Amtrak
Category: Hotels & Travel Travel Services Travel Services [Edit]
San Diego, CA 92101Neighborhoods: Little Italy, Downtown
(619) 239-9989
51 reviews for Amtrak
51 reviews in English
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Review from Scott L.
San Diego, CA
3/5/2012
Took the Amtrack from Fresno to San Diego. The leg from Fresno to Bakersfield was great...it's nice to sit back and enjoy the scenery with plenty of legroom('m 6'4..290) and seat room. The only minus is that the ride is slightly bumpy which makes reading a bit of a challenge for me.
The bus ride from Bakersfield to Los Angeles was via the bus which was ok. The experience would have been much better had a tanker truck not gone off the freeway and spilled fuel(closing the I-5 for hours).
Upon arriving in LA by bus I transfered to the Amtrack Surfliner(barely made my train due to the accident mentioned above) and enjoyed another nice ride from Union Station to Downtown San Diego. Food and beverages are available on trains as well. I wouldn't do a long distance ride again, but i'd definitely sign up for a 2 or 3 hour trip. -
Review from Bobbi B.
La Mesa, CA
2/19/2012
Took train from San Diego to Los Angeles, then another train from Los Angeles to Albuquerque. Loved it! VERY relaxing, lots of interesting stuff to see (at least during the daylight hours). Got a sleeper car for the long leg of the trip, had planned to share the bed even if small but they are SO small that was out of the question. I slept great, my partner not so much (he had the lower bunk next to the window so had distractions....) The food was MUCH better than I expected (you get free meals when you go with the sleeper car) and I even took a shower in the morning! ONLY negative was when the guy in the diner car sent me back to put shoes on for breakfast... OK, yes I was grumpy and in need of coffee but had to comment "yeah, mys hoes are MUCH cleaner than my feet" when I passed him on the way back :-(
It's also very cost effective. Much cheaper than gas for an auto trip. We flew back, which was the perfect choice.
I heard that weekend passes (Friday-Sunday) allow unlimited travel in SoCal corridor, which we definitely plan to take advantage of in the near future. Also Union Station in Los Angeles is AMAZING in and of itself. -
Review from Joanna R.
Valencia, CA
1/4/2012
I would totally recommend taking the Amtrak from LA to San Deigo and back.
We travelled Monday to Wednesday, so they weren't necessarily peak travel times and resulted in pretty empty trains. We found a quiet 4-person table on the second floor, kept our bags with us, relaxed, read, played on the free wi-fi, visited the snack bar, and 3 hours later found ourselves in San Diego.
It was a pretty enjoyable experience and now Mr R is trying to talk me into going cross-country by train! I'm taking baby steps.Listed in: Weekend in San Diego
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Review from Danny W.
12/19/2011
I've never seen an episode of Khloe and Lamar, but I'm almost sure it's about as bad as the Clippers winning percentage to date. Still I'd rather watch a marathon of it than sit in traffic on the 405, so I'm gonna have to go ahead and give the Amtrak 5 glowing stars when heading to LA from SD.
It's about a 3 hour trip, but theirs internet and power outlets, the seats are comfy, and you can drink beer the whole way. These attributes paired with view of the Pacific as the sun is setting is pretty much heaven in comparison to the alternative method of transportation.
It's 36 bucks, but you won't rip out your hair so I'd give it a try next time you make the trip.Listed in: HelLA
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Review from Rachael C.
San Diego, CA
11/28/2011
While there was some hiccups, all in all my first Amtrak experience to Anaheim was a solid one. My train up was on time, easy breezy and had lots of different spots to choose. Ended up in a four seater area with a middle table. Outlets were available if needed. Plenty of room to relax. Had a bit of a funky scent at first but got used to it. Was very surprised how fast we got there, almost like no time passed at all..Plus business class upgrade gets you a free little bottle of wine and snacks. Woot..even if the guy looked at me like I was 12 trying to drink..
Coming by was a bit more of a hassle. The train to San Diego was 1/2 hour late and it was packed. Amtrak should really tell solo customers to sit with another solo customer so that you don't end up getting screwed out of a seat when you have someone with you. Train guy got kind of snippy when we tried to sit in seats meant for four people. He redeemed himself later by finding us some seats where we could sit together comfortably. Plus free booze again. The two seater option is not as comfy as the four seater area, but was still nice
I think I would for sure take an Amtrak again. The prices are pretty reasonable and for longer trip I think it would beat traffic and high gas costs. -
Review from Helen N.
San Diego, CA
9/5/2011
I book tickets online. Go to Amtrak station to print the tickets. Amtrak's schedule is easy to follow.
The crews are nice. Clean train. Good service. I will use Amtrak for other trips around the nation. Yeahhh! -
Review from Seven T.
San Diego, CA
7/28/2011 1 photo
Oh no, did i get on the wrong train? This isnt the Metro North New Haven Line?! It does end up at Grand Central Terminal though right?
Damn, i did get on the wrong train! A 2 floor Amtrak going to...Union Station in....Los Angeles! Its cool though, i'll roll with it, i mean, its gotta be something similar to NYC's GCT...i hope.
The pros and cons of a journey north: The guy at the ticket window in San Diego was very friendly and helpful, and explained to me the process of bringing my bike on board with me. The train was relatively clean and the bike hooks somehow fit my 20inch freestyle. The power outlets were key as well! Train conductors were cool, but a far cry from the Metro North personalities. We left on time, and the train was packed with Comic Con peoples still high on their clouds of Comic-Craziness.
BUT, theres this place, a place called Oceanside. Id been through here inna car before and, i mean, it was ok, didnt really spend much time there. UNTIL, this train ride north. "Signal Failure". Yup, those red and green lights along the train line that they use to determine if its safe to travel onward; were failing to operate correctly. Which, in turn, made a 2ish hour long ride a 3+ish hour long ride! Damn you! Ok, i wasnt that heated, ya know, safety first and all that, but cmon now, it reached the point of ridiculous when i jumped out the window and ran along side the train faster than it was moving! Then it hit me---i dont have any spray paint with me! Thats for another storied review though...
Amtrak, ya had 2 stars goin into this review, but somehow, you redeemed yourself on the trip back to SD by (crazy concept) being ON SCHEDULE! Its also quite proper of you to not charge me to bring my bike on board with me! Something tells me theres gunna be an update to this review in the future...
Seven, over and out. -
Review from Edwin M.
Azusa, CA
7/20/2011
Things I like about Amtrak and things I don't:
Pros:
Beer
Some what comfortable chairs depending on what cart you get.
Electrical Outlets
Meeting People(I've met amazing people on the train. I've met restaurant owners, cute girls, wonderful grandmas, military members. Some will even offer you a drink or something. I usually offer something to my seat partner.)
Spectacular views if you're taking the train from Downtown San Diego.( Remember if you're facing north get a seat on the left hand side the ocean view is amazing!)
Amtrak Rewards
Cons:
Loud People
Creepy People
Occasional delay (I've taken the train from San Diego to Anaheim and Los Angeles on numerous occasions and I can honestly say the train has been late or delayed about three times.)
Tips and Tricks
If you're taking the train from San Diego don't line up like the rest of newbies prior to boarding the train. Just sit back and relax and watch people standing up waiting to board.
Now what you do is wait till there is no line and then walk to the last cart and board. Now remember you can't sit on the first floor unless you're old and or disabled. So make your way up the stairs and find yourself a seat and relax. While the newbies are clustered in the first couple carts.
Happy Travels. -
Review from Kym C.
Temecula, CA
1/16/2012
Looking for some "old fun"? Ride the train! We took the train from OC to SD on NYE to avoid all the crazies and we had the best time. Everyone was beyond nice and everything was super clean. We were able to relax with cocktails and enjoy an ocean view. I will absolutely take the Amtrack again!
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Review from Michael W.
New York, NY
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
My first Amtrak ride ever and it was pretty great! I had a short ride from San Diego to Irvine, so that took about 1.5 hours. The beauty of Amtrak is that it almost always arrives on time. Even when we had a slight delay on the way, we still arrived at Irvine exactly at our proposed time. For cost, you can't really go wrong. For $19, you can ride to Irvine. I opted to pay the extra $12 to sit business since I did have quite a bit of luggage on me.
San Diego's Amtrak station is pretty decently sized. Lots of seats in the waiting area, and a helpful staff to help me out on my first venture. As far as business class goes, its pretty nice. Obviously, the seats are larger than coach, but the beauty is that you're guaranteed a seat. Thus, you won't be screwed with a long line waiting to board the train, or the horror of not having a seat. In addition to that, the seat reclines, has a pull out table, and a foot rest. On top of that, you get a free snack and drink on your ride. I went with a can of soda, and my snack pack included: chips, nuts, and a cookie. Not bad for a $31 ride right?
Now if only they could tell the loud ass people on the train to shut up so I could read my book. On this particular ride, there were these 3 women who were talking louder than god himself. The worst part? They were talking about topics like getting pregnant and other stuff that I just did not need to hear, especially since they were like 40 years old. To supplement that, they had their uncontrollable baby crawling up and down the aisle. Aside from that, my ride would have been a 10/10.
Overall, Great experience, and Amtrak has easily won over my confidence. -
Review from Phillip N.
Los Angeles, CA
3/12/2011
I've probably spent $10,000 traveling on you over the years.
Good times and bad times.
Fun times and scary times.
Met some interesting people.
Took some much needed naps.
You're definitely not the most punctual but you've got some of my friends beat.Listed in: Planes, Train, Automobiles,…
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Review from joan k.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 12/12/2011
Well Amtrak is at it again ! On a recent trip for Los Angeles to San Diego, they resurrected the old clunker cars ! I always go Business Class, but the clunker car designated for "Business Class" 's air conditioning was NOT working (it was 86 degrees outside ) inside 96! We were told to find a seat in UNreserved which was sardine packed with similar air conditioning problems. I subsequently called Amtrak Customer service for a credit, but was told they would issue me a "voucher' to be used on future trips! WT?
Well I guess I shouldn't expect much from a Government Run business...While China has high speed rail... Amtrak is just rambling down borrowed tracks !1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2008
Oh yes, Amtrak (supposed to be the representation of Train Travel in America?) Even CHINA has a… Read more »
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Review from Baby Mr. T.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 11/23/2008
I just took Amtrak from San Diego to SLO... so here's my extremely useful update of train faq's that aren't included on the Amtrak website.
Q: I've never taken the train before. What should I expect?
A: A combination of Greyhound and a Southwest flight.
Q: Where do I board? Do I need to be 2 hours early?
A: In most cases, you'll line up to get on the train. There will be signs outside on the platform or you can ask a worker at the station. Some stations, like SLO, are a free-for-all and you'll need to run outside when it's your time to board. You might want to be at least 30 minutes early to the station if you're on a crowded train. Once you're on the train, you can sit wherever you want. You can also change seats at any time, just remember to move the little slip of paper the conductor put above your head to indicate your destination.
Q: What's up with the biz/coach class?
A: Most trains offer a business class option. In my case, it was about $15 on top of the regular fare. If you're not on a really tight student budget, or you're very tall, pay the money. It's worth it. You'll get a lot more legroom in a less crowded car. The conductor will come around with a box of semi-decent processed snacks that he/she may throw at you (in case you're tempted to think they're a waiter) and offer you a beverage. After that, the conductor often disappears for the remainder of the trip.
Q: Yeah, but what about the seat?
A: The seat has a big tray for your laptop and a power outlet. It also has a kickout recliner, but some of them are broken. The seats in coach have outlets, too.
Q: Will I need to bring food?
A: Yes. There's a snack bar but it will close periodically so the conductor can take a break and it will often shut down before you reach the station. By snack bar, I mean a fridge and a microwave. They serve booze and packaged stuff but if you want better food you'll have to pack it.
Q: I smoke.
A: You won't like the train. The conductors will usually announce over the intercom that a station stop is coming and it's a good place to get off and smoke. Those stops are few and far between.
Q: Can I get off the train?
A: Not really. There's not enough time. The longest station stop on the Surfliner route is about 20 minutes at Union Station and 10 minutes in Burbank and Santa Barbara.
Q: What about my luggage?
A: Bring as much crap as you want within the limits of Amtrak's website. If you're traveling during the holidays, buy one of those luggage locks with a wire to stretch through your bag handles so the bag won't wander off. Some trains have luggage racks above the seats, others have luggage racks at the end of the compartment.
Q: Is there internet on the train?
A: Of course not.
Q: Who else is on the train?
A: Weirdos, college students, Amtrak employees, old people and random travelers who like taking the train.
Q: Why did you take the train?
A: I hate driving. I'd rather spend 8 hours on the train staring at beautiful scenery or playing on my laptop than be stuck in LA traffic for 4 hours.
Q: Any other useful tips?
A: Yes! If you're taking the Pacific Surfliner north of LA, remember that the train changes direction at Union Station. That forward-facing seat will suddenly be going backward. Get a seat on the side of the train overlooking the ocean. The scenery is absolutely amazing through Del Mar and north of Ventura to Santa Barbara. The train goes right over the sand. Amtrak is also very flexible about changes and reservations. Most of them can be done on short notice with no fee.
Q: Is that all?
A: Bring a jacket. It gets really cold on the train.Listed in: Planes, Trains & Automobiles
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/19/2007
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Review from Ryan P.
San Diego, CA
3/22/2011
I have only had to take a train from here twice. I have not minded the experience both time. I did take the surfliner both time and if you have never taken a trip up the coast on the train I highly suggest it.
The last time I took the train though, the credit card machine did not work. Much to my dismay I was not able to enjoy and arrogant bastard. Bring cash!!! Also if you move seats on the train make sure you grab the sub the conductor (lack of better known name) puts by your seat. -
Review from Steph L.
2/23/2009
I used to love Amtrak, but my opinion after this past weekend will forever change how I look at it.
I was invited to the Lakers/Hornets game last Friday night--premiere seating--wahoo! I had been looking forward to it for about 3 weeks. Game started at 7:30, I figured traffic might be heavy so the path of least resistence would include taking the train from downtown SD all the way to Union Station in LA. Train was meant to arrive at 6:45, so my friend could pick me up and we could mosey on over to Staples Center. Sounds easy and painless right?
Things started off alright...Friday's are busier than most other days, so the train was 98% full by the time we left the Solana Beach station. Pretty much standing room only.
As we passed San Clemente suddenly the train slowed to a stop. We were stopped for 15 minutes before they made any announcements, and when they finally did they didn't tell us much. "We seem to have lost power, please stay seated while we figure out the source of the problem." Well, no power means no circulating air, and no bathrooms. After 45 minutes of still no movement, it was incredibly hot, stuffy, and I needed the bathroom. They weren't making any improvements on fixing the problem, and they weren't telling us anything which is incredibly frustrating.
When an Amtrak employee walked by me, and I asked for an update, he yelled at me that the only thing he owed me was to get me to my final destination safely. Well yes, but normally I don't have a strict appointment, let alone Lakers tickets. When I asked him politely if he could he please keep us all updated with a timeline so we could make decisions based on the information given to us, he refused to answer my questions and walked away.
More time goes by, with practically no new information. They wouldn't let us off the train, until finally after an hour and a half of being stopped another another train pushed us off the tracks and we were allowed to exit at that time. We were all sweaty, disheveled, angry people at this point. When we were finally allowed to get off, I was horrified that an Amtrak employee had to unlock the door with a key that had been in his pocket. No power means no power doors. Hmmm....What if there had been an emergency and we needed to get out in a hurry? Simply wait until someone with a key makes their way to EVERY exit?!? There are no security measures on trains like there are at airports--any nutjob can hop a train. Not to be overly dramatic, but that was a scary thought. The way they handled even this small crisis really disappointed me. Boo on Amtrak.Listed in: Things that Suck
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Review from benito d.
Los Angeles, CA
4/28/2009
***Review for the Surfliner which I've taken about 20 times from San Diego to Santa Barbara and points in between****
So wait:
1) I don't have to put wear and tear on my car?
2) They sell the big bottles of Stone Pale Ale and Arrogant Bastard on board?
3) I don't have to drive through Los Angeles?
4) I can have views that differ from the ocean to urban Los Angeles?
=
Win.
PS: If you get on at the Solana Beach station, arrive an hour early and pick up some Pizza Port to bring with you for the ride. Mmmmm a Pizza Solana, Stone Pale Ale on board and some good music on my iPhone?
= Super Ridiculous WIN. -
Review from Rossi H.
6/18/2010
This is the ultimate love/hate relationship.
Love - going places. Hate - leaving places.
Love - Coastal route view. Hate - View of business and freeway.
Love - Drink car after you leave. Hate - leaving.
Love - Reading and thinking on the way to where you are going.
Hate - It isn't a high speed rail train.
Love - being on a train. Hate - being transferred to a bus. BLEH!
that would be the only downfall of Amtrak. When they transfer you to a bus. Although sometimes it is quicker....just not the same. Just not the same. -
Review from Noel J.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2009
My wife had a great idea while planning a small trip up to Venice Beach.
We took the train up!
When is the last time I took a train???Um shit, never. Damn its been that long?
It was pretty fun. It takes about the same abount of time as it would if we wold have driven, but you avoid the traffic and you get to enjoy our great coast line here in Southern California while having a drink or two.
They offer a bunch of refrigerated food, I went for the Chicken Salad and was surprised that it was pretty good.
The train is on a strict time line, at each stop you have 2 minutes to get on or off the train.
I felt bad for laughing, but this group of 3 older people missed their stop because they took too long getting off.
The train ride was pleasant, I would defiantly take it again. -
Review from Caroline B.
San Diego, CA
10/20/2007
I've taken Amtrak for years:
I used to take it up and back to Santa Barbara...and Los Angeles (with some regularity). A couple of years ago we took Amtrak across the entire nation...then up to Canada (crossing back across Canada on Canada's train system) ...then back down the West Coast through Washington, Oregon and California....back to San Diego.
I like the train....plus, in the event of a crash....I am comforted by the idea that we are at least already on the ground.
The cross country trip was done in a sleeper car. It would have been excruciatingly uncomfortable in regular seating.
Amtrak offers you the regular seating...or individual bed compartments (with a shared bathroom for your car)...or you may upgrade to a private compartment.
One thing no one told us: if you swing for the private compartment...ask for an end room...they're larger yet priced the same as the rest.
Compared to Canada's wonderful trains...ours (Amtrak) is deserving of 3 stars...not 4 stars. But here...they are the only show in town...thus, it's unfair to compare them directly with Canada for the rating.
One beef I have with Amtrak is their lack of an efficient alert system. More often than you might think, trains are stopped by hitting people...cars...etc on the tracks. Unfortunately, they don't always bother to alert the people waiting to pick up loved ones at the station.
They are also not always on top of alerting the passengers on the train. You may pay to ride Amtrak to your destination and be lucky to arrive hours later via a bus.
Come to think of it...until they are willing and able to devise a better protocol for communicating with the people waiting at the station...they are not yet deserving of the 4th star.
One final note: I was once forced to drive to a completely dark station in Orange County to retrieve an Amtrak passenger Amtrak had just dumped by bus at a dark and closed train station....at 2:00 a.m....
It was not his original stop...but the train had hit a person on the tracks and refused to permit any passengers to leave the train in San Juan Capistrano.
Absurd. -
Review from Stephanie F.
Long Beach, CA
6/20/2009
An extremely overtired Stephanie at San Diego Airport and unable to catch a flight could have ended up with a United employee dead and me in jail, but I had the good sense to try and catch a train back home.
Let me just say that the train station is quite lovely (not as gorgeous as Union Station, but very nice) and that the people working there were SO nice.
There was a train leaving for home within ten minutes of me getting there, and an employee actually offered to walk me through the ticketing machine, even though I totally didn't need her.
I splurged for business class because there's a certain type of gentleman that catches my scent and won't leave me the hell alone (true story: I was groped while sleeping on a bus from Mexico City to Acapulco once) and I saw several purchasing tickets for my same ride. As I was planning on sleeping, I didn't think this was a good idea...they were already leering at my zaftg guera self. So I splurged 12 bucks and was not sorry. I got a bag of delicious snacks and a little scary bottle of what looked like green wine. It wasn't. I saw a sink with a bunch of water and juice for drinking, but I was too tired to even care. I slept the whole way to Irvine.
Thanks amtrak, for getting me home from what had the potential to be a disastrous evening! -
Review from Angel F.
San Diego, CA
2/5/2011 1 photo
I took the Surftliner up north and loved the view. I got to watch the beaches pass me by while dozing off and waking up closer to my destination. Ahhhhh spoiled rotten. If only my driving trips went this way.
There were a few odd fellows on the train. I met a super happy yet odd(possibly drug addict)lady on the bus who kept talking to me and a few other guys in the vending area. She gave one of the dudes a kiss on the cheek and we all cringed cause she had herpes or something on her lip HAHA. Funny.
I did eat on board and POSTED A PIC. It was a little overpriced as i expected but hey I was on a mini vacation up north and I wasn't driving or worried about gas or traffic. Well worth it.. The hot dog was a plain old expensive piece of cap but i toped it off with ketchup and mustard and had a Corona.
I would like to take another train ride again. -
Review from Refugio G.
Houston, TX
9/7/2007
I am a railroad buff, so riding a train is the easiest way to see me smiling.
I have yet to have a bad experience with Amtrak whether it is going home to LA or any other destination.
They were very helpful when I hopped on with a broken ankle. The only gripe that I have is the horrid food that they serve, but then, I don't ride trains for the food. I ride airplanes for that =P
Some childhood joys still remain... -
Review from Jennifer J.
San Diego, CA
1/26/2009
There aren't very many things I despise in life but one of them is for sure driving to/thru LA. I have many a friend that has up and moved to this "Pit of Hell" and I love them too much not to visit them SO, what to do??? TAKE THE TRAIN!
I love it! Too easy to purchase tickets, load on the train, get comfy with a book/music/laptop, whatever your little heart desires. There are even 120 Volt plug ins for you to charge up your electronics.
There is a Cafe Cart from which you can purchase munchies, drinks (alcoholic and non). Warning though, it is pricey. I am not sure if they want you to bring your own drinks or food on board but nobody had said anything to us about it so I think it is OK. It may just be that they turn their head the other way when they do see it. Just be discreet.
The ride itself may be a little longer than driving but not being cramped in a car or getting stuck in the unavoidable LA traffic is worth it! Plus, you get to ride along the coast and see areas that you would not normally be able to see on the road.
There are those people that talk on their cell phones the whole time but I believe there are cars that are non cell phone train cars. For the most part, everyone is pretty respectful and try to keep the phone calls to a minimum.
So if you can get someone to drop you off and pick you up or if a taxi ride is not an arm and a legs' worth of cash away from the train station, it is great!
All aboard! -
Review from Larah M.
5/6/2010
Quite possibly one of my most favorite things in this world: Riding on the west facing side of the train during sunset between La Jolla and San Juan Capistrano.
Oh... and bittersweet heartbreak travels by train. It's a lovely sad thing. Quite full of inspiration and vivid imagery. -
Review from Robyn F.
4/28/2010
I am kinda torn on how i feel about amtrak So I have created a pro and con list. I want to preface this by stating I chose business class because of the office ammonites, so it might be different in coach.
PRO:
I can work and it saves me about 4-6 hrs of wasted drive time to LA- probably the biggest pro****
It is quiet for working
Seats recline
Lots of foot room
Snack packs if you ride business class
Beautiful views
Really nice staff... much nicer than most airlines
CONS:
44 bucks each way( more than the gas to get there and back)
No parking at dwtn location- so a cab is needed or trolley
It takes 2H 40 min. In off peak traffic it would only take me 2h, in the height of rush hour, 3h.. so I think it washes out.
****The giant douche that sat in BC talking on his cell very loudly( If I hear 'Yo Yo Brosef pick me up in Fullerton' one more time, I am going to shank someone.) But he was removed for being in the wrong car.
So the comparison continues... -
Review from Jonathan T.
Los Angeles, CA
8/4/2009
Bear with me on this one. I am scribing this little ditty under extreme distraction + high decibel volume not seen since I bled out my eardrums to Canadian Prog-Rockers Rush in the 10th row at Worcester Centrum back in...well...some time ago.
See, I'm on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner on me way back from SD.
It's a bee-yooty-ful eve, sun blazing, waves breaking, surfers surfing, and another amazing technicolor sunset preparing to sink into the Pacific. Magnifique.
Alas, to the REAL scenario (AKA, THE JOLTING DISTRACTION):
I'm in a 4 seater (2 x 2 facing each other) with 3 female 'neighbors'
They are, in ascending order of annoyance:
COUGAR #1: mid 40ish, of undeterminable Latin American origin, quietly staring out the window. taking pics.
COUGAR #2: Caucasian. late 40's. Grimacing. Initially claiming she'd like to move her seat 20 mins into the journey, supposedly b/c she's blinded by the sun (tho i spied her sunglasses peeking outta her big purse-bag), then claiming 30 mins in that she wants to move seats b/c there are no trays in our area for her laptop (ok, she's not lying about that, tho she must have that laptop hidden inside her big blobby bag b/c I dunt see it!)....
Who she kiddin? the REAL reason she wants to move...and why she is not THE MOST OVERWHELMINGLY ANNOYING OF THE 3 IS:
COUGAR NUMBER THREE
Asian, likely early 50s, BLARING loudly into her cell phone INCESSANTLY in a certain Southeast Asian language (which shall remain nameless, to retain some level of PC and also b/c I really love the damn food so goddamn much I don't wanna be poisoned by some mystery liquid/paste posing as sriracha/fish sauce someday) at decibel levels akin to sleeping next to Angus Young of AC/DC's gee-tar amped up to 11, screeching outta concert speaker tower merely inches from yo ear! no muthafuggin' exaggeration yo!
To top it off, this woman already
1. Asked me to load her luggage on luggage rack (which I didn't mind at all, bein' a gentleman)
2. Asked me to remind her when we get to Santa Ana to take her bag with her (hmm. I kinda only minimally minded that)
3. Came back from bathroom break (the only time I wasn't bombarded at full volume with her screaming), tho I still heard her yapping and crapping thru bathroom door, which I belatedly noticed was directly facing us. This roughly 15% sound diffusion was woefully inadequate and had my brain quaking with potential aneurysm-level intensity
BUT I DIGRESS...(with a 'but I digress' personal best!)
After all, this is supposed to be a review of our 3rd World national railway disgrace known as Amtrak.
Irony is, despite it being a national embarassment, its employees provide good, friendly service, from ticketing to baggage check (officially $3 bucks per item to store bags at station while exploring, yet they allowed me to store 2-3 pieces for the price of one!
And people you meet are usually 'interesting.' Sometimes great, engaging, smart, practical, + evolved.
HOWEVER, snapping back to the realities of underfunded, regressive, and decaying:
a) Train 10 mins late
b) Takes FAR too long to get to LA from SD, almost 3 hrs IF on time, over a mere 130 miles
c) It employs 19th century technology + actually travels slower than it did in the 1930s
d) It shares tracks with the freight rails; rather, the freight companies OWN the tracks + occasionally permit passenger trains to pass on SINGLE TRACK right of way. Dumb, backwards, inefficient for all
e) All the while huge swaths of the industrialized world (Japan, France, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, Italy, and CHINA YES CHINA which is spending $750 BILLION!) speed along at 200 mph+ on high speed bullet trains that first debuted in 1964 (Japan). And more countries keep jumping aboard
But that's a story for another day
Today, I am enjoying my peace for the remaining 1.5 hr journey
See, Cougar 2 + 3 have vacated to other parts of the train, leaving me in silent bliss with Cougar 1 as sun. sets.
Even tho these slow-ass trains break down, crash + get delayed all the time, I can read, drink, think, eat, sleep, chillax, and never have to worry about a 3-5 hr white knuckled SD-LA rush hour crawl that kills da spirit of life. Oh, and the Café Car 'Cocktail Party' Scene. Oh, and I can write long-ass stream of consciousness spew that I doubt most of you have endeavored to endure.
If you made it to the end, you mus be another scribeoholic like me
And/or ADDICTED TO YELP
get a life, yo!
DONE.
P.S. Not REALLY 'DONE'. As I write this, late 40s white cougar sat down in my 4-spot again (now just me n her) while I hear the Asian lady de-training in Santa Ana, still blaring away on the cell. Oh, and the Caucasian cougar has almost slipped and told me why she REALLY moved, but she kinda sorta saved it by saying she'd like to stay in our 4 spot to be 'close to her luggage' in the luggage hold adjacent to our little nook. How quaint. Boom-Chika-Wow-Wow! ...I SHIT YOU NOT. (except about the Boom-Chika-Wow-Wow-that's just a NOT!) :O) -
Review from Melissa S.
San Diego, CA
2/16/2008
Okay seriously 3 hours on a train from downtown SD to Irvine
I'd give it 3 and a half stars--rounded up to make it 4.
Depart 10:50am
We abruptly stopped at the Old Town station.
"Usually we don't stop here but there is an alarm going off..."
10 minutes later...
"It seems that there is no power on the train"(somewhere along those lines were said)
"Another train is heading to Los Angeles and leaving at 12pm, so we'll connect it and have it push us, sorry for the inconvenience"
With the stopover in Solana Beach and San Juan Capistrano I was supposed to arrive in Irvine by 12:26pm
Hahaha, more like 2 hours and then some later.
Aside from being stuck in a train for 3 hours(they did allow us to get off the train while we were stucked a Old Town), the overpriced cafe located on the 1st level from where I sat. I enjoyed the ride up, the adjustable head pillow, and the view--staring out at the ocean, PCH, and meeting random people(surprisingly not as many weirdos as I thought there would be).
I'd definitely take the Amtrak again if I had to take a trip up north.
I have a means of escape if i need to get out of San Diego, yay.
Oh I arrived in Irvine at 2:30-40ish. yeah 3 hours later... D: -
Review from Auhsoj V.
Austin, TX
1/7/2010
Yay! I finally got to ride the train for the first time!
$58 for 2 tickets to L.A. Union Station @ 7a.m.
Sat, found out we were riding backwards, went down to the food cart...
$15 for a bagel w/cream cheese, carton of milk, container of delicious mixed fruit, and a can of mountain dew. Went back up, relaxed and enjoyed the ride.
@ 10a.m. we arrive in L.A. Union Station.
Considering it's a 3hr (sometimes more) drive, this is a great alternative. Besides, you can drink alcohol on the train!
So if you have the extra money, I would suggest taken the train at least once in your life. -
Review from Far N.
San Diego, CA
7/23/2008
After taking so many rides on Amtrak, I think its only fair to write a review for this great service.
The ride is always comfortable and pleasant. Additional charge for business class is totally worth the upgrade.
We love it so much that we've decided to take a ride on it once every month for a dinner date in a neighboring city.
Leave your car at home and try this reliable commuting service. -
Review from Erin D.
3/6/2008
Two things to look forward to when on the Amtrak: a view of the ocean, and enjoying a cold 22 oz. Stone Pale Ale.
I would recommend sitting in the cafe car if you can. Trying to keep your balance while holding the bottle, and getting judgmental (some envious) stares from fellow passengers can be a bit uncomfortable! -
Review from Sue S.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2008
I took Amtrak to LA then got on another train to San Jose.
I sprung a few more dollars for a roomette so that I did not have to worry about leaving anything at a seat and so that I could not be around people on their cell phones or any other noise.
Not a snob, there is just too much noise pollution these days.
With any sleeper you get your meals free - at tables with other travelers and the food was quite good, and there was a complimentary wine tasting as we got north of San Luis Obispo.
I thought I would spend most of my time in the room, but I was in the viewing car a lot, chatting, reading and checking out California.
Let me tell you, Amtrak owns a lot of great beachfront property!
When darkness came, I did go to the room to rest and read.
The total train time from SD to SJ was 15 hours, should have been less but we were two hours late. Had you asked me how long did it take as soon as I disembarked, I would have been hard pressed to give a quick answer as time passed invisibly.
I am using it again but for the return trip to SD as to not have anyone having to endure a late arrival.
It is not for someone who cannot function at all without all of the gizmo crap.
It is for people who can enjoy downtime. -
Review from Jessica R.
Encinitas, CA
3/24/2009
Just do it.
Kidnap a friend. Pack some munchies, an ice cold beer, some cash, a camera and head north. Pay for your inexpensive ticket at one of the machines. Then proceed to hop on the train. Don't forget to grab a window seat.
It will be fun. -
Review from Josie H.
4/19/2008
I LIKE THE amtrak!
I took it to irvine which was less than 50 minutes. I took it to LA and it was an hour and a half.
The seats were pretty comfy, the PRICES were pretty cheap, 17 dollars one way to IRVINE or was it to LA, but nevertheless it was still pretty cheap. The train was always pretty much on time, and the view during the ride was pretty during the day.
In the front of the train, they even sell food! awesome, but yea, I will definitely come back and take amtrak again, maybe next time i'll take it to san jose:0. -
Review from Amy C.
San Diego, CA
7/26/2008
So, with my last public transportation experience being Greyhound, Amtrak is fantastic!
I was going up to Anaheim to meet up with my boyfriend who was already up there for his job- so Amtrak it was! I guess one thing to always put into consideration is that these trains NEVER seem to run on time!
I got dropped off from work out front and was interested in trying out these new kiosk things that they have where if you have tickets reserved you just have to print out your boarding pass-- easy as 1-2-3/ Unfortunately, not all the people in front of me could not figure it out and took forever to get through the line. Finally- 3 minutes before my train was supposed to leave I ran over to the train and got on. As the train man came and got my ticket I asked him if my 3pm train was going to be on time. He just looked at me and laughed, because the 3pm train I thought I was on was really the 1:20pm train that was just leaving. Thank god I got there when I did!
Now it was time to sit and relax. I was going up for the Red Sox/Angels series and was recruited by other Sox fans maybe twice my age to come sit with them and have some beers. How could I say no!
All in all, it was not that bad! -
Review from Rich S.
La Mesa, CA
12/24/2008
I've done the 14 hour (give or take) trip up the coast to the bay area twice now. Even with a few hiccups it's always been a pleasant experience. The train ride is smooth and takes you along parts of california you'd probably never see otherwise.
The busride (you have to transfer in Santa Barbara) can be a little annoying at times. Like say when your driver takes a wrong turn when you're all but minutes away from your destination only to extend your trip by half an hour...
All in all, this is a wonderful low cost way to travel if you don't mind taking some time to soak up the countryside. -
Review from Jeff B.
Fullerton, CA
6/14/2011
I travel to Downtown San Diego from Fullerton 4 days a week for work and can't imagine using any other mode of transportation. The greatest thing for me is that I can utilize the train as a way to stay productive during the commute. All seats have electrical plugs which makes it easy to set up my laptop and keep my phone charged for easy use. WiFi is something that I hear they will be adding within the year so that will definately make it even more of a plus for business travelers.
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Review from Samantha S.
San Diego, CA
4/28/2009
I love riding the train. This past weekend it was my 4 year old niece first time on the train. She was so happy and talked non stop. I have had very few delays when using Amtrak between San Diego and Downtown Los Angeles. I am generally on there every 6 week or so to visit family in the LA area. The only time I do not use the train is for Thanksgiving and Christmas. They up the prices and it is too croweded.
If you want to kick back and enjoy a stress free trip, I say take the train, less wear and tear on the car. -
Review from Damien T.
San Jose, CA
5/6/2010
Bought tickets to get me from San Diego to Santa Maria. The only one they had (after narrowly missing my 9:30 am train) was a train to get me to LA, then a bus to Bakersfield, then a another train to Hanford, and finally another bus to Santa Maria. The train was scheduled to leave at 10:50 am so I was ready to board close to that time (since the previous train left exactly on the dot). It turned out that the train was delayed for about twenty minutes (for some unnannounced reason). The Amtrak service reps told me to go all the way back and get in line by the station after waiting to board.
After boarding, the service rep. took my ticket. I asked him what happened and he said that, "it happens." I guess he couldn't come up with a legitimate reason. Anyway, I least I was finally on my way even though the train was almost a half hour late. -
Review from Brady L.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 12/30/2010
The Pacific Surf liner is amazing. The trip from San Diego to LA is beautiful. The views are breathtaking. For a nominal fee you can upgrade business class and get a glass of wine and some other goodies as well. The service is always great and the price is right.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/4/2009
The train ride from San Diego north is breathtaking! It is a really nice train and would recommend… Read more »
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Review from Harry E.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2008
Arcaic, Unreliable, Slow, Expensive and just not up to standards for the 21st century. We have the best technology in the world yet we have the slowest and worst train system in the USA. The employees are friendly and nice but the trains are so slow and unreliable on the times. Nothing like the European Train system. It is so Pathetic I went Business class and never made it to my destination by the way but they have TVs that are have not worked for over 10 years apparently. Way to upgrade Amtrak. Get with the times and take advantage of these train lines. Lets clean it up Amtrak and get people excited again about taking the train.
