Passenger Trains > San Bernardino Train Station Information

I taking the Southwest Chief to San Bernardino in a few weeks and would appreciate travel tips regarding the area. I plan to take an Uber to pick up a rental car and drive to Palm Desert. The scheduled arrival time is 5:50am, so I will likely have to hang around the station for a while until the car rental office opens at 8 or 9am. From what I can tell, there is a waiting room and onsite security as well as a small snack bar in the station. I plan to stay in the station until getting picked up by Uber. I have never been to this station and would like to know if there is anything that I should be aware of about the station and surrounding area. I had considered getting off in Riverside, but my original ticket was to SNB and it would cost me more to change. Thanks for your help. 

Your plans are what they are...  But with daylight savings time starting it's gonna be dark when you get there.  Personally, this is not a place I'd choose to spend a couple of hours.  Have been there at all different hours, and there are some security personnel usually about, but it's not a great area to hang out in.

Bob

alto_towerbob Wrote:
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> Your plans are what they are...  But with
> daylight savings time starting it's gonna be dark
> when you get there.  Personally, this is not a
> place I'd choose to spend a couple of hours. 
> Have been there at all different hours, and there
> are some security personnel usually about, but
> it's not a great area to hang out in.
>
> Bob
This is a rare case where I hope the train is at least an hour late. I thought I could hang out in the waiting area until about 8am and then get the Uber to rental car. Are Ubers reliable in the area? There don't appear to be any other good station options. I'm picking up the rental car at Avis in Riverside unless train is late. Then I would pick one up at Enterprise on South E Street that doesn't open until 9am. 

Palm Desert? Is the Palm Springs station shuttered? Much closer

Posted from Android

I would have to take Sunset Limited which gets in at 2am and station is in the middle of nowhere and is basically a bus stop shelter. San Bernardino is only 2 hr drive to Palm Desert.

Pa;m Springs station is on the old SP, now UP, and the SWC runs on the Santa Fe, now BNSF.
An option to look into is whether anny of the California through bus connections could get you from Fullerton or Los Angeles to Palm Springs.

Even though it might be more money to change your ticket, you might be better off getting off in Riverside instead. I would not wait for hours at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot unless you know there is a lot of security. If you do need to wait there, I would not venture too far out of the station as the neighborhoods will turn very sketchy quickly. I've been to San Bernardino Station on Metrolink many times and usually am not at the station for more than 30 minutes. I have family friends who live in Redlands and before Arrow started, they would pick me up in San Bernardino when I was taking Metrolink. Now that Arrow  is in operation, I can take it right into Downtown Redlands, the closest station to their home which is 1.5 miles away. 

Passfanatic Wrote:
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> Even though it might be more money to change your
> ticket, you might be better off getting off in
> Riverside instead. I would not wait for hours at
> the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot unless you know
> there is a lot of security. If you do need to wait
> there, I would not venture too far out of the
> station as the neighborhoods will turn very
> sketchy quickly. I've been to San Bernardino
> Station on Metrolink many times and usually am not
> at the station for more than 30 minutes. I have
> family friends who live in Redlands and before
> Arrow started, they would pick me up in San
> Bernardino when I was taking Metrolink. Now that
> Arrow  is in operation, I can take it right into
> Downtown Redlands, the closest station to their
> home which is 1.5 miles away. 
Is the Riverside station safer and staffed? I could likely ask my room attendant to let me off there or I could 'oversleep' and miss my SNB stop. I didn't think it was staffed or had a waiting room.

Cardinal13 Wrote:
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> Is the Riverside station safer and staffed? I
> could likely ask my room attendant to let me off
> there or I could 'oversleep' and miss my SNB stop.
> I didn't think it was staffed or had a waiting
> room.

Riverside Downtown station will have a lot more commuter activity around it. It is not a staffed station and there is no waiting room.

There is a Subway and Jack in the Box about a 5 minute walk away. Avis and Enterprise car rentals are not that far and both open at 8 AM.

You could also get off Amtrak in San Bernardino and take Metrolink to Riverside. The station you want is Riverside Downtown. Your train would be the Inland Empire-Orange County Line.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/26/26 19:30 by PHall.

I would just stay on the train and get off in Riverside. No they will not charge you any more tor staying on the train.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

On a bright sunny weekday at San Bedoo Amtrak station, I was accosted by a gang of rabble (male and female) who were intent on getting my camera, I fought them off with my cane and kept my camera, but I got out of there fast! EVENTUALLY the PD showed up after the raucous. Now I only go there when the Roundhouse Gang holds its great swap meets with plenty of people around! San Berdoo is "bombed out" city with high crime and boarded-up businesses. It's not like the old days when the ATSF shops were open and people had money. 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/27/26 13:23 by RRBMail.

I found a great rate at the Budget Rental Car on Indiana Ave in Riverside. I will plan to get off at the Riverside Amtrak station unless the train is running very late. I assume I can take an Uber from that station and the rental car opens at 8am. Is there any seating area at the station?     I appreciate everyone's advice. 

Cardinal13 Wrote:
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> Is there any seating area at the station?     

Yes, limited

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If train is on time, I can walk over to Jack in the Box and eat breakfast and kill time. Thanks for the info. 

longliveSP Wrote:
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> Cardinal13 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is there any seating area at the station?   
>  
>
> Yes, limited


Well considering that this a commuter rail station where people usually don't wait more then 10 to 15 minutes for their bus...