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If you have more questions that aren’t addressed here, make sure to check out the CC FAQ page! Think something should be here, but isn’t? Say so on the feedback form!
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Table of Contents
🤔 What’s Better?: Student Discount vs. the 6-ride “student pass” vs. 10-ride vs. Monthly Pass
The first question all prospective Amtrak commuters ask themselves.
Despite the names, the student discount and the 6-ride “student pass” are not made for student commuters in mind, but for student travelers.
- The student discount (15% off adult ticket price) is best for the more rare one way or round trips to certain locations, like maybe for that trip into the city.
- The 6-ride pass is best for students who plan on traveling a few times a year between two stations, such as going back home for the holidays.
If you’re a commuter, then either the 10-ride or the monthly pass will be the most cost effective option for you, since you’re given more rides at a higher discount.
- If you’re commuting 2-3 days a week, then the 10-ride pass will likely be the best for you.
- If you’re commuting 4 days or more a week or just like the convenience of not having to remember to buy 10-ride passes, then the monthly pass is the way to go.
You can use the Ticket and Pass Price Chart to compare the prices of the multi-ride passes.
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A “ride” refers to a one-way trip between two stations. So, you will be using two rides everyday when you’re commuting.
So, a 10-ride pass equals to five days of commuting and a 6-ride will only last you three days.
The monthly pass gives you two rides every day for an entire calendar month, allowing you to freely commute every day of the month.
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🕦 How should I schedule my time? How can I avoid delays?
A general rule of thumb is to know the CC Train Schedule for both your origin and destination station.
Tips regarding scheduling and avoiding delays:
- Registrar for classes with the train schedule in mind
- Aim to arrive at the station early (around at least 10 mins before train departure)
- Have a general idea how long it’ll take you to get to the station (including knowing peak traffic times)
- For example, it’s about a 20 min walk to the station from the TLC, but you should give yourself wiggle room. So, plan to start walking at least 30 mins before your train departs.
- It’s a good idea to have buffer between when you plan to arrive in Davis and your first class in case of possible train delays
- For instance, instead of taking a train that arrives in Davis an hour before your class starts, it might be good to take an earlier train that gives you a couple hours to spare
- If you have a midterm or final, it’s good to take an earlier train to avoid the risk of a train delay
- You might have an early morning final/midterm that’s very close to the time that the first train arrives in Davis, or even before any trains arrive. In that case, you might have to consider driving or carpooling
🅿️ How much does it cost to park at the station? (and how to access info about individual stations)
Now, this is something that varies across Amtrak stations; some stations have free parking while others do not.
To find out how your nearby station handles parking, head over to CC Stations page to search for your nearby station. These station pages also have information on open hours, if the station staffed, public transit connections, and more!
For example, here’s the Davis station page.
📶 Is there Wi-Fi on the train?