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Turlock Transit now offering rides to Amtrak station
Turlock Transit Amtrak
Turlock Transit began offering a new service for Amtrak riders on Monday which connects passengers from their homes to the station in Denair (Photo contributed).

Turlock Transit began offering on-demand shuttles to the Amtrak station in Denair this week as part of a new service meant to improve residents’ connectivity to rail services.

The new, demand-response service for travelers arriving at and departing from the Turlock-Denair Amtrak Station began running on Monday, transporting riders to or from any location in Turlock or Denair for $2.50 each way. Riders can call and request a pick-up from their location in either town; the Turlock Transit bus will then pick riders up from their home and transport them to the station on Santa Fe Avenue. 

“We are very pleased to have Turlock Transit as a partner in connecting passengers to and from Turlock, Denair and CSU Stanislaus,” said Vito Chiesa, Stanislaus County Supervisor District 2 and former Chairperson for the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. “Local transit operators provide critical first and last mile connections. Turlock Transit’s doorstep to station service will serve as a great model for local providers throughout the state.”

The latest addition to Turlock Transit’s offerings comes as the City takes steps to make public transit easier for residents. In September, the City Council voted to reduce transit fares ahead of a scheduled rate increase, benefitting a wide range of bus riders from students to seniors. 

Now, riders of all ages can also benefit from a direct line to the nearest rail service.

Departing passengers can call Turlock Transit at 209-668-5600 to make a reservation at least one hour before their desired Amtrak train arrives in Denair. ​​The passenger will be given a window of time to expect a pick-up and a bus will be dispatched. Riders will receive a phone call approximately five minutes prior to the arrival of the bus, and as a shared ride service, the bus may pick up other passengers also traveling to the same destination prior to arrival at the Amtrak station.

Passengers arriving on Amtrak can make reservations for their return trip, but are not required to, as a Turlock Transit bus will be waiting at the Amtrak station for all trains during operating hours. Passengers should walk from the Amtrak platform to the waiting bus, advise the driver of the drop-off location, pay the fare and board the bus.

The service will be available during regular Turlock Transit service hours, which are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, excluding holidays.

Amtrak San Joaquin is Amtrak’s sixth-busiest route with 18 train stations throughout the Central Valley and Bay Area. There are currently six daily round-trips, and Turlock Transit riders can plan ahead by making sure their train seat is reserved. Train schedules and station locations can be found at www.AmtrakSanJoaquins.com, and for more information on the new Turlock Transit shuttles, visit www.turlocktransit.com/amtrak.