When my sister lived in Folsom, I used to take the Capitol Corridor from Richmond to Sacramento to visit her. I would call her when the train got to Davis and by the time the train rolled into Old Sacramento, she would be at the station waiting for me.
Unless you are a regular commuter and are familiar with the CC, make sure to confirm with the conductor that you are boarding the correct train before you reach Martinez. I once boarded the San Joaquin train by mistake. I could have corrected my error without repercussions, if I had discovered it before Martinez, which is the last stop common to both trains. I didn't and ended up somewhere about 2 hours south of Sacramento. I had to wait for hours for the connecting bus. I think it added 4 more hours to my trip.
Beware of the top deck if you are prone to motion sickness. The bottom deck is more stable but it has limited seats since part of the car has been converted to store bikes. Concession stand is on the top deck of marked cars. They don't allow you to bring luggage in the dining area but you can bring your food to your seat. I was nervous leaving my luggage unattended but nothing happened during any of my trips.
The Oakland Coliseum stop is a closer BART connection to Dublin but I feel safer at the Richmond station. There seem to be more people waiting for Amtrak in Richmond. The Oakland station seems dark, isolated, and creepy at night.
Despite these mishaps and gripes, I like the ride and leaving the driving to others. About two hours of travel time give or take. Relaxing and enjoying the great views of the Bay or plugging in my mobile device into one of many outlets. Most passengers seemed friendly and curious. More often than not, they struck up conversations if you made eye contact I do wish the seats reclined. read more