I rode California's new Gold Runner train. I hopped off before the end.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Travel

I rode California's new Gold Runner train. I hopped off before the end.

SFGATE contributor Randy Diamond loves trains but will hold off on riding the Gold Runner again until a few fixes


The Gold Runner, formerly called the San Joaquins, has connected California by rail for over 50 years.
Courtesy of the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission

By Randy Diamond, Freelance Writer
March 28, 2026

There’s so much commotion over building a new high-speed train system to connect the Bay Area and Los Angeles that it’s possible to overlook the passenger rail service that’s connected California for decades.
But a ride on the state-funded Gold Runner train has its setbacks: namely, uncomfortable seats, no food except for bagged snacks, and drinks without ice due to a recent regulation. Ironically, the ride’s comfort level took a back seat despite a recent investment of state funds.

It’s also a long journey, approximately nine hours, and starts in Oakland before eventually reaching Union Station in downtown Los Angeles via a combination of train and bus. In January, I boarded Train 712 in the Bay Area to glimpse the future of California rail. It’s a mixed bag — service is frequent and affordable but sometimes unreliable after maintenance was outsourced to a private company.

At only a few months old, the Gold Runner is the newest addition to California travel, but it seems like a wake-up call for the state’s ambitious rail dreams.

{snip}

March 28, 2026
Randy Diamond
Freelance Writer
Randy Diamond is a freelance writer. His love of travel began as a 12-year-old when he started collecting travel brochures. His work has appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, Sacramento Bee, New York Daily News, Tampa Tribune, Palm Beach Post and he previously authored a weekly travel column, the Wary Traveler, aimed at helping road warriors chart a smoother journey.

[msongs]

1. your tax payer dollars at waste. adding 2.5 hrs on the bus negates the whole train thing nt