San Diego Santa Fe Depot — Local services in San Diego

The worst Amtrak experience I've ever had. Let me start by saying that I grew up taking the Amtrak to Chicago. Weekend trip? Let's take the train. In all my travels, I have only ever had one minor issue with the travel and it was resolved. My sister and I were visiting friends in San Diego and we decided to take the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner up to Los Angeles for a few days. We hopped on the 12:05 PM train from Santa Fe Depot. We made it a little over an hour on our trip until we were stopped in San Juan Capistrano. There was an accident involving the train ahead of us on the tracks. The attendant that was aboard the train told us that she didn't know how long we would be there, so she lifted our ticket and let us get off the train for lunch. That was cool. We had lunch at El Adobe de Capistrano and visited the mission. However, we came back and the train still hadn't moved and there were no updates. Everyone was restless and tired and we sat there for hours. They had Dominos pizza delivered and anyone on the train was welcome to eat it. That was cool too. However, at around 8 PM they informed all of the passengers that we needed to get off the train and board a bus. So we did. The bus took us to Irvine, which was a little north of where we were. However, once we were in Irvine, it was dark and had gotten cold and there was no place to sit. My sister and I sat on a concrete ledge, and when we sat down, cockroaches crawled out. I called Amtrak and they told me they could not help me until my travels were complete and that I could call back the next day. Hours later, THE SAME TRAIN THAT WE HAD ALREADY BEEN ABOARD IN SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CAME AND PICKED US UP IN IRVINE. Yes, the SAME train that we had been told to get off of earlier in the day. We were livid. Why would they force us off the train, tell us to take a bus to Irvine, and make us sit outside with cockroaches just to come and pick us all back up again? We got to LA Union Station after 10:30 PM. Not a single Amtrak representative or employee apologized for the inconvenience. My sister and I had tickets to events in LA that afternoon and evening. We missed a whole day and lost all of that money because of Amtrak. I had to call three times before someone was willing to hear me out. They refunded the price for the ticket from San Diego to LA, but did not offer compensation for the money that we lost on the events that we missed. Furthermore, I'd like to reiterate that NOT A SINGLE PERSON apologized for the...

The Sante Fe Depot is one of our country's most awesome places to visit and I often take the trolley down there to relax in the large parklike area adjacent the old County Administration Buildings.The San Diego Bay is just a short walk away (west). The Sante Fe Depot played an integral part in helping to interconnect our railway system with most industrial/commercial cities all throughout the southwestern part of our country. During that bygone era, the railway system was our major link that allowed most goods and services - as well as passengers - to get to destinations, even outside of our own our own border - such as Canada and Mexico. It is also a tribute to the Acheson and Topeka railroads that it connected with the Santa Fe Railroad. The Santa Fe Depot is an architectural marvel, with it's high vaulted ceiling, it's beautiful floor, and polished wooden "retro" benches. It dates clear back to the year of 1915 and is considered one of San Diego's historical landmarks, built by some of our country's last pioneers. There are several wooden "information booths" ( They are staffed during the busiest times of the day ; I have often gotten information from official that are wearing fluorescent orange vests.).I've picked up all kinds of pamphlets, that have directed me to places within San Diego which I never even knew that they existed... The "information booths are very easy to find and I noticed that they have at least fifty different "tourist designed brochures." Several of the small colourful booklets gave me a plethora of information about "Sea World," "our world renowned, "San Diego Zoo," Balboa Park and it's museums and famous botanical gardens," "whale watching tours" and many many other San Diego's myriad attractions ( Balboa Park is also one of San Diego's oldest historical landmarks and attractions.) The Sante Fe Depot is home to Amtrak, the Coaster and the Green Line Trolley and both the Blue and Orange Lines are just across the street (east) of The Depot. Several if the inner city transit lines are on the east side of The Depot too. The Santa Fe Depot is the place where I bought my ticket to go to Oceanside. I used a ticket dispensing machine however, you can also buy your ticket(s) from the vendors that staff one of booths The is also a small Museum of Contemporary Art that adjoining the main terminal however, last time I was there,...

Review is on the Sante Fe Depot station. I have mixed feelings on the depot and its staff. (Amtrak). I arrived, expecting to ride the surfliner from the depot to Oceanside. I have never really been on a train before. Im in my 60s with advanced cancer and trying to do somethings with my wife. I approached the amtrak counter and explained I would like to take a train ride, get off by the beach for an hour then ride back. He was extremely nice and helpful. I did not even know how to get a ticket. He actually left the counter area, showed me the ticket machine and how to use it. Then introduced me to the train personnel who Was also a great help and friendly. The trip was fantastic. The problem was not until I returned, got off the train and walked into the Sante fe depot. I walked over to the restroom (had a combo lock on the door, like many do). I approached the counter and asked a young lady if I could have the combo to use the restroom. She asked if I used the train. I said yes, i just got off and pointed to the train outside the door. She said do you have a ticket? I said yes and showed her 2 tickets (for my wife and myself ) with the receipt. She then said, im sorry, youre not allowed to use the restroom. I asked why not? She told me I need a amtrak ticket and I rode the Coaster train which is not Amtrak, but shares the depot station. The surfliner was my original intention (Amtrak) but Amtrak personnel put me on the Coaster because of the timing and goes to the same place. I hold nothing against that gentleman. He had nothing but my best interest at heart. But the young lady who denied me use of the restroom really put a bad ending to my trip. Especially when I saw a couple homeless stand by the door and wait for somebody to come out and then go in. I should have done the same thing, but I tend to follow rules. (Another case where being honest -doesn’t pay). Now I should mention the depot appears to be a clean and interesting place. There is a small place/counter to order a sandwich or soda and appeared to be well kept and clean. I wonder if I ordered a bottle of water, drank it, became a Amtrak customer, if i could have used the restroom? Or here, drink this and go to the restroom somewhere else? Maybe if I was younger, but a older gentleman like me just simply cant always wait for a restroom...