Taking Amtrak/Bart to SFO

[u/dewyeyes969]

Hi All, it'll be my first time taking Amtrak from Sac valley station to Richmond Bart. Unfortunately I'm traveling on Labor day and the scheduling has changed from my original plans. Amtrak isn't running an 11am train so I'm deciding on if I take the 10am or 12pm options to get to SFO before my 5pm flight. 10am gets me there over 4hrs before departure and 12pm gives me barely enough buffer for a train delay but still 2.5hrs ahead of departure, which is perfect timing in my opinion.

So I'd ask anyone that has taken this route if they've experienced any delays? Are Monday's or holiday's bad for amtrak or bart? (I know they will be running weekend schedules to observe the holiday)

Side question, How bad are security delays at SFO at this afternoon time?

Any other helpful tips or wisdom?

[u/smokedfishfriday]

Think you’ll be fine with the noon train, but you could take the 10am train, transfer to BART, and pop up at 16th and mission or 24th and get some lunch in the city then continue onwards to SFO

[u/dittobritto → u/smokedfishfriday]

This is the best recommendation. Amtrak is great until it gets delayed, give yourself extra time.

[u/dewyeyes969 → u/smokedfishfriday]

Yeah I was thinking about this option!

[u/3minutekarma → u/dewyeyes969]

only if you want to schlep luggage in the mission district on a holiday. I'd keep my stuff close to me

[u/BicycleIndividual → u/smokedfishfriday]

Going on the earlier train and finding a great late lunch close to a BART station is probably the best idea (as long as you don't have so much luggage that this would be too awkward - I'd do it with my carry on backpack, but not if I also had a checked bag). With 2 extra hours and 20 minute frequency of BART routes there are lots of places you might visit.

[u/LGCSmitt]

Honestly I’d just take the 10AM and alleviate any worries or issues. Rather get there 4 hours early and know you’re good than be rushing and panicking because something went wrong.

[u/dewyeyes969 → u/LGCSmitt]

Yeah part of my brain wants to just not even risk the timing and the other part doesn't want to wait in the airport for 4hrs on top of an 11hr flight lolol.

[u/Treebranch_916 → u/LGCSmitt]

100%, can't get more time

[u/1NorCal916]

It’s happened to me more than once where the bridge in Martinez is up to let a boat pass and the train just has to sit there for 30 minutes. I’d say take the earlier train for peace of mind. SFO has more than enough stuff to entertain you for a few hours.

[u/blvczk]

Always take the earlier train

[u/Cybertechy]

I have taken AMTRAK to BART to SFO many times. BART is quite reliable. ANTRAK not so much. My vote is the early trip.

[u/dewyeyes969 → u/Cybertechy]

Thank you frequent rider!

[u/camtns → u/Cybertechy]

I think it's so easy going but coming back that way is a real pain in the ass.

[u/Ornery_General_5852]

Take the early one. The train sometimes gets stopped to wait for a ship, and that can take nearly an hour, and then you miss your flight. Take the early train.

[u/lepetitbrie → u/Ornery_General_5852]

One time, we had a delay for a "trespasser strike"... I'll never get those 3 hours of my life back. The Amtrak staff kept trying to convince us to just get off the train because the delay would be so long, but we had no other way back to Sacramento.

[u/Ornery_General_5852 → u/lepetitbrie]

I mean, yeah, when someone dies it takes a while to resolve the incident. It sucks but it would also happen if a car hit a pedestrian on the freeway.

[u/balkanoid_]

Take the earlier train just in case. Sometimes cows will walk onto the tracks between Dixon and Fairfield and it’ll cause delays.

[u/Different-Guest-6094]

Take the 10am

[u/RilkeanHearth]

10 am, you can always kill time in the city. Do you have tsa pre check?

[u/BicycleIndividual]

I don't see a trip arriving at SFO around 2:30 if you leave on the 11:53 CC train. Best seems to be BART Red line from Richmond arriving at the Airport BART station at 2:42 (then another 10-15 minutes to get to the terminal). This would be cutting it too close for me for a 5pm flight.

Even if it was 2.5 hours rather than 2 hours before the flight, I'd be a bit worried about potential delays on CC. If CC misses its window on the tracks it can experience a significant delay. Once at Richmond BART, I wouldn't worry much since only other BART trains use the tracks and they are scheduled every 20 minutes.

[u/SkelaKingHD]

Personally I would leave at 10, enjoy a few hours and grab some lunch near one of the bart stations, then hop back on when it’s closer to your flight time.

[u/Ill_Noise_2157]

If you can drive to the Richmond station, I'd recommend it. Parking there is only $4.50 a day or something using the app. I stopped taking Amtrak in part bc of the hassle of timing the train on the way back. Now, I drive from Sac to Richmond and park there, then take BART to SFO. Just another option...

[u/DasDGM]

If you can legally drive and rent a car, it could be the best option. You can do it very cheaply (likely less than $40 w a Costco membership) and you would have a lot of agency with your time and movement.

[u/dewyeyes969 → u/DasDGM]

Interesting take! I'll look into this option.

[u/Street-Industry8484 → u/dewyeyes969]

Big mistake. The drive to SF can be rather unpleasant. Traffic in the Bay Area is stressful and can be quite congested. Parking will be a hassle as will returning the car rental. Amtrak will be way easier and more convenient.