San Joaquin's New Venture

Welcome Aboard San Joaquins Venture

On Friday before 2025 Memorial Day weekend, I took my first trip on Amtrak's San Joaquins and rode my first new Siemens Venture Cars.  

I took the trip from Martinez to Merced and back.  The southbound trip (#710) was equipped with Venture Cars, while my return trip on the northbound train (#713) used outgoing California Cars.  This gave me an immediate back-to-back experience comparing the two types.  

I purchased my fully refundable ticket two days before departure at $52 roundtrip.  It was only $1 more (each way) over the non-refundable, non-changeable ticket, so I went with the more flexible option.  

Ticket Receipt

My train arrived at Martinez on time at 8:21 a.m.  Much to my excitement, it was led by an Amtrak California F40 Non-Powered Control Unit (NPCU), better known as the "Cabbage Car", CDTX #90218, named "Oakland", in the classic Caltrain color scheme.  Even though she was faded and looked tired, I was excited to see the Caltrain F40 livery live on and pulling my train.

Behind the NPCU, there were six Venture Cars pushed by Amtrak California F59 "repower 710 eco", CDTX 2004.

Old School Caltrain Livery

On board, the cars were brand new and spotless.  Plastic seat shells and hard foam seat cushions reminded me of the latest generation of airliners.  Aisles were wide and spacious, and glass doors between cars opened automatically.  Overhead storage shelves were transparent, as were the doors between cars, which made the interior feel spacious.  There was plenty of legroom, even with my backpack in front of me, not under the seat; though I lamented not having a footrest.  There were two AC power outlets plus two USB-A outlets between seats, though none were working (I saw others charge their phones, so I assume I had a bum outlet).  

Bright and Spacious Cabin

Broken Outlets at My Seat

Overhead displays showed the current car number, next destinations, and lavatory availability status.  It would have been nice to have a clock and ETA to the next stops.

Overhead Status Display - No ETA

The conductor announced that it was a busy holiday weekend, so not to put anything on the adjacent seats, and reminded everyone to use headphones.  I appreciated the reminder, but it went unheeded by the person behind me.  As he scanned tickets, he continued to remind people not to block seats.  

As we turned from east to southward, the scenery changed from bay waters and marshlands to industrial to seedy neighborhoods as we approached Stockton.  Along the way, we saw a number of BNSF trains headed in the opposite direction (with a remotely operated train in the yard area in Stockton).

 

We would be boarding 100 passengers at Stockton: “we will be gaining more than losing on this trip,” the conductor said, reminding everyone to keep all seats open. 

As we pulled into Stockton, it became obvious why the first car (Car 6) was closed off when I boarded at Martinez.  With the way the train is positioned when we stopped at Stockton, the gate from the platform goes right up to that first car.    

Announcements were a mix of pre-recordings (well-done robot voice?) and live.  Interestingly, the conductor made the same welcome, safety, and "don't" announcement at every stop (which could have been recorded), but the recorded announcement for the location of the snacks (in Cars 2 and 4) was not made until many stops in.  

In the snack car, the luggage area had been converted to a snack station.  There was a good variety of package snacks, canned soft drinks, and bottled water, all free for the taking.  

Free Snack Station in the Luggage Rack

San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority, the managing agency for the train, re-evaluated the on-board food service program and decided to use food vending machines instead a cafe car.  Reasons cited by the agency include:  cost-savings, reduction of catering complexity, and underperforming sales on certain trains.  Since new cars with vending machines are yet to be certified, for the time being, free snacks and beverages are being offered.  While snack sizing is not substantial, there is a good variety (pretzels, chips, cookies, and the like) and you can take as much as you want.  At least they are free on the 6.5-hour end-to-end trip.  

When the passenger ahead of me inquired about the food service (or lack thereof), the conductor suggested ordering Uber Eats and having the food delivered to the Merced Station, where we would have a 10-minute stop for locomotive crew change.  Not the most ideal, but better than having Doritos for lunch!

Departing Stockton, the scenery changed to the lush Central Valley that we are all familiar with - fruit and nut trees, vegetable farms, aqueducts.  We sped down the line at a fast pace, the ride extremely smooth and quiet, felt like I was on a high-speed electric train.  I later found out the track speed limit is 79 mph.  I couldn't get my phone to lock on a solid GPS signal to read the speed as we were in and out of cell tower coverage moving between towns.  Free Wi-Fi was available, but I did not use it.  

We pulled into Merced on time at 10:45 a.m.  Announcement on board said we would have "a few minutes to get off the train to stretch your legs…and have a smoke".

Amtrak California F40 Cabbage Pulling Venture Cars

F40 NPCU "Cabbage"

After grabbing some photos, I briskly walked to a bakery/eatery three blocks away. Unfortunately, the Santa Fe depot is not in the downtown area, so only this one eatery option was available. Nevertheless, the tritip sandwich I ordered to-go was delicious.  I quickly walked back to the station with one minute to spare to see my northbound train, #713, arriving four minutes late at 11:17 a.m. 

My train was pulled by Amtrak California F59 "repower 710 eco", CDTX 2007, with a set of five bi-level California Cars plus one former NJ Transit Comet Car.  Though the Comet Car was not in service, otherwise I would have jumped on board if the doors opened!

While many got off the train to have a smoke, with a holiday weekend crowd waiting to board, I quickly walked to the further car I can get to from the station (car 2) and jumped onboard.  Fortunately, on the upper level, I was able to find a pair of empty seats, though backwards facing just like the trip out.

Comet Car

California Car

I was riding in the "original" batch California Car with enclosed overhead baggage bins.  While it looked nice, like an airliner, the doors were way too small for a carryon suitcase.  I also liked the footrest, which was not so equipped on the Venture Car.  My cushy seat was not too comfortable, though, as it had seen too many butts in its day and I could feel springs underneath.  

California Car trainsets still have a cafe car, as they share equipment with Capitol Corridor trains.  I knew ahead of time that it would not have cafe service and had the same free snacks and drinks as Venture Car trains.  I was hoping to use the lounge/table space in the cafe to stretch out to eat my lunch, but no, boxes and crates for all the snacks and beverages had occupied all tables and booths, effectively banning the intended use of the lounge/dining space.

No Cafe Attendant/Service

Free Snacks Throughout the Cafe Car

While we raced north on the Valley Division (former Santa Fe name), the train swayed back-and-forth and vibrated at random times.  I wondered whether we were even on the same tracks as my southbound trip.  While swaying on a bi-level car is avoidable (because physics), the general noisiness and motion made the ride not as pleasant and comfortable as the Venture Car.  Part of the cause was doors between cars: they opened and closed slowly (and that's if they closed at all) and let in most of the noise.

We lost more time as we waited minutes for a southbound train to clear the station at Turlock-Denair.  Later, a large number of passengers detrained in Stockton and more with me at Martinez.

Overall, I was very impressed with the new Venture Cars.  While I loved the view from up high in the California Cars, these bi-levels are showing their age.  Once the San Joaquins get their proper food car (some day), new name ("Gold Runner"), and matching cab cars and locomotives, it will motivate more people to get out of their cars and onto trains. 

San Joaquins Departing Martinez