Coast Starlight discussion

[desertflyer]

Any word on if the OKJ to SFC connection will ever return? Since the pandemic, passengers heading to San Francisco from northbound Starlights have to connect at Emeryville. Previously, they would connect to the bus at Oakland. Moving the connection to Emeryville has added about 25 minutes to the trip time to San Francisco.

It's already a long day from southern California to SF, and this makes it that much longer.

 

[west point]

Right now with Caltrain construction schedule changes it is iffy. Would almost depend on the day when I could catch a Caltrain at SJC. More than once in the past made a 10 minute connection which almost got me to SFC before Starlight got to OAK / EMY.

 

[desertflyer]

You name it, I've done it for the connection to SF. I still think returning the bus connection from 14 to OKJ is fairly important from a rider experience, so I'm hopeful it'll return.

 

[desertflyer]

A friend is on train 14 today out of LAX and got this notification. I haven't seen this before.

 

[allanorn]

Any word on if the OKJ to SFC connection will ever return? Since the pandemic, passengers heading to San Francisco from northbound Starlights have to connect at Emeryville. Previously, they would connect to the bus at Oakland. Moving the connection to Emeryville has added about 25 minutes to the trip time to San Francisco.

It's already a long day from southern California to SF, and this makes it that much longer.

Unlikely. Having buses connect at EMY means you only need one set of buses to do SF - EMY and back. Adding OKJ means you're more than likely using twice as many buses to do the same moves: one set for the outbound to EMY and another for the inbound to OKJ. You can do SF - EMY - OKJ - SF with one set of buses but that may require a relatively early departure for the SF-EMY leg, or having a long wait at the station for the OKJ-SF leg.

I agree that the buses at OKJ for northbound made for a better passenger experience. I would also love a consistently on-time CS and a cross-platform transfer to a waiting Caltrain at San Jose, but we might get HSR done before that happens.

 

[allanorn]

What happened to 11(23), 14(23), and 11(24)? 11(23) is twelve hours late into SJC and won't make it to LAX until 7am (estimated). Did they get trapped in weather/snow?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

What happened to 11(23), 14(23), and 11(24)? 11(23) is twelve hours late into SJC and won't make it to LAX until 7am (estimated). Did they get trapped in weather/snow?

Twitter says disabled freight & weather

 

[desertflyer]

After the EB and CONO, it looks like the next ALC-42 route is the CS. Starting this month they'll be on the point. Personally, I'm looking forward to it.

Amtrak ALC-42s to Make Appearance on ‘Coast Starlight’ Next

The ‘Coast Starlight’ will be the third long-distance train to regularly feature the new long-distance Chargers.

railfan.com

 

[Maglev]

After the EB and CONO, it looks like the next ALC-42 route is the CS. Starting this month they'll be on the point. Personally, I'm looking forward to it.

Amtrak ALC-42s to Make Appearance on ‘Coast Starlight’ Next

The ‘Coast Starlight’ will be the third long-distance train to regularly feature the new long-distance Chargers.

railfan.com

I just saw on Facebook that 306 is leading today's 14.

 

[Cal]

I just saw on Facebook that 306 is leading today's 14.

Be sure to check it out tomorrow on the Chehalis railcam.

 

[allanorn]

I know Amtrak changed the minimum connect time (MCT) at LAX so the CS-to-last-Surfliner transfer isn't legal any longer. Does anyone know what the MCT is these days? Apparently I can't book SAN-LAX-BND for the same day because the problem is at LAX.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I know Amtrak changed the minimum connect time (MCT) at LAX so the CS-to-last-Surfliner transfer isn't legal any longer. Does anyone know what the MCT is these days? Apparently I can't book SAN-LAX-BND for the same day because the problem is at LAX.

might also be because the surfliners are still running on a whacky schedule south of LA due to the coastal track repair.

 

[allanorn]

might also be because the surfliners are still running on a whacky schedule south of LA due to the coastal track repair.

Not in June or July, and not on the weekend where I was looking.

The 6am Surfliner out of SAN probably cuts the connection too close for my liking, but the 4am should be good even if I don't want to acknowledge the existence of 4am .

 

[Cal]

Apparently today's #14 was just cancelled. No idea why.

 

[zephyr17]

Flooding around Watsonville, maybe?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The CZ is "on hold" at EMY, which is probably for the same reason

As of 9:00 AM CT: California Zephyr Train 6, which is scheduled to depart Emeryville (EMY) on 3/12, will be delayed departing due to unforeseen track closures. A lengthy delay is anticipated. Updates to come.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

 

[trimetbusfan]

Apparently today's #14 was just cancelled. No idea why.

Tracks washed out btwn LAX and EMY.

14 will originate in EMY and run to SEA.

 

[desertflyer]

I'm traveling Maricopa to LAX tonight connecting LAX to Oakland tomorrow. Just got the call that the CS is cancelled with no alternate... so I guess Amtrak just wants me to live in LA now. I'm curious how this one will play out.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I'm traveling Maricopa to LAX tonight connecting LAX to Oakland tomorrow. Just got the call that the CS is cancelled with no alternate... so I guess Amtrak just wants me to live in LA now. I'm curious how this one will play out.

Roads might not be much better. I've seen some road washouts reported. (I'm on the east coast so not see a lot of CA news).

 

[TinCan782]

I'm traveling Maricopa to LAX tonight connecting LAX to Oakland tomorrow. Just got the call that the CS is cancelled with no alternate... so I guess Amtrak just wants me to live in LA now. I'm curious how this one will play out.

Lots of flood water affecting the Coast Starlight Route, especially around Watsonville Junction.

California's Pajaro River breaches overnight, residents urged to evacuate

As California faces heavy rainfall and flooding, the Pajaro River levee was breached overnight.

abcnews.go.com

 

[TinCan782]

Drone footage from around Watsonville Junction from Facebook's Coast Starlight group. (don't know how visible this will be).
Facebook

 

[trimetbusfan]

I'm traveling Maricopa to LAX tonight connecting LAX to Oakland tomorrow. Just got the call that the CS is cancelled with no alternate... so I guess Amtrak just wants me to live in LA now. I'm curious how this one will play out.

Even the inland route via the San Joaquins thru Bakersfield has some washouts! Not good..

 

[allanorn]

I'm traveling Maricopa to LAX tonight connecting LAX to Oakland tomorrow. Just got the call that the CS is cancelled with no alternate... so I guess Amtrak just wants me to live in LA now. I'm curious how this one will play out.

This might be one of those times where you may want to just buy a backup plane ticket from LA to get home. I do not expect the CS to run for the first half of the week with the atmospheric river slated to hit a very waterlogged central coast and southern Sierra.

 

[TinCan782]

This might be one of those times where you may want to just buy a backup plane ticket from LA to get home. I do not expect the CS to run for the first half of the week with the atmospheric river slated to hit a very waterlogged central coast and southern Sierra.

More rain predicted for Tuesday!