STOCKTON, Calif. — California’s busy state-supported rail link between the Bay Area and the Central Valley entered a new chapter in early November 2025, when the familiar Amtrak San Joaquins name was officially retired in favor of a new identity: Gold Runner. The rebrand—led by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and carried out in partnership with Amtrak—took effect November 3, 2025, aiming to better reflect the full scope of the service: trains and an expansive network of connecting buses that extends well beyond the rail line itself.
At its core, officials stressed that the change was not simply a new logo or paint scheme—it was an attempt to unify a growing regional mobility system under one banner. SJJPA described Gold Runner as an identity meant to “honor the past while moving confidently toward the future,” positioning the service as a modern, locally driven transportation option for California’s heartland.
The rebrand also signals something SJJPA has wanted for years: clearer public understanding of who’s behind the service and what it includes. Since July 2015, SJJPA has been responsible for the management and administration of the corridor (with Amtrak continuing to operate trains under contract). In the agency’s view, a new name offered the chance to strengthen the route’s visibility while aligning it with long-term plans and California’s broader passenger-rail strategy.
David Lipari, SJJPA’s interim executive director at the time, said the new identity was intended to represent both the communities served and where the system is headed—framing Gold Runner as more than a marketing exercise, but a signal of commitment to riders and regional connectivity…