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This year, more passenger trains will be added between the two Southern California cities.
The Biden administration has awarded the Los Angeles Rail Corridor Authority a $27 million federal grant to add Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between Los Angeles and San Diego.
With the federal funding, LOSSAN will add three new daily round-trip flights between the two cities, increasing the total number of flights to 13.
Two trains will begin operating in March, and the third train will be deployed in November, officials said. This new service will bring Surfliner’s intercity frequency to closer to one hour.
This is the first federal grant awarded to LOSSAN, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Authority, and will fully restore that portion of the Pacific Surfliner schedule to its pre-pandemic frequency.
An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train passes through San Clemente on April 17, 2023. (KTLA)
Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, who is also vice chair of LOSSAN, said the restoration will enhance passenger rail service and benefit the “broad community.”
“The improved service levels will significantly improve transportation options along the corridor for residents, students and visitors, making rail travel easier and more convenient,” Jung said.
As its name suggests, the Los Angeles Rail Corridor runs through six counties from San Diego through Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo. With 29 stations, it is the second busiest intercity rail corridor in the country, after the Northeast Corridor, which connects Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC.
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In 2024, more than 2 million people rode the Pacific Surfliner, even though the frequency of service was 16% lower than in 2019. This represents a 20% increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year.
This grant will help restore services to pre-pandemic levels and cover operating costs for up to six years.
“Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains connect millions of people in our region every year; It’s an important part of it.”
California has lofty transportation goals for the coming year, and increasing service on the state’s busiest rail line is seen as a major step in that direction.
“The restoration and enhancement of rail services will provide more stable and reliable train services across the coastal corridor,” Chong said. “This increase will help meet the growing demand for intercity passenger rail travel in the region and alleviate current overcrowding issues by providing more frequent and reliable rail options.”
The current service expansion is only between Los Angeles and San Diego, but there are plans to expand service further north starting in 2026 if funding and equipment are available.
Click here for Pacific Surfliner’s full schedule.
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