Ride the Santa Train to the Sacramento Ice Rink Enjoy the holidays with a ride on the Gold Runner with our special guest Santa Claus! Use the Friends and Family Promotion to book your tickets! Visit www.godowntownsac.com for more information!
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Three Cheers to Friends & Beers! At Gold Runner, Thanksgiving is one of our favorite times of the year. In fact, we tend to call it “Friendsgiving” because it’s the best time of the year to get together with old friends who are back in town. The best way we’ve found to spend time with […]
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Kick Back, Relax, and Travel Home for the Holidays Aboard the Gold Runner With Thanksgiving right around the corner traveling is on everyone’s mind. This year instead of being stuck at a crowded airport, in standstill traffic, or squeezed into the middle seat of your friend’s car, consider the Gold Runner train for your holiday […]
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Veterans Day is a special day and a reminder for us all to stop and thank those that have and those that continue to serve our country. Gold Runner is proud to offer travel for military personnel that is why the service offers a year-round 15% discount to all Veterans and active duty military personnel, […]
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SERVICE ALERT: Due to a wildfire in the Los Angeles area, Gold Runner Thruway Bus Service has been temporarily disrupted between Bakersfield, Calif. and Los Angeles on Friday, October 11. Unfortunately, no alternate transportation is available at this time. Anyone planning to travel should check their train status on Amtrak.com or our smartphone apps prior […]
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Fright Fest! Fright Fest at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will haunt you until next Halloween! During 19 days and nights of spooktacular terror, the park will be succumbed to your worst nightmares and transformed into a terrorizing, haunted venue. Only the bravest can endure the multiple haunted houses and their frightening labyrinths. If you’re looking […]
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Transbay Temporary Terminal Bus Stop Effective Monday, October 28, 2019, we will begin service to the Salesforce Transit Center at a new on-street stop next to Salesforce Plaza, on Mission Street near the corner of Fremont Street in downtown San Francisco. The unstaffed stop has convenient access to retail shops and is only a block […]
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Start your Aftershock adventure on the train! California’s largest rock music festival, Aftershock, is taking over Sacramento from Friday, October 11th – Sunday, October 13th at Discovery Park. This year’s event will be welcoming more than 90,000 attendees along with performances from top acts and up-and-coming bands from across the rock music spectrum. Enjoy sets […]
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There’s a lot to look forward to during the month of October in the San Joaquin Valley. The weather starts to cool down, Halloween is just around the corner and the Valley’s largest annual event brings more than 600,000 people together-The Big Fresno Fair. To get to the Fair, all you have to do […]
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Farm to Fork Festival The Gold Runner travels through the Central Valley, home to some of the worlds most productive farmland. Why not take the Gold Runner to the Farm to Fork Festival in Sacramento to celebrate California agriculture! Use the Friends and Family Discount to save up to 50% on five tickets when you […]
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California’s railroads shaped the movement of people, goods, and ideas across the state. In historic Old Sacramento, that story continues at the California State Railroad Museum, where restored locomotives, hands-on exhibits, and excursion rides connect past and present in one place.
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(August 4, Stockton, CA) – Planes, trains, but no automobiles needed for the annual Fall Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum this upcoming Labor Day weekend. Gold Runner announced a new partnership with the Castle Air Museum to provide discounted travel fare for the annual event on August 30th from 9-4pm at the Central Valley aviation landmark.
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(May 8, 2025 — Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) secured $50,000 in funding through the Parks California “Route to Parks” grant program, which will be used to support the annual Visit Allensworth California Heritage Program.
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Stanislaus State offers a vibrant and welcoming environment with two beautiful campuses in Turlock and Stockton
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Put your cowboy boots on and join us at the 2025 Bay Area Craft Beer Festival: Boots & Brews!
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Tuesday, February 26th, began with a cool overcast morning as I boarded Gold Runner #711 from Bakersfield to Martinez. With a smooth “swish,” the BiLevel train doors opened, welcoming travelers aboard.
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From March 20-30, 2025, savor the flavors of The Town during Oakland Restaurant Week! Named the #1 Best Food City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler, Oakland’s vibrant culinary scene is second to none.
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Take a trip to the Inland Empire for a unique California experience. Riverside offers visitors a look at the historic origins of the region and exciting cultural attractions, with the charm and ease of quaint small town America.
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Martinez, the birthplace of the world famous concoction, the Martini, has prolonged more luncheons, launched more jokes
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Martinez, the birthplace of the world famous concoction, the Martini, has prolonged more luncheons, launched more jokes
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(Bakersfield, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which manages the Gold Runner intercity rail service in Central California, announced today the expansion of its station food truck program following the successful completion of a pilot program at the Bakersfield Station.
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(April 16 — Stockton, CA) – For the second consecutive year, Gold Runner is bringing riders to one of the Central Valley’s most exciting annual events. On May 23, from 8:30am to 4:00pm, Gold Runner riders can take advantage of discounted fares and free admission to Spring Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum.
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Even though Gold Runner Thruway Route 18 is ending, bus service between Visalia and Hanford will continue. Passengers can travel between these cities using KART Route 15, with convenient connections to Gold Runner.
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(February 2, Stockton, CA) – In honor of Black History Month, Gold Runner will run special trains to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for its 2026 Black History Month Festival. The event will take place Saturday, February 7, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM and concluding at 4:00 PM. Gold Runner has scheduled a special stop at the park for multiple trains, bookable at exclusive half-price “Allensworth fares.”
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Gold Runner Trains 712/717 will be temporarily cancelled from February 2 – February 4. Additional updates will be shared as they become available.
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(January 12, Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) announced today the launch of a new Gold Runner Thruway bus service, expanding travel options between the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
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On January 5, 2026 Train 710 will have the following adjustments shown below: 710 Adjustment OLD NEW OKJ Oakland Jack London Square Depart 7:55a 8:08a EMY Emeryville Depart 8:05a 8:18a RIC Richmond Depart 8:14a 8:27a MTZ Martinez Depart 8:46a 8:59a ACA Antioch Depart 9:13a 9:26a
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Last Updated: March 12, 2026 Gold Runner will continue to operate a six round-trip schedule while crews address maintenance needs and expand fleet availability. Ensuring riders have safe, dependable service they can rely on every day is a top priority. Operating the current schedule allows the ability to maintain consistent service while completing the work needed to strengthen the fleet and support long-term operations. The previously scheduled seventh roundtrip provides crucial flexibility […]
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Due to a mudslide on Highway 140, YARTS is unable to get to/from Yosemite National Park. They will only be able to get between Merced (MCD) and Midpines-Bug Hostel (MDP). This is affecting the schedules and stops notated below today through the weekend. 26DEC thru 28DEC 8400 – 8412 – 8416 8413 – 8419 – […]
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(December 1 — Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) announced at its November 21 Board Meeting that the 7th daily round trip will return on December 8, marking the first time since early 2020 that the corridor will run its full pre-pandemic schedule. The restored trip expands travel options for riders moving between Bakersfield, the San Joaquin Valley, and Sacramento.
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Looking for plans this weekend? Take Gold Runner to experience Oakland Style – a series of 50+ events that celebrates The Town’s art, fashion, music, cuisine, and culture.
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Celebrate Pride Month this June with an exciting journey through the Gold Runner corridor and beyond! Cities along our route will be hosting various unique and vibrant pride events.
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Spring is finally here, which means it’s time to take a break, and riding with us is the perfect thing to do as the weather warms up and the rain fades away. We are here to make the journey home or to any destination within California easier through Gold Runner
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This week we want to highlight and recognize our Veterans and Military personnel. We are truly grateful to those who have served our country. Gold Runner is proud to offer discounted travel for military personnel, offering a year-round 15% discount to all Veterans and active duty military personnel, their spouses, and dependents. We also welcome uniformed military personnel to the head of the ticket line.
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Spooky scary savings are still available with Gold Runner! Feel extra festive? For the month of October, you can buy one ticket and get one FREE when you travel with Gold Runner! Sit back and relax as we escort you to all the ghoulish and festive Halloween parties and activities throughout the region.
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The chillest music and arts festival is back this weekend at San Francisco’s world renowned Golden Gate Park. From the Gold Runner bus stop on Mission Street, the park is just a 20-minute Uber/Lyft ride, or you can hop on MUNI and it’ll take you directly to the festival! You can also take the train into Emeryville (EMY) or Richmond (RIC) and then hop on BART for a cost-effective and safe trip to OSL!
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Who will win this year’s Battle of the Bay, the San Francisco Giants or the Oakland Athletics? Attendees can travel to the event with a 50% reduced ticket price to cheer on their favorite Bay Area team and watch as the two regional talents battle it out on the baseball field.
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The summer temperatures are heating up, and there’s no better way to beat the heat than to cool off with some fun and adventurous water activities. At Gold Runner, we wanted to highlight some fun local activities along the Gold Runner route that will help you and your family combat the heat. Our Friends and Family discount is the perfect way to help get you to these fun destinations.
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Juneteenth has been gaining national traction and popularity in recent years. The day slavery ended in the United States was when the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas—making June 19th (Juneteenth) African American Independence Day or Freedom Day!
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Gold Runner is your connection to some of the best local breweries in California for National Beer Day this April 7th! Let Gold Runner be your designated driver—with free Wi-Fi, spacious seating, a dining car (serving beer!) and no traffic. Plus, save when you bring your crew along for the ride with the Friends & Family Discount! Just use code V302 at checkout.
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Come out and celebrate Japanese culture at the 55th Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco April 9th-10th and April 16th-17th from 11-6pm!
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(Bakersfield, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), which manages the Gold Runner intercity rail service in Central California, announced today the expansion of its station food truck program following the successful completion of a pilot program at the Bakersfield Station.
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(April 16 — Stockton, CA) – For the second consecutive year, Gold Runner is bringing riders to one of the Central Valley’s most exciting annual events. On May 23, from 8:30am to 4:00pm, Gold Runner riders can take advantage of discounted fares and free admission to Spring Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum.
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(February 2, Stockton, CA) – In honor of Black History Month, Gold Runner will run special trains to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for its 2026 Black History Month Festival. The event will take place Saturday, February 7, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM and concluding at 4:00 PM. Gold Runner has scheduled a special stop at the park for multiple trains, bookable at exclusive half-price “Allensworth fares.”
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(January 12, Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) announced today the launch of a new Gold Runner Thruway bus service, expanding travel options between the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
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(December 1 — Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) announced at its November 21 Board Meeting that the 7th daily round trip will return on December 8, marking the first time since early 2020 that the corridor will run its full pre-pandemic schedule. The restored trip expands travel options for riders moving between Bakersfield, the San Joaquin Valley, and Sacramento.
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November 3, Stockton, CA – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) is proud to introduce a new chapter in the history of California’s intercity passenger rail services with the rebrand from Amtrak San Joaquins to Gold Runner, effective November 3, 2025.
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(October 30 — Stockton, CA) – The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) have secured $54.5 million in federal grant funding through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) MEGA initiative to support the Madera High-Speed Rail (HSR) Station Project.
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(HANFORD, CA) – Representatives from partnering agencies including San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA); Kings County Association of Governments; Kings County Area Public Transit Agency (KCAPTA); Tulare County Association of Governments; Tulare County Regional Transit Agency (TCRTA); and Visalia Transit have officially launched The Cross Valley Corridor Phase 1 Bus Service project with enhanced bus connectivity to/from the Hanford Amtrak Station, KART Transit Center and the Visalia Transit Center.
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(September 23, Stockton, CA) – Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park is holding a celebratory Rededication Festival on Saturday, October 12 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. In partnership, Gold Runner has scheduled a special stop at the park for multiple trains, bookable at exclusive half-price “Allensworth fares.”
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RABA and the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) have formed a partnership. As a result, riders in Redding, Red Bluff, and Chico will now ride a blue RABA motorcoach between Redding, Red Bluff, and Chico to connect to another Amtrak Thruway motorcoach for service to Sacramento and Stockton.
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Gold Runner Receives Grant from Parks California to Overcome Travel Barriers to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for Juneteenth Celebration
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STOCKTON, CA – March 5, 2024 – This morning the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) celebrated the launch of new, state-of-the-art Venture Cars for deployment across the Gold Runner service. To highlight the significance of bringing these new rail cars into service, notable public figures, including California […]
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Beginning Monday, April 25th, Pacific Surfliner service will be modified for approximately 6 weeks as the railroad is closed for improvements between San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside.
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Last update: March 24 (8:00am) Monday, March 24, 2025 – Due to a rock slide, Thruway Bus Service to and from Yosemite is limited. The following Route 15 (YARTS) stops are suspended through Thursday, March 27, 2025. Yosemite, El Portal (EPL) – Yosemite, Curry Village (YOC) – Yosemite, Yosemite Village (YOV) – Yosemite, Yosemite […]
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Last update: February 14 (8:50am) Friday, February 14, 2024 – Due to Severe Winter Weather, Thruway Bus Service between Sacramento to Lake Tahoe is canceled. Service is also canceled between Auburn to Reno/Sparks. Only buses operating are locally between Sacramento and Auburn.
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Last update: January 11 (6:00pm) Now – Through Tuesday January 14, 2025 – As a result of the fires in Southern California the following bus stop will be shut down: La Crescent (LCA) stop. Alternate location would be the Pasadena (PAS) station. 5415 5419 5402 5412 Santa Monica (SMN) stop. Alternate location would be […]
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Trains 712 and 717 are both cancelled Tuesday, October 2, 2024. For passengers that intended to travel on those trains, please contact 1-800-USA-RAIL to rebook.
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On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Gold Runner Route 7’s schedule between the Martinez/Santa Rosa/Arcata areas will have a schedule change. Please see quick recap of adjustments below. Discontinuance of schedules and stops as of September 30, 2024: Bus Routes – 6513, 6518, and 6516. Bust Stop – Vallejo Discovery Kingdom (VMW) Click here to […]
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Due to wildfires in Maricopa, Thruway Bus service, operated by YARTS, has been cancelled for July 5, 2024.
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San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) will conduct trackwork between Richmond and El Cerrito Del Norte stations on Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, impacting service to those stations.
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