San Francisco: By Train

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By Train

Amtrak trains travel to the Bay Area from some cities in California and the United States. The Coast Starlight travels north from Los Angeles to Seattle, passing the Bay Area along the way, but contrary to its name, the train runs inland through the Central Valley for much of its route through Northern California; the most scenic stretch is in Southern California, between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. Amtrak also has several routes between San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento. The California Zephyr travels from Chicago to the Bay Area and has spectacular alpine vistas as it crosses the Sierra Nevada mountains. San Francisco doesn't have an Amtrak train station but does have an Amtrak bus station, at the Ferry Building, which provides service to trains in Emeryville, just over the Bay Bridge. Shuttle buses also connect the Emeryville train station with downtown Oakland, the Caltrain station, and other points in downtown San Francisco.

Smoking is prohibited on all trains (except for the long-distance Auto Train, which runs nonstop between Florida and Virginia), but ask the conductor to tell you when to disembark so you can smoke; trains make many stops along their routes, and there are numerous opportunities to jump off for a smoke. But be sure to tell the conductor before you get off the train.

Information

Amtrak (800/872-7245. www.amtrak.com).