San Joaquin JPA (SJJPA), which hosts the San Joaquins trains, is considering both more and changed service to Sacramento.

Five San Joaquins run between Oakland Jack London and Bakersfield via Stockton, bypassing Sacramento. Two trains per day terminate or start in Sacramento rather than Oakland, 702 and 704 southbound (6:35AM and 5:10PM), and 701 and 703 northbound (11:20AM and 11:40PM).

SJJPA would like to run more trains to Sacramento. For the Morning Express Service, they are considering a train that would originate from Fresno rather than Bakersfield, and arrive around 8AM, for the start of the business day. This schedule is likely to be implemented in 2018, and would replace the 701 schedule. 

An additional train (the “8th Daily Round Trip”, added to the existing 5 to Oakland and 2 to Sacramento) would also run from Fresno to Sacramento. Union Pacific does not want an additional passenger train on the Stockton to Sacramento section currently in use (called the Fresno Subdivision) , so the additional train might run on other tracks (called the Sacramento subdivision) and not run to and from Sacramento Valley Station. These are the tracks through midtown. There are no passenger stations on the midtown route, as Old Spaghetti Factory occupies the old Western Pacific depot, so at least platforms would need to be added. Though plans are fuzzy, there might be multiple stops in the Sacramento area, and the train might continue north of Sacramento. This train would probably start service in 2019.

These changes may not have any significant impact to the Sacramento Valley Station, but it often comes up when discussing SVS. Having train service that does not use SVS is not optimal, but may be necessary, and does offer some benefits such as additional stops in the Sacramento area. 

For more information about the San Joaquins, take a look at the 2017 Business Plan, particularly Chapter 7 for Morning Express Service and 8th Daily Round Trip, and Chapter 15 for future ideas. 

• Sacramento Valley Station