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Amtrak Gold Runner train tickets—Search & book deals

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About Amtrak Gold Runner

Amtrak's Gold Runner line offers one of the most convenient ways to travel throughout California and the San Joaquin Valley. Permanently added to Amtrak's network in 1974 after a three-year hiatus, the Gold Runner train line has been serving California for over 40 years.

The Gold Runner line provides service throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Northern California, with trains running daily between the San Francisco Bay Area and Bakersfield. Stops on this line include Fresno, Martinez, Modesto, and Stockton, with a complete end-to-end trip taking approximately 6 hours and 15 minutes. The Gold Runner allows locals and tourists alike to visit many of California's main attractions, including the Sacramento History Museum and the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Although some amenities and accommodations vary by train, when aboard the Amtrak Gold Runner, you can expect lavatories, individual power sockets, onboard WiFi, and cafe services. Most trains only provide coach-class seating, as well as bicycles as hand luggage.

Amtrak Gold Runner is known for being the seventh busiest Amtrak line in the United States, as well as the train carrier's third-busiest in the state of California. Although the Gold Runner is a hugely popular train route, the service maintains the highest possible standards of safety and cleanliness, ensuring that every one of its hundreds of passengers is taken care of throughout their journey.

Amtrak Gold Runner is an official partner of Wanderu and has been one since 2015. Wanderu makes it simple to browse and purchase train tickets for all of Amtrak's services across America. And if you are an Amtrak Guest Rewards member, don’t forget to enter your unique number during checkout, so you can continue collecting points.

Contact Amtrak Gold Runner

Phone number:
1 (800) 872-7245

Amtrak Gold Runner Amenities

  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet
  • Extra legroom
  • Loyalty rewards
  • Power points
  • Snacks
  • Wifi

Quickview

Amtrak Gold Runner train coverage

Daily Trips
617
stations
18
cities
17
countries
1
  • United States

What travellers are saying about Amtrak Gold Runner

Here’s what Wanderu users who have booked trips with Amtrak Gold Runner had to say about their travel experience.

Travelling During COVID-19

  • “They took COVID safety precautions seriously.”
    85%

Onboard Experience

  • “The WiFi actually worked for the entire trip”
    79%
  • “I’ll travel with them again just for the staff!”
    87%
  • “Really cheap tickets and really good service.”
    94%
  • “The train got there on time.”
    93%
  • “Seats were really comfy and spacious”
    92%
  • “The train was almost suspiciously clean”
    93%

Amtrak Gold Runner reviews from Wanderu customers

Overall review score for Amtrak Gold Runner Based on 364 reviews

4.8

Ratings (Out of 5)

Comfort
Timeliness
Staff
Value

Amtrak Gold Runner passenger reviews

  • Felecia27 September 2026Fresno – Richmond

    Pros Everything, it was comfortable and great, the ladies room was clean and that's most important. Cons all was good Tips Just arrive at least 45 Minutes before.

  • Agnes25 September 2026Modesto – Emeryville

    Pros I like the train Cons You are doing great

  • Hannah19 September 2026Bakersfield – Fresno

    Pros It was very peaceful. Staff was very helpful in reminding me when my stop was coming.

  • Hannah19 September 2026Fresno – Bakersfield

    Pros The free snacks. Cons Some people left trash on the floor and it hadn’t been picked up yet.

  • RUTHANN4 September 2026Bakersfield – Sacramento

    Pros Comfortable, not too crowded, got assistance with luggage and arrival was on time! Cons Last time I took the train there was a cafe car. This time there were “snack”bins. It would’ve been good to know (in advance) that this was the option. I planned on eating a hot breakfast sandwich on my early 5 1/2 hour trip. Tips Not at this time.

Amtrak Gold Runner Routes & Network

Amtrak Gold Runner’s train network features 224 train routes that connect 17 cities serving 18 stations. On average, Amtrak Gold Runner performs about 617 train trips every day. The top cities to which Amtrak Gold Runner offers the highest number of daily train service include Fresno and Stockton.

Top Cities Served by Amtrak Gold Runner
CityDaily TripsEarliest trainLatest train
Fresno704:5821:18
Stockton574:5821:46
Emeryville474:5821:50
Bakersfield677:0923:20
Hanford544:5821:52
Merced504:5820:33
Modesto534:5821:11
Oakland464:5821:50
Sacramento166:5822:38

Amtrak Gold Runner Cancellation Policy

All Amtrak Gold Runner tickets can be cancelled for a full refund within the first 24 hours after purchase. If more than 24 hours have passed, the cancellation policy and change fee structure for Amtrak bookings depend on the type of fare you purchased:

Saver Fare tickets: A 25% fee applies for any changes. If you cancel the trip, you will receive an eVoucher worth 75% of the original ticket price.

Value Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable up to 15 or more days before departure. If cancelled less than 14 days before departure, a 25% cancellation fee applies.

Flexible, Business and Premium Fare tickets: No change fees and fully refundable if cancelled or changed before departure.

Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable after the train has departed, so be sure to make your updates as soon as possible if your travel plans change.

If your Amtrak Gold Runner ticket is eligible for change or cancellation, you can do that by calling Amtrak’s customer service phone number at 1 (800) 872-7245. To cancel or change your booking online, simply go to www.amtrak.com and click on the “Modify Trip” tab in the upper right corner.

Wanderu also offers an affordable trip protection option by Allianz Global Assistance that you can purchase when booking your tickets. In addition to 24-hour assistance during your trip and coverage for lost or damaged baggage, trip protection can help you get your money back in case you need to cancel or change your trip. You can file a claim to have any Amtrak change or cancellation fees reimbursed if you cannot travel due to covered reasons such as illness, extreme weather, or required work shifts.

Amtrak Gold Runner Baggage Policy

Hand Luggage

  • One (1) personal item – max. weight: 25 lbs (12 kg), max. dimensions: 14 x 11 x 7 in (35 x 28 x 18 cm)

  • Two (2) hand luggage items – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 28 x 22 x 14 in (71 x 56 x 35 cm)

Additional Hand Luggage Rules:

  • Pushchairs and car seats do not count toward the hand luggage limit.

  • Overweight bags must be repacked so they are under 50 lbs. Boxes may be purchased at staffed stations to aid in repacking.

  • A $20 excess baggage fee will be charged for each hand luggage and personal item above the quantity and size limits. A maximum of two excess bags are permitted per passenger.

Checked Baggage

  • Two (2) items for free – max. weight: 50 lbs (23 kg), max. dimensions: 75 in / 191 cm (length + width + height)

  • Up to two (2) additional items: $20 fee per item

  • Oversized baggage (76-100 inches total): $20 fee per item

Not all Amtrak Gold Runner routes offer checked baggage service. Check ahead before travelling.

Additional Checked Baggage Rules:

  • Your luggage should be checked at least 45 minutes before the train departs.

  • ID tags are required for all luggage.

  • All luggage must be in containers that are suitable for transport (storage tubs and plastic bags are not allowed).

Special Items

  • Bicycles up to 50 lbs (23 kg) may be checked for $20.

  • Folding bikes (max 34 x 15.5 x 48 inches / 86 x 39 x 122 cm) can be carried on board for free.

  • Skis & snowboards count as checked baggage if under 50 lbs (23 kg) and 75 linear inches (191 cm).

  • Wheelchairs, walkers, and CPAP machines can be brought onboard for free.

For more information, check out Amtrak's Baggage Policy page.

Amtrak Gold Runner Train Guide & FAQs

Yes, Amtrak Gold Runner offers WiFi on their trains. Although most trips with Amtrak Gold Runner will have WiFi as advertised, some trains might not come equipped with WiFi and onboard WiFi can lose its connection in rural areas. We recommend you bring a book or download a film just to play it safe. Amtrak Gold Runner WiFi is generally best used for surfing the web, checking emails and chatting with friends; you shouldn’t count on the WiFi to binge-watch your favourite show.

Yes, there are power sockets onboard Amtrak Gold Runner trains. You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbour might want to charge up their devices as well. With the onboard power sockets, you can charge both a computer and USB devices with a USB power adapter that typically comes with most phones and tablets.

Since Amtrak Gold Runner might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. We recommend bringing a power bank to charge your phone for all trips over 2 hours, just in case.

On a typical day, Amtrak Gold Runner has 617 scheduled train trips in total. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page.

No, Amtrak Gold Runner does not offer will call tickets. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station.

Yes, Amtrak Gold Runner requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Make sure you have identification issued by a government agency that meets the carrier’s requirements. Alternative IDs, such as a college ID, won’t work.

Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Gold Runner trains. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times.

Amtrak Gold Runner provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry.

Amtrak Gold Runner does not require a printed ticket to board the train. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board.

Amtrak Gold Runner goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers.

Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Well you’re in luck as Amtrak Gold Runner offers extra legroom seating. Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good.

Yes, Amtrak Gold Runner allows minors 13-16 years of age to travel unaccompanied, with restrictions. Children aged 12 and under must travel with another person who is at least 18 years old.

Tickets for unaccompanied minors cannot be booked online and must be booked by calling Amtrak at +1 (800) 872-7245.

Cheap Amtrak Gold Runner tickets recently found on Wanderu

With 617 trips per day on Amtrak Gold Runner, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter, and Amtrak Gold Runner tickets start at just SEK 39.29. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users.

How do I get the best deal on Amtrak Gold Runner tickets?

Wanderu is the best place to score cheap Amtrak Gold Runner tickets. Wanderu offers the lowest available fares every day and charges no extra booking fees. Plus, you can compare Amtrak Gold Runner prices with trips offered by other train companies to be sure you’re getting the best deal on your tickets!

Pro travellers know that booking your ticket well in advance is key to finding the lowest price. Ticket prices normally go up the closer you get to the travel date, so don’t miss out on a good deal when you see one. If you can be flexible with your travel date, you can also get cheap tickets by travelling on weekdays instead of weekends.

When you’re ready to book, type your departure city and destination city in the search bar above, select your travel date, and let Wanderu work its magic to show you all of the best coach and train ticket prices available for your trip. Pick the ticket that’s best for your budget, schedule, and preferences, and complete the booking right on Wanderu to secure your great deal.

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