California Zepher/Coast Starlight

[GG-1]

Aloha

P am planing to connect to the CZ from the CS in Emeryville. I am wondering would the connection be more convienient if I were to change it to Sacramento.

1 Does the station stay open all night

2 Are there economy hotels near/next to the station

3 Any other advantages

Any disadvantages

 

[Guest]

you don't say if you are coming off #11 or #14. Off #11 the connection is too tight at Emeryville so you would use sac (and lately even THAT is missed most of the time). Off #14 the Sac arrival is midnight (or later) and a lousy time to be looking for your hotel, so Emeryville is probably better choice unless you are a late riser, then use Sac (there is a Vagabond or somesuch across the street from the station).

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

I am going north on the 14. The Emeryville station closes and I can not wait there. Any of the nearby hotes are way to expensive fo only 4 hour, or so, assuming the 14 will be 2 hpurs late and if I return to the station at 7:30/8:00 amit's just not worth spending 100.00.

I would not care if the waiting room would be available, but Amtrak closes the station an hour after the Starlight arives.

At the moment I am planing a late nite snack followed by breakfast at the Denny's next to the station.

 

[tp49]

As I live very close to the Sacramento Depot I can provide some insight here. To answer your first question no the station does not stay open all night, generally they are open until 14 comes through at 11:59 PM (scheduled) or when it actually comes through which can be much later.

As for economy hotels in the area there is the Vagabond Inn located across I street at the corner of 3d and I the Holiday inn is at 3d and J (as for the econominess of it well that may be another story). There are also the Travelodge at 11th and H and the Best Western across the street which are about 6 blocks from the station and an easy walk (about 10 minutes or less depending upon how much stuff you have).

The connection to #6 would have you waiting around 11 hours in Sac if the trains were both on time. 6 is generally on time into SAC but 14 can be dicey depending on the day.

The advantages to Sac are hotels are probably cheaper you might even be able to find a decent deal (not sure since I've never stayed in a hotel here), Old Sac is right next to the station and when I say that I mean the California State Railroad Museum is next to the depot you could kill a couple of hours there easily. The Downtown Plaza shopping center is a couple of blocks down from the station as well and is a full scale shopping mall complete with food court. If you're lucky you might even see Governor Arnold.

The disavantages are if you have to spend time out there is a large homeless population in Downtown Sacramento (it's worse in San Francisco but not much) and it can be a bit desolate especially late at night, but there is a Denny's right next to the aforementioned Vagabond Inn.

If you have any other Sac queations feel free to put them here or PM me and I'll answer them for you.