Amtrak offers discounted trains once again to noted Black history site in Valley
Amtrak will observe Juneteenth once again with discounted trains to a Black history landmark in Tulare County.
They will run June 13 to Allensworth, co-founded in 1908 by a man who went from slavery to a long Army career. Remnants of the town are now a small state park.
The site is along the Gold Runner route, formerly the San Joaquins. It has five daily round trips between Bakersfield and Oakland and two others branching at Stockton to Sacramento. Stations along the way include Modesto, Denair, Merced, Madera, Fresno and Hanford.
Juneteenth was the day in 1865 when people in Galveston, Texas, got belated word that slavery had ended. The federal holiday, created in 2022, is June 19.
The town’s namesake, Col. Allen Allensworth, was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1842. He escaped by joining the Union Army during the Civil War. He went on to become a chaplain for Black troops, including the calvary’s famed Buffalo Soldiers. Allensworth retired in 1906 as the highest-ranking Black officer to date.
The idea for the town came about after the colonel had become a traveling lecturer on civil rights. The co-founders hoped it would become a center for Black business, education and civic life. It faded over a couple of decades after losing its water supply and regular rail depot.
Amtrak sets up a temporary platform for Juneteenth and other events. The June 13 celebration is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Amtrak will have trains in both directions before, during and after the event
All riders to Allensworth will get 50% off the train tickets. They can then apply Amtrak’s regular discounts for children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and active-duty service members. Details on the fares and timetables are at goldrunner.com.
People who drive will find Allensworth along Highway 43, about 50 miles south of Fresno.
Park admission is free. The event will feature live entertainment, food vendors, historical presentations and tours of the restored school, church and other buildings.
The Gold Runner is overseen by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. A news release said 97 passengers rode the first Juneteenth train in 2018. The number topped 500 last year.
“Each year,” CEO Chris Orlando said, “more people choose to be part of this trip and to experience the history and community that make the Allensworth celebration so meaningful.”
Amtrak seeks to attract new riders with highly discounted trips such as this. The most recent was the Open Cockpit Show at the Castle Air Museum on May 23, reached by a shuttle bus from the Merced train station.
The state plans a visitor center and other upgrades at Allensworth in the coming years. It gets support from the nonprofit Friends of Allensworth, based in Bakersfield.
California State Parks interpreters Lori Wear assists the special trains. “We’re proud to welcome visitors here every June,” she said in the release, “and grateful to Gold Runner for helping us reach Californians seeking an alternative route to the park.”
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Amtrak offers discounted trains once again to noted Black history site in Valley."
