<p>What are the options for getting back and forth between the Bay Area, specifically mid-peninsula, and SLO? All I can find is an Amtrak bus - can’t believe there is no rail service - that leaves from San Jose.</p>
<p>There’s no rail service: Amtrak runs a bus. It’s very easy to take and most buses stop right at the campus. </p>
<p>Here’s a hint about buying tickets online: Amtrak can’t sell non-rail tickets online, only rail tickets. So if you want to buy a ticket online, have it originate from the Great America stop, which is rail. The cost is the same as if you originated from San Jose. Then skip the train and get on the bus in San Jose.</p>
<p>Thanks vballmom. Any idea why Amtrak does not run rail from the Bay Area to SLO?</p>
<p>No idea, sorry.</p>
<p>A lot of kids carpool as well.</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman at Cal Poly this fall. He won’t be taking his car to SLO, so he’ll either be taking the bus or riding with friends.</p>
<p>My son doesn’t know it yet but he won’t be taking his truck either. :(</p>
<p>What’s your son’s major? Who knows, perhaps they may end up car pooling together.</p>
<p>My son’s an EE major. We’re a little farther south from you on the Peninsula.</p>
<p>We were coming back home (SLO) from a roller hockey tournament in San Jose 2 Sundays ago and it seemed like half of the cars that passed us had Cal Poly stickers on them. Hitching a ride shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>Mine is Aerospace Engineering.
I recall being told that there is some kind of network in place to facilitate car pooling to the Bay Area. Makes sense.</p>
<p>There most certainly is rail service to the bay area. Every day I see at two of the ‘Coast Starlights’ here in SLO. They stop here and pickup and drop passengers EVERY DAY (they also do a crew change here). The problem is the train is usually full weeks in advance… I’ve never tried it personally, my parents just come down and pick me up.</p>
<p>Yes I think the northbound stops in San Jose then Oakland (Jack London Square) then Emeryville. It’s the 14 train north and the 11 south I believe.</p>
<p>I stand corrected. I did not use the Amtrak Reservation site correctly. The Coast Starlight leaves San Jose @ 10:07am and arrives in SLO @ 3:07pm. From SLO to San Jose it leaves @ 3:43pm and arrives @ 8:47pm. The fare is $27.00 each way.
That’s good news.</p>