I booked an Amtrak trip between Richmond, CA (RIC) and Reno (RNO). It's Capitol Corridor from RIC to Sacramento (SAC), and then an Amtrak Thruway bus from SAC TO Reno (RNO)? Does anyone know who operates this bus route? I saw a schedule PDF on capitolcorridor (.org) where for some buses it has another logo (like El Dorado Transit), but for this one there is no logo above the schedule, so I assume it is just operated by Amtrak? Also, are the baggage allowances the same on the bus as for the train? Thanks!
Operator and baggage allowances for Amtrak Thruway bus between Sacramento (SAC) and Reno (RNO)?
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It isn't directly operated by Amtrak, no buses are to my knowledge. It is a dedicated bus contracted for by Amtrak/CCJPA, it is not a codeshare with another common carrier bus line. I don't know the company they contract with for it.
Baggage allowances are the same as Amtrak's carry on. However, larger pieces will be placed in the luggage hold. Actual carry on space is much more limited on a bus.
Capital Corridor JPA here has partner with El Dorado Transit to run this service. Looks like they should provide a coach bus which has plenty of luggage space bellow
The Journalist
Lead Service Attendant
The operator on that run is Coach USA (unless it just changed in the last few months), but the bus usually has an "Amtrak California" livery. Luggage bigger than a backpack is put under the bus.
Thanks all! Yup, confirmed - the bus had Amtrak California on the side and large luggage was placed under the bus. There was some space in the bins above the seats, but they were not very big, similar to the size of the ones on the Capitol Corridor train. There was no branding for the actual operator, although I did spot a WiFi name of "All West", and it looks like All West is somehow related to Coach USA. (There was also a WiFi network named "Amtrak" - neither WiFi worked very well unfortunately).
Just in case this info is useful, the bus was located at the NW corner of the station where there are a few bus parking places. From the train, we walked through a tunnel and then under a covered walkway to the station (H Street, I believe), and the buses were to the right - we didn't need to go into the station.
The ride itself was pleasant enough. Although we left Sacramento about 30-40 minutes late (waiting for another bus coming from Stockton apparently), they had enough passengers for two buses, and each bus only stopped at half the stops, so after stopping just at Rocklin and Colfax, we actually ended up in Reno almost on time. The Reno station seemed to be closed when we arrived around 6pm.
Just in case this info is useful, the bus was located at the NW corner of the station where there are a few bus parking places. From the train, we walked through a tunnel and then under a covered walkway to the station (H Street, I believe), and the buses were to the right - we didn't need to go into the station.
The ride itself was pleasant enough. Although we left Sacramento about 30-40 minutes late (waiting for another bus coming from Stockton apparently), they had enough passengers for two buses, and each bus only stopped at half the stops, so after stopping just at Rocklin and Colfax, we actually ended up in Reno almost on time. The Reno station seemed to be closed when we arrived around 6pm.
Many bus company’s have some of their buses painted or “wrapped” in the livery of their contracted customers, but are required to have what are known as the “legals”, lettering of a certain size, usually across baggage doors, naming the owner, operator, DOT, and sometimes state PUC numbers.
Coach USA is a holding company comprised of several different companies…
west point
Engineer
Every interstate bus I know of always has a small label of operator name and what was then an ICC number. Greyhound was #1501.
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Greyhound Lines consolidated several previous companies and division's with different certificates into a single national one...ICC-MC-1515.
Depending on when your trip is scheduled, be aware that I-80 is closed when the snow is deep and CalTrans can't keep up with plowing. The eastbound CZ which leaves Sacramento after 11AM, is more likely to reach Reno than the bus.
