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…