It's been almost a decade now since we got light rail in Austin and my middle-schooler just started…read moreriding the train to/from school each day (so far, we love it!), so I guess it's about time for me to give an updated look at our local stop, the Howard MetroRail Station. Howard (aka Stop #5540) https://www.capmetro.org/stopdetail/index.php?stop=5540) is a park & ride, so there are 301 spaces adjacent to the train stop which serves the following bus routes in addition to the 550 MetroRail Red Line: 50 Round Rock/Howard Station https://www.capmetro.org/schedmap/?svc=0&f1=50&s=0&d=N 243 Wells Branch https://www.capmetro.org/schedmap/?svc=0&f1=243&s=0&d=E 980 North MoPac Express https://www.capmetro.org/schedmap/?svc=4&f1=980&s=0&d=N (well, you have to walk/scoot/bike about 1/2 mile to New Life Church on southbound Mopac to reach this one) Everything you need to know about how to use CapMetro services is available in their full system map https://www.capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/Plan_Your_Trip/Destinations_Schedule_Book/system_map.pdf and Destinations book https://www.capmetro.org/uploadedFiles/New2016/Plan_Your_Trip/Destinations_Schedule_Book/Schedulebook_web.pdf . Trains arrive every 15-30 minutes during the daily service hours, which vary according to the season (mostly whether school is in session) and day of the week. Keep in mind that southbound and northbound trains share the same tracks, so there's a limit to how many more trains can be feasibly be added to the mix. Check the full Red Line schedule https://www.capmetro.org/current_schedules/pdf/550.pdf for details and follow CapMetro on social to keep up with last minute service alerts. It's still pretty pricey to ride the train, $7 for an unlimited day pass or $3.50 for a single trip (which must be used within 1 hour of purchase). All day MetroRail passes do not require transfer fees, so you can take as many trains as you need to reach your final destination (although I tend to walk, run, or use a kickscooter, myself; you can also try one of the many bike & e-scooter rental options downtown). If you're visiting and will be using the train for 4 or more days, your best option is the 7-day pass at $27.50. If you are a student, a senior citizen, or one of a few other special groups, you can get 1/2 priced passes, but you need to show proof of eligibility when tickets are validated or checked by fare enforcement. Don't try to cheat, or you'll get a $75 ticket! More about reduced fares here: https://www.capmetro.org/rfid/ Perhaps because it is so pricey, the degree of riff-raff & shenanigans one encounters on the train seems pretty low for public transport, but YMMV. Members of the homeless encampment just down the street at the Mopac overpass do sometimes make their way over to the station, but we've never encountered any trouble from fellow humans at this station or on the train over the years. Morning & evening commuter rides are pretty quiet and comfortable, although you may need to stand during the most popular morning southbound and evening northbound trips. Back at the launch in 2010, the last northbound MetroRail trip of the day was around 6:30p, a bummer if you had ideas of heading downtown for an evening of merriment with no need to drive or park. That's still true most of the week (it's still a commuter rail service & it still shares the tracks with freight trains overnight) but on Fridays & Saturdays, we now have extended service until after midnight, with the last train from the Convention Center departing northbound at 1:45am on Friday night and 2:30am on Saturday night. They also extend the service hours during special events like SXSW and ACL Fest, but beware that those trains get packed! Another big change since the beginning is that the station's ticket kiosks no longer take credit cards AND they do not give back change. Instead, you get a paper voucher that must be used toward additional CapMetro services within 15 days or the value disappears! For this reason alone, it's generally to your advantage to put the CapMetro app on your smartphone and make your ticket purchases & activations there. You also get timely service alerts on the app when there are unexpected delays or other emerging issues with the train service. Tip: Follow on Twitter @CapMetroATX for up-to-the-minute news on changes to the service schedule & special discounts from partner businesses. Use the CapMetro comment form https://app.capmetro.org/ServiceOneWebCCR to report issues found at the station or with a specific ride experience. Trains fill up during special events like SXSW, so prepare a plan B (like ride share or one of the night-owl buses https://www.capmetro.org/latenight/) for getting back up north at the end of the day if you fail to get on the last train home.

The metro rail is super convenient and fast. The trains equipped with free WiFi. Always clean but…read morefills up quickly during the rush. The station itself has plenty parking, could be lighted a little more but appears to be fairly safe. I've seen metro police there a couple times not sure if it was just to patrol or if something occurred.

Saturday my daughter visited the Cedar Park Depot to ride on the Hill Country Flyer train, 66-mile…read moreround trip aboard the beautifully restored vintage train. The train crossed the scenic trestle bridge over the South San Gabriel River and through Short Creek Canyon -- all from the comfort of a restored historic railcar pulled by a diesel locomotive. There were beverages, snacks, train memobilla, toys, books and puzzles for the children, train t-shirts for adults and children were also available for purchase. (Restrooms were also available on the train) Midway through the trip, the passengers enjoyed a two-hour layover in the town of Burnet, to explore the historic square, browse local shops, and enjoy lunch on their own at one of the local restaurants. It is a three block walk from the Burnet Train depot to the town of Burnet. My daughter and I and some other passengers could not walk those three blocks, so my daughter and I shopped at HEB next to the train depot, sat in one of the HEB scooters in the shade and had our lunch. Some of the other passengers sat on the benches at the train depot building, you are welcome to pack a picnic lunch! Passengers are allowed to bring their own food and beverages. Non-alcoholic drinks are NOT welcomed on board the train. If bottled alcohol is purchased in the Town of Burnet or at HEB, you can bring it on the train, but you CANNOT open the alcohol on the train. Total Duration: 6.5 hours round trip (includes 2-hour layover in Burnet, TX) Unfortunately, Saturday, the train departed at 1:15pm and BAM!!! A train break down, leaving the train stopping on the railroad track bridge over South San Gabriel River for five hours until the mechanic arrived from Houston, TX with the part. But the Conductor called ahead to let the train depot know the train has had a mechanical failure and help is needed. The First Responders and Sheriff came aboard the train to keep the passengers informed telling us that they have arrived along with five busses on stand-by if the train cannot be fixed and we have to evacuate the train. Fortunately, after five hours, the mechanic and train part arrived, the mechanic repaired the mechanical breakdown, the train started, the busses were not needed and the train returned back to Cedar Park Depot after five hours. Our conductor, Steve and his assistants was very helpful. We were given bottled water and kept calm listening to train history by Steve. Steve saved the day! Saturday evening, all passengers who purchased tickets were sent an apologic email and information regarding a refund. That was a very nice jesture from the Austin Steam Train Association. RECOMMEDATION: I would take another Hill Country Flyer train ride, hoping no other mechanical failures happen. I would also wish that some organization in Burnet begin offering golf cart or some type of transportation from the train depot to the town of Burnet due to some of the passengers cannot walk the three blocks from the Burnet train Depot to the town of Burnet to shop. The vehicles would only be used to pickup the passengers from the train depot taking them to town and return them to the train depot filling the alloted time of their visit. I think the passengers would be happy and the community of Burnet would be very pleased to see more passengers coming to town via some type of transportation.

We rode the Hill Country Flyer on September 19, 2026, from Cedar Park to Burnet and back. We rode…read morein the Silver Pine car, which dates back to 1948. The seats were extremely comfortable and the car was air conditioned. Our volunteer guide, Steve, was friendly, knowledgeable, and full of entertaining stories about train travel. On this particular day, there was, unfortunately, a mechanical issue with our engine, resulting in a nearly four hour stop directly on the newly built wooden trestle over the San Saba River. The situation was unavoidable, and while inconvenient, I commend the staff aboard the train for their exemplary handling of the situation. Their number one priority was safety. It would have been potentially dangerous to exit the train into the wilderness of the Texas Hill Country. We would have had to walk along the train tracks, down an embankment, and then cross a natural low water crossing. A plan was put into place on how best to accomplish this, which would have included help from the fire department, sheriff, a Utility Task Vehicle for anyone who could not make such a trek, and four Cap Metro buses that were brought in to provide transportation back to the depot, if necessary, but only as a last resort. We waited, stopped, for nearly four hours, but we were given updates approximately every 20-30 minutes by staff members that visited each car, with the opportunity to ask questions and share whatever concerns we may have had. Sheltering in place was the safest option for all involved. The A/C continued to run, we had a working bathroom, and extra water was brought in for us. Snacks were also available. Staff made sure that we were informed, comfortable, entertained throughout the wait. There was a passenger in another car who had some sort of medical issue. Fire department paramedics and a sheriff boarded the train to assist that passenger. ASTA's head mechanic actually interrupted his vacation in Houston to pick up a part, meet the train, and make the repair on site. He was already in route, even as the personnel on board were diagnosing the problem. Once the mechanical problem was fixed, we were able to return to the station, later than planned, but we were always comfortable, informed, and never in danger. Even after the trip, ASTA went above and beyond to make the situation right. They emailed all passengers, offering one of 3 choices for compensation: * A full refund for your tickets * Exchange your tickets for a future Hill Country Flyer ride this year * A voucher for the full value of your tickets, to use at your convenience While we appreciate these options greatly, I don't feel that any compensation is actually necessary. ASTA is a not-for-profit entity with the primary purpose of helping to restore old trains and bring the joy of riding the rails to others, including families who otherwise could not afford excursions such as this. All in all, we had a wonderful day and could not have been more impressed with their handling of a difficult situation. We will definitely ride with them again!

Easy peasy ride downtown. Plenty of parking, WiFi, and never crowded... The trains are always…read moreclean, we always score the seats with extra legroom and the price is right! Hopefully we will see an expansion of the rail service...

I take the rail down to acc highland campus every day during each semester. The station is always…read morevery clean and the conductor is very welcoming. It's a great and convenient resource to use if you can't afford housing down in Austin. For those who live in Leander, please remember to vote to save this amazing transit resource.

I recently took Amtrak to Dallas for a long weekend. It was SXSW and Spring Break and the train was…read morepacked which did not matter much to me as I had booked a roomette for privacy and comfort. The ride up to Dallas from Austin was exceptionally smooth, never had a journey on that route so smooth.  After boarding, the first class attendant informed me that the diner was still serving breakfast so I made a mad dash to the diner car for a lite breakfast snack, Three Cheese Omelet, Swiss, Cheddar,and Pepper Jack with Peewee Potatoes and Pork Sausage, delicious and surprisingly filling.  I opted to have lunch in my roomette, Asian BBQ Glazed Salmon, roasted salmon with an Asian BBQ sauce served with broccoli, lemongrass scented rice, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, peppers, and scallions. I was a bit disappointed with the Asian BBQ sauce, it tasted more like Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce. I was expecting a Teriyaki inspired sauce. All in all it was a very enjoyable and therapeutic. journey to Dallas. And if one has the time, I highly recommend booking a roomette which is less expensive than flying first class and you get two meals that one can enjoy in the diner car or the privacy of your roomette. On a flight, you'll be lucky to get a cup of water on such a short flight.

It's like a train in a 3rd world country. No bathrooms or water on our sleeper car.have to go 1 or…read more2 cars down.been like this for at least 12 hours

MetroRail helps me save in gas and staff is friendly, I just wish they would be more assertive and…read moretell passengers that like to put their stinking feet up on the seats to please put them down. I mean, you're not in your house, you're using a public transportation! Who likes to sit down on a seat where dirty shoes have been?! Imagine if he has doggo crap on them and he doesn't know! Disgusting! Please be conscious of the space you're using and other people using it!

Experienced the Metro Rail for the first time, and it was a fantastic journey! Having been in the…read moreTexas Austin area for seven years, my family and I decided to take the train from Leander station to downtown Austin for the first time. The day pass for adults at $7 each was a great deal, especially since kids ride for free. The interior of the train was impressively clean--seriously, spotless--and well-ventilated, making the ride comfortable from start to finish. The conductors were friendly and accommodating, adding to the overall positive experience. The children particularly enjoyed the ride, making it a memorable family outing. Highly recommend the Metro Rail for a convenient, clean, and enjoyable transportation option in the Austin area!

I am neutral about this station, I wouldn't say it's the best station…read more I feel like this station is centrally located and gets a lot of use with people coming and going but there is no parking. I have no idea why there is no parking, there is street parking but it can be hard to find, and you could be walking a long distance to get to the station. In addition, it's not a very well lit area if you plan on taking the station at night. It's a bummer this station is badly planned. Since there are so many housing complex going up in and around the Domain, this is the station for all those people. I wish it had some type of parking.

I love the rail lines. It's very convenient for me because of this station. However, whoever…read moreplanned this station needs to have their head checked. There is absolutely no parking for the station. If you are lucky, you can park in the neighborhood around the station, but those spots are VERY limited and most often full. I would give this station 5 stars, but when the whole purpose is to minimize car use, not having a parking lot is just plain stupid. The least they could do is work with the businesses around the station to arrange for after-hours parking in their lots. Because of the station, they all have "no parking, towing at all hours" signs and I don't want to risk getting towed. Taking the train downtown is an awesome thing to have up here. It's cheap and now that it's opened up on the weekends and late night, riding the rails is perfect for a night of responsible drinking and not having to pay a fortune to park.

Easy way to travel downtown at less expense than Uber. Clean and there is a covered area with…read morelimited seating. If you have not ridden the train before, it is a bit confusing so you might do some research on-line in advance. There is a cash only ticket machine or you have to download the Umo app. No way to pay on the train. I do tend to avoid the station after dark due to the presence of several homeless men.

Train station at Crestview has northbound and southbound access. The outside station has covered…read morebenches and a ticket machine (cash only ) for credit you have to download UMO app. The buses pick up 50 feet away if you're making a connection. The station is clean but has no restroom. Overall nice place to wait for a train. Just like other places there is a PEH presence and it makes my girlfriend nervous especially at night, so she does not ride after dark. Other than that issue and no bathroom it's clean and not a bad place to wait for your train.

So I planned a ride to DFW airport on May 20th, while the schedule said it was departing at 7:20…read moream, there was a "train incident" that caused a total of a 3 hour delay. So rather than arriving at 2 pm, it was 5 pm, causing a missed flight scheduled at 4:45 leading to an extra $194 to make up for one flight. Overall, pretty minimal station with an Amtrak map made from 2011 instead of 2025.

Pretty sweet way to get around. Amtrak agents generally friendly. Train is late very often,…read moreotherwise I'd give it more stars.

Omg ! Took train from Tucson to to San Antonio. Train was great seating . Bathroom could use…read moresanitary cleaning every 2 hrs . Everyone using bathroom makes me gross out ! Other than that , bringing a blanket would have helped. Once we got to San Antonio, that station needs upgrade bad!!! So ugly n old n it's very sm looks like a spooky area to be ! They should considered that it's next to landmarks?? N make it nice n pleasant looking . I didnt want to go inside it was packed w people waiting to get on the train . Omg they looked like sardines. We waited outside n called a taxi , It was freezing but better than smelling n breathing all those people inside yak!!! San Antonio clean up ur train station!!!

Overall disappointing experience with this location, the staff and the service. The station is…read morefilthy. There is no sign of employees except for the occasional sighting. The train sat there for well over 90 minutes without letting anyone board. The "dining car" had issues with meals and you had to make reservations (on a train!)! The diner car staff had no problem announcing that in El Paso there is a burrito lady like 6 times only to see a uniformed Amtrak woman helping this unlicensed vendor on the platform!!! I think she was making change! The cafe was the saving grace as you cannot just go eat in the dining car. I thought this would be fun and relaxing but it turned out to be so much like riding a Greyhound bus that it will probably be the last time in my life that I try it. Spend the money, take a plane or drive yourself.