Capitol Corridor ticket prices changing for train service. How much will Sacramento trips cost?
Tickets for short-distance train rides on the Capitol Corridor between Sacramento and the Bay Area are getting a lot cheaper this spring, the train service announced.
The Capitol Corridor line, which runs as an Amtrak California service from San Jose to Sacramento and Auburn, will lower fares starting April 1; trips under 50 miles will start at $5 for a single ride. For an even better bargain, frequent train travelers or students can invest in 10-ride or six-ride tickets, respectively, and get fares as low as $4 per trip.
A single-ride ticket between Sacramento and San Jose goes up to $40, but a single-ride ticket between Sacramento and Davis will cost $6. Traveling between those capital-area Amtrak stations in a personal vehicle would cost $10.29, according to the 2025 IRS mileage reimbursement rate. The 36.5-mile trip between the Sacramento Amtrak station and the Fairfield-Vacaville station would cost $25.55 in a car; a single-ride ticket on the train will cost $14. For that trip, the most quantifiable cost difference is $11.55, while the emotional toll of driving on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 amid ongoing construction or the often congested Yolo Causeway is harder to measure.
With the new fares, monthly passes as well as 10-ride and student tickets for longer distances will see a 3% price increase, the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority said.
In addition to these short-trip fare decreases, the train service operated by Amtrak and funded by Caltrans is running another special on group tickets. Riders can purchase one full-price ticket between any two Capitol Corridor stations and get up to five additional tickets at 50% off.
Before the new fares kick in on April 1, Amtrak decided to offer another enticement in March: Irish coffee with Jameson Irish whiskey is only $8 in cafe cars this month.
