Thanksgiving travel has returned to Stockton’s San Joaquin Street Station, and so has the familiar rhythm of rolling luggage, hurried footsteps and families clutching coffee as they race the clock.
This week, Amtrak and the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) — the agency that oversees the Central Valley’s Gold Runner trains while Amtrak operates them — are preparing for what has reliably become the system’s busiest stretch of the year.
According to Amtrak, last year the rail system carried more than 1.2 million passengers during the 10-day Thanksgiving period — a 4.2 percent increase from 2023. But even with national ridership expected to climb again this year, SJJPA officials say the real picture often forms in the final days, when travelers make last-minute decisions about how they’re getting home.
“Due to current ticket purchasing trends, we do not yet have final ridership numbers for this year,” said Ahdel Ahmed, public relations manager for SJJPA. “Local travel patterns were somewhat irregular last year, but early national projections suggest we could see a 2% to 4% increase in ridership during this holiday period.”
Ahmed said late booking is typical. “We typically see many customers book close to their travel dates,” he said, adding that the clearest ridership picture usually emerges only after the holiday period ends.
A Central Valley crossroads
Stockton’s San Joaquin Street Station remains one of the busiest stops in the entire corridor. Last Thanksgiving week, it recorded 3,423 boardings and 4,145 exits on trains and 2,119 boardings and 2,454 exits on thruway buses.
Only Bakersfield and Fresno saw more activity, a sign of how heavily the region relies on rail travel during the holidays.
“Ridership is difficult to estimate precisely because holiday travel is influenced by a variety of economic and seasonal factors, but we do expect to see a spike in travel by the end of this week,” Ahmed said.
Across the country, most riders stay close to home. In 2024, 81 percent of Thanksgiving passengers traveled 250 miles or less, underscoring how rail becomes a short-range lifeline for families trying to connect for the holiday.
How Amtrak and Gold Runner are preparing
To manage the holiday rush, Amtrak is increasing staffing nationwide, including Ambassadors, volunteers and Red Cap service employees, while adding rail cars and boosting service on the Northeast Corridor.
In the Central Valley, capacity will continue expanding into winter.
“We will add an additional round trip from Bakersfield to Sacramento in early December that will provide more flexibility and schedule options for our passengers,” Ahmed said.
Travelers should also expect fuller platforms. “Travelers should be prepared for slightly larger crowds at stations, but staff are well prepared to assist customers and keep operations running smoothly,” he said.
Why many travelers pick the train
Rail travel remains appealing for its simplicity, especially during peak holiday stress. Ahmed said many customers choose Gold Runner because of its “convenience and affordability.”
Compared to flying, he noted, passengers can often “arrive just minutes before departure,” skip long security lines and enjoy “large, spacious seats with ample legroom and no middle seats.” Families and groups can sit together, bring small pets on many trains and avoid congested freeways altogether.
SJJPA and Amtrak are also pushing holiday deals.
“We encourage customers to visit https://goldrunner.com/deals/” for promotions, Ahmed said, noting options like “Buy One, Save 50%” companion fares and standard discounts for students, seniors, veterans and active-duty military.
For Stockton travelers: two stations, one reminder
Stockton travelers should take an extra moment to verify which station they’re headed to — a common point of confusion during Thanksgiving week:
- San Joaquin Street Station is located at 735 S. San Joaquin Street.
- Robert J. Cabral Station is located at 949 E. Channel Street.
“While it is convenient to board quickly, we recommend arriving early to allow time for parking and to ensure you are boarding the correct train,” Ahmed said. Some trips involve bus connections, and Ahmed urged travelers to “use the booking tools on the website to confirm their full itinerary in advance.”
As crowds build, he said, staff will be ready.
“If first-time riders have any questions, we encourage them to come to the station early and we will have staff ready to assist them,” Ahmed said.
And so, as Thanksgiving week unfolds, Stockton’s rail hub once again becomes a snapshot of a region on the move: families reuniting, students heading home and travelers choosing the steady path of steel rails over-crowded highways.
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