Oceanside, and San Clemente.
I haven’t used them personally, but perhaps others here have?

I have walked to the beach from the Solana Beach Amtrak station (during an OTOL fest many years ago).

 

[Maverickstation]

Okay, MBTA to the beach, but I was waiting for the Amtrak Downeaster at the time....

Yes, Crane Beach can be reached via the Newburyport Line at Ipswich Station.

The seasonal bus service Ispwich Essex Explorer meets trains at Ipswich and one route goes to Crane Beach.

Ipswich Essex Explorer, Seasonal Bus Service to Ipswich and Essex MA, USA

Ken

 

[MARC Rider]

Okay, MBTA to the beach, but I was waiting for the Amtrak Downeaster at the time....

Don't forget that the Blue Line in Boston takes you right to Revere Beach, the first public beach in America, or so the sign said.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Although Revere Beach isn't what it used to be when it had the roller coaster etc. Now just all condos.

 

[Maverickstation]

Happy Labor Day Weekend all. Speaking of taking trains to the beach, we are at the MBTA Commuter Rail Station in Chelsea about to board the train to Rockport, and Front Street Beach.

 

[Asher]

I have walked to the beach from the Solana Beach Amtrak station (during an OTOL fest many years ago).

I used to walk race horses from Del Mar race track to that beach to stand in the surf. Some trainers thought it was therapeutic. Solana beach had just one really small greasy spoon to eat at back then.

 

[UserNameRequired]

Downeaster today Labor Day Weekend Sunday to Old Orchard. The beach seemed crowded to me but I have never been there before. Many train riders off and on with me.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

Downeaster today Labor Day Weekend Sunday to Old Orchard. The beach seemed crowded to me but I have never been there before. Many train riders off and on with me.

When I passed by at around 7:45 pm last night on 697 the place was jammed.

 

[UserNameRequired]

The water was cold (to me anyway) and the waves seemed nice and strong. I left mid-afternoon 696. Someone behind me was saying everyone in Maine must have been there.

 

[Maverickstation]

We took the same train as yesterday from Chelsea MBTA Commuter Rail station and today went to beautiful Singing Beach in Manchester By The Sea. How can you go wrong with the $10.00 weekend pass, let alone when it includes the entire Holiday Weekend. Riders were out in force.

 

[Maverickstation]

The water was cold (to me anyway) and the waves seemed nice and strong. I left mid-afternoon 696. Someone behind me was saying everyone in Maine must have been there.

Old Orchard Beach is very popular, to say the least, and the season is short so people turn out when they can enjoy it.
A former colleague of mine whose usual beach getaways are Nantucket and East Hampton, would always take her extended family for a week in Old Orchard Beach, as there is plenty for the kids to do, and it is considered a very safe place, and clean place to take them.

Ken