Los Angeles to San Diego by train is about to get easier
More passenger trains are being added between two Southern California cities this year.
The Biden Administration has awarded a $27 million federal grant to the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency to add additional Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service between Los Angeles and San Diego.
The federal funds will allow LOSSAN to add three new daily roundtrips between the two cities, increasing the total number of trips to 13.
Two trains will go into service in March, while the third will be deployed in November, officials said. The new service will help bring the Surfliner closer to hourly frequency between the cities.
It’s the first federal grant awarded to LOSSAN — the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency — and will fully restore that portion of the Pacific Surfliner schedule to pre-pandemic frequency.
Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung, who is also LOSSAN’s vice chair, said the restoration will enhance passenger rail service and benefit a “wide range of local communities.”
“Increasing service levels significantly improves transportation options for residents, students, and visitors along the corridor, making train travel easier and more convenient,” Jung said.
As its name implies, the LOSSAN Rail Corridor travels through six counties from San Diego through Los Angeles and into San Luis Obispo. With 29 stations along the route, it’s the second-busiest intercity rail corridor in the country, behind only the Northeast Corridor, which connects Boston, New York City and Washington D.C.
In 2024, more than 2 million people rode the Pacific Surfliner—a 20% increase in ridership from the previous year—even though service frequency is down 16% from 2019.
The grant will help restore the service to pre-pandemic levels and fund the operational costs for up to six years.
“Every year, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train connects millions of people across our region,” said Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano). “The train is a critical part of our communities.”
California has lofty transportation goals in the coming year, and increased frequency along the state’s busiest rail line is considered a major step in that direction.
“The train service restoration and enhancements will provide more consistent and reliable train service throughout the entire coastal corridor,” Jung said. “The increase will help meet the growing demand for intercity passenger rail travel in the region and alleviate current overcrowding issues by offering more frequent and reliable rail options.”
While the expanded service is only for the segment between L.A. and San Diego, there are plans for future expanded service further north beginning in 2026 if funding and equipment is available.
For the complete Pacific Surfliner schedule, click here.