I live in Orange County and have friends in San Diego so I've only taken the surfliner from the Santa Ana station to Oceanside to meet them half way. It cost me $38 RT and about a 50 min-1 hr ride. Booking is very easy to do online. They text you any updates for any delays with your train. The stretch along the coast between San Clemente to Oceanside is beautiful! The tracks go right along the beach. Make sure you sit on the correct side of the train to view this. When you get closer to Oceanside, you can see the cars on the 5 freeway and usually we are going faster than them. The train station in Oceanside is just a quick walk to restaurants, breweries (green cheek is my favorite), coffee shops, stores, the hyatt hotel (they have an amazing rooftop bar), the beach and the pier! This is a great stop to meet friends at and enjoy the afternoon! Highly recommend. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - San clemente stop - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Okay, I'll just say it: I love Amtrak. I've taken it on the East Coast and all up and down the West Coast, and it never stops being one of my favorite ways to travel. Most recently, I used the Pacific Surfliner for a day trip from Los Angeles to San Juan Capistrano and it was an absolute delight. Despite getting pre-trip emails warning that there would be no food, drinks, or WiFi, everything was fully operational on my train - snacks, beverages, and WiFi were all up and running. My train to San Juan Capistrano wasn't crowded at all, which made it extra relaxing, and although my return train was much busier, everyone still had a seat and the ride was smooth. One of my favorite things about train travel is feeling like I have my own driver which includes the ability to completely zone out - read, people watch, listen to music, stare out the window without traffic or parking issues. Even better, I was able to change my return ticket to an earlier time the same day with no issues - I appreciated the flexibility! Comfortable, scenic, low-stress, and reliable - I truly cannot wait for my next adventure aboard the Amtrak! read more

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We took the surfliner from San Diego to Anaheim. We decided to book coach, which was fine plenty of seats to choose from. It is an older Amtrak train not the cleanest but was fine. They have a small cafe that you can get food and drinks from. They offer alcoholic beverages as well. The bathrooms are old train bathrooms so not the cleanest but overall the ride was smooth. read more

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After hearing so many great stories from friends who take the train, I thought I'd try it. It's about $18 cheaper than driving plus paying for 3 days of parking, so why not. Well: All trains are cancelled for the following two days thanks to maintenance, so this train is packed to the gills. I'm rubbing knees with some random guy I'm facing, I can't stretch out my legs, and there's no table available here. Why is there even a seating configuration where people are face to face? This is easily worse than coach on an airplane. The armrest is 2" too low to be of any use, and instead there's this protruding piece of sharp metal trim on the wall that digs into my elbow. It appears to cover the 120v power conduit. Why is this not at least rounded smooth? I relayed this to my friends who love the train and discovered they pay extra for business class. At that price it's just way cheaper to drive to my destination and pay for parking, even when I'm by myself. I won't be doing this again. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Sharp metal trim at elbow height - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I enjoy traveling by train. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is one of my favorite lines to ride. In California you can cruise the coast and see some of the most beautiful views of the ocean, mountain peaks and historic sites. There is coach and business class seating available along with a quiet car for testing and relaxation. Tickets can be purchased online or at train stations. There is also food and beverages for purchase on board. The train has racks up top to store your items. A convenient and affordable way to travel read more

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It was a decent ride to get to San Diego Santa Fe depot; we had a trip to visit rosarito Baja California and decided to take public transportation to the border. The views were actually not that bad, except the train windows are a bit cloudy. Also Friday it was gloomy and rainy but I still enjoyed the coast beach views. The train for 11AM 3/14/25 ran late and it was raining and cold. Other than that, the seats are ok, best seat is by the window, bathrooms are clean. Cafe has its hours and they announce it, I rode coach class, seats were ok, tables are reserved for a party of three only and they do check. Not much room for leg stretch and if riding for a long time, it is best to get up a few times and take a walk Atleast to the restroom. They do have a plug to connect your wires to charge your devices. Air circulation is not the best so wearing a mask is highly suggested. Always be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to share a seat if it gets packed. read more

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I liked the Amtrak Surfliner before, but it's an entirely different thing now that I have young kids. My boys are two and four, and they're both very into trains. We spend a lot of time in Santa Barbara, where we regularly see and hear the Surfliner, and I've noticed it pop up several times on the YouTube compilation videos I use to bribe them through haircuts and restaurant meals. The Surfliner runs along the Southern California coast between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. The route is particularly scenic (hence the frequent appearances in train enthusiast media), with long stretches of ocean views. For my kids, at least, the train is a mesmerizing attraction all on its own. We took the Surfliner to Oceanside a couple weeks ago to get out of Los Angeles during MLK weekend. Amtrak was offering $10 tickets to L.A. residents affected by the wildfires, even if we were only escaping bad air quality. The promotion was a pleasant surprise--we'd already planned to go, just to ride the train and let our kids play outside for a couple of days. Parking at Union Statin was $8 a day, much cheaper than the cost of parking at our hotel. The train was pretty packed when we boarded in L.A., but we were lucky enough to get three seats in a single row. My husband got to have a nice conversation with a stranger while I sat with the children, who protested loudly when we attempted to switch. Luckily, the train ride provided enough amusement that the kids were easy to deal with for the two-hour ride. They loved being on the top level of a double-decker train, and they spent a lot of time just enjoying the movement and looking out the window. We took the train home the next day, scoring seats facing each other for the trip back. The kids had just as much fun riding for the second time in two days. That four-hour round trip wasn't mere transportation; it was one of the highlights our weekend. I did feel for the poor people, especially with children, who boarded too late to get seats. I guess that's a risk in coach that you can knock out by upgrading your tickets. No reserved seats, though, even in business. We had a wonderful time on the Surfliner, and I anticipate many more rides in the coming years. It's such a great way to get around Southern California, especially if you can appreciate the magic of trains. read more

I love riding trains like back in Europe, it is a stress free type of transportation, I enjoy sitting by the window and enjoying the view! I have travelled a bit with Amtrak lately and I wasn't impressed. The trains had delays, are dirty, the seats kind of old-fashioned and the windows need serious scrubbing. I also thought they are crowded so it is harder to get seating, the personnel is rude, their system outdated. The restrooms were just OK. Not as enjoyable as I expected. Amtrak can do better! read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Amtrak is a whole new beast! Has gone through some kind a glow up. I recently took my mom to Union Station (in LA) and everyone was so friendly, they trains are brand new, they are running on time, there are assigned seats so it's not a total free for all -- the station itself was clean, private waiting areas for passengers, courtyard was beautifully landscaped and maintained and spotless. read more

Love taking the train to union station to catch a dodger game, going to Santa Barbara or traveling for training. My only wish is the Chatsworth station had a bathroom read more

Big double decker train with a dining car, plenty of seats. Sit on the ocean side for the amazing water views. On time arrival was great. Too bad the line didn't go all the way up the coast, sit closer to the back of train if the horn bothers you. read more

Joey, our conductor in Business Class heading from Ventura to San Diego, provided the best service that I have ever received. The train was packed (full) and Joey remained positive, friendly, warm and helpful throughout. Please hire and promote more staff like him. His excellent service made the trip and amazing experience. Thank you Joey! read more

10 out of 10 recommend especially on a week day .Just a really nice experience anytime I do the surfliner from SD To LA and vice versa .Spent a few days with a buddies at Families time share and had to head back early .save the drive and pay 28 bucks for a nice quiet train ride up or down the coast .great staff too read more

I love taking this train from Fullerton to LA. This is the ideal way to attend a Dodgers game. The surfliner trains are so fun. The staff is friendly and the train station is very clean and organized. It's a huge station, so give yourself plenty of time to walk around and find everything. I suggest taking business class. You get a snack pack and a beverage included, featuring wine or beer! read more

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Business class was very comfortable but crowded. Had a friendly, efficient crew out of Camarillo and to San Diego. On the way home however the crew was pretty stressed and when they changed crews in LA the new crew spoke to us like kindergarteners. I realize there might have been novice travelers but we all received a lecture on being good neighbors and cleaning up after ourselves with a condescending tone. Very insulting. Did not feel appreciated as a paying customer. We were told that if we did not comply we would be removed from the train and she would have no problem filling our seats. read more

Bought business class ticket from LA Union Station to SD Santa Fe Station. Went to Business wait area with 15 minutes until boarding to be told it was an additional $35.00. For 15 minutes. Asked where train was boarding so I could walk to platform. Was told it was 13A. It was in fact NOT 13A! Price increase to $35.00 with nothing extra from when the cost was covered with purchase of the ticket. Why? read more

My Friend and I first time taking the Pacific Surfliner. We took the train from LA Union station to Santa Fe station in San Diego. Wow the experience was awesome. We had a smooth ride overall. It wasn't stuffy inside as you would think, the overall room was good. The views! Amazing the ocean views were wonderful. I would definitely do it again maybe a new destination. read more

We just completed our annual EastCoast Trek but it started on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner traveling from Union Station (LAX) to Tacoma, WA. It was a great trip with with one overnight on the train. We departed LA on time at 9:50ish am and arrived the next day - early evening in Tacoma around 7pm. We mixed things up a bit by starting in the Amtrak Metropolitan lounge relaxing, grabbing some snacks and preparing for the journey. We did bid for a roomette but the train was full and our bid was not accepted so since it was only one night on the train, it was not that big of a deal. Of course with the roomette you have access to private quarters, meals, showers, etc. we made it work and actually saved money over what we would have spent had our bid was accepted. As usual we met some great people and it cannot be overstated that riding the rails offers a great opportunity to travel while seeing some great interior parts of our country. Staff was very friendly and professional and overall it was a great start to our three state trek. We were treated to Gant who played his guitar in the observation car and these are the types of experiences you simply can't plan but another reason why riding the rails is such a unique experience. https://fredyt3photos.net/2024/08/22/gant-eichrodt-and-his-musical-stylings/ read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - lunch reservation - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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BEST $20.00 we ever spent...Upgrading to Business Class on the Train! Burbank Downtown to San Diego! Stefon...security staff was great! Thanks again! read more

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There is no doubt that out of the many Amtrak routes, I have a soft spot for the California Pacific Surfliner. As such, I have traveled to both ends of the line and in between, numerous times. Never get tired of it. How could you? The ocean vistas, as the train glides along the rails that are hugging the beaches are amazing, you just cannot help being mesmerized. And, the service has always been exceptional on this route. The real mettle of a train service is revealed in their ability to defend and tackle problems, if and when they arise. The San Clemente landslides, caused by the unexpected rainfall and Southern California, affected the tracks in that area. These nature events closed train service in that region for over a month. With this news I debated whether it was worth it to travel south to San Diego and get on a bus for one hour each way. Finally, I said you know what, I got to give it a shot. And I am writing to tell you how Mucho impressed I was. The whole operation is coordinated with a an extremely high level of skill and expertise. Amtrak charters buses for this bridge gap and I really thought it would be school buses, no kidding and do not get me wrong. They did not skimp on the cash. They provided luxury tourist buses for the one hour bridge gap between Oceanside and Irvine. When the trains arrive from either direction, the buses are waiting there is Amtrak staff to guide you in an extremely courteous and most professional manner. The bus ride was comfortable and when you get to your destination, the train is either waiting for you. I have to say wow. Amtrak deserves a another feather in their cap. They really blew me away. Now you see why I like to travel this line over and over again. Bravo. read more

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Delayed delayed and delayed... it took 10 hours from Santa Barbara to Irvine (138 miles).

THIS IS THE WORAT EXPERIENCE I HAVE WVER HAD (PERIOD). First off and fun fact, I'm NOT EVEN ON TRAIN..... the bloody train I guess "was running late"..... so they stuck us on a greyhound bus..... second fun fact, we're sitting in bumper to bumper traffic..... so not sure ANY time is being saved, WHATSOEVER. I WILL NEVER USE THE GODFORSAKEN TRAIN SERVICE AGAIN. Ya'll need to be forthright in your inability to actually deliver a TRAIN service.... Negative stars ALL THE WY. read more

I had not taken the Pacific Surfliner to Los Angeles since the pandemic. Everything wonderful about it, now that no one has to enforce the use of masks, is still wonderful. I happened to ride on April 5th, when the Coaster ran over someone, delaying our arrival time by 4 hours. It certainly wasn't Amtrak's fault, and we decided to relax and be patient. Amtrak very generously refunded our tickets, even though I was not expecting a refund, nor would I have requested one. The only little glitch was that, when we were all moved to a different train, one of the staff was rather short with my mom when he walked by handing out snacks and she asked if he had drinks. He said "it's just me" and told her he would come back later. He never did, and then announced it was the end of his shift. It would have been appreciated if his tone of voice and words were kinder, even if he simply didn't have the time to hand out drink as they always do in Business. Today I dropped off my mom at Old Town, and when she asked the staff member (porter?) if I could help her carry her bag upstairs, the answer was also surprisingly sharp: "No." She managed, but she's elderly, had double knee surgery, her bag was rather heavy, and I was left a bit worried and sad. Yes, I know there's seating in the lower level, but it seems unfair that elderly people who don't have the strength anymore should not be able to seat upstairs if they so desire. If this policy of not allowing non-passengers to help an elderly relative with their bags is because they're worried about stowaways, I think it's an unfounded concern. Maybe Amtrak could reconsider, or consider allowing staff to help in these cases. read more

I took the Surfliner train from LA to San Diego and it was such a wonderful surprise! No lines, no TSA checks, great LA station that has a restaurant Brewery in it, all you can drink coffee, one complimentary wine and snack box, choice of seating and great staff (engineer and conductor worked there for decades). I liked the views, the second level seating and easy on-off from the train. Will be taking it again, soon! read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Complimentary snack box and wine! - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I called customer service because there was a train on Google that wasn't on Amtrak's schedule. Steven Myrtle with customer service was so so helpful and went above and beyond to get the information for me. thank you so much Steven! read more

[quick update: on the way back we realized that a couple of cars were spared from the windows being covered so we found seats in one of those.] The seats are reasonably comfortable but the services are all but nonexistent. Be sure to pack your own food!!! The good news is that hard alcohol is $6 so you have something positive to work with there. I'd have given them another star but on this last trip the Good Idea Fairy had struck again. Amtrak added additional trains for the X-Games and Comic Con and to promote the events they wrapped the train cars in graphic advertisements - including the windows! This is one of the most scenic train rides in the world and they RUINED the experience! I've posted before and after pictures of the view to memorialize their shame. We should all receive refunds. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Pacific Surfliner view NOT blocked by stupid advertising graphics. - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The more I Tavel Amtrak the worse the experience is. With all the bad reviews and surveys you would think they would make it better. I only take it cause it's affordable. Red caps are just horrible too. Do better. read more

The Amtrak Surfliner Coastal Starlight trains- Business Class are a fun and stress free way to travel to the beach towns in Southern California. Some of my favorite spots include San Diego, Ventura, Santa Barbara and S. L. O. ..Business class includes snacks, coffee and tea. The views from the train are beautiful along the coastline. We usually watch a movie or listen to music in headphones and enjoy the ride to our beach destination staycation. read more

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The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is a beautiful and well-managed train route, along the most stunning sections of California. What a welcome contrast to riding the LA metro. This is how train travel should be. My only complaint was the connecting train I had to take to get there, at no fault of Amtrak. So refreshing they actually check tickets and the train wasn't a moving homeless shelter. read more

Took train from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo. Half of the bathrooms were out of order, some just locked with no sign, some with overflowing toilets. Amazingly, the conductor warned us (but only about 2/3 of the way) that some had been built 45 years ago, some 25, etc etc., telling us about it all. Also, the connection in Santa Barbara (a bus) did not show for over an hour and as far as we knew it might not come because of a re-route as a result of a mudslide on 101. The bus had to take 154 which is more direct but slower and there was traffic build up. The Amtrak website said the bus, departure 2pm, was on time but by 2:30pm, with no announcement by the station (utterly unconscionable) I tracked down a ticket seller (after calling Amtrak nationally, who said they couldn't get a hold of the bus operators and that I'd have to speak with station staff). She said they couldn't track the bus because of GPS issues and wouldn't give any answer as to why she had not informed 30 passengers with an announcement from the time the train arrived about 1:50 (almost on time) to provide an update. Disgusting all in all, showing how little they care about customer service. Is it really that hard to tell travellers what is happening? Finally, about 75 min late, the bus arrived. F Amtrak. I'll look always for another option. read more

I say it's A-OK. And this is even with an upgraded Business Class seat... I figured I would purchase a one-way ticket from Goleta/Santa Barbara to Los Angeles Union Station to meet my partner who was already downtown for a concert. Here's my experience: Pluses: - Goleta to downtown LA 3 hours to be exact--given that you're on time. To drive it would be 1.5 hours (without spontaneous traffic). - The views are pleasant while riding along the Pacific Ocean coast most of the route. - WiFi is complimentary. - You can download the Amtrak app for an e-ticket (or print it ahead of leaving your home) and check the status of your train. - Business Class ticket is slightly more expensive but worth it for a quieter experience with more space, electric plugs to charge your devices, and complimentary snacks, drinks and hot coffee. There are tray tables to get some work done, yet they're not fully practical (refer to minuses). - If you fly out of Burbank Airport, it is a convenient with a nearby train station. LA's Union Station is walkable to the Latino Olivera Street Market and Chinatown. Minuses: - The Amtrak is notorious for being delayed due to signaling, incremental weather or something on the rail. - Speaking to the very spacious, reclining seats in Business Class, the tray table and footrest is a wonderful feature, however, if the person in front of you moves at all, so does the table. The space from your body to your laptop or iPad is too far to actually type. The couple in front of my obnoxiously moved and blabbed the entire time to the point of spilling my coffee. - WiFi didn't work my entire trip. It would connect for 5 minutes then disconnect on all of my devices. I had to resort to my cell phone's hotspot. - Several people didn't even have their tickets checked by an attendant the entire trip which seemed interesting to me. - Not surprising, we were delayed by about 25 minutes. Would I take it again, between LA and Santa Barbara sure, but definitely not to San Diego given the amount of time. Where's a high-class bullet train? read more

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I really do hate complaining because I've been taking PacSurf for years I usually have a routine down but like the last seven months there has been no cafe car which I rely heavily on every trip I skip breakfast or lunch and jus head to the station to save on time and enjoy a breakfast sandwich and enjoy the view well this is my fourth round trip since spring when I realized I'm probably gonna have to bring my own food and drinks from now on if a cafe car isn't available or probably jus drive once or twice okay but four times in a row what's going on now? read more

Taking the Surfliner from Los Angeles to Solana Besch----direction San Diego. I too love this train route for its ocean views in particular. We just passed the #5 freeway and it is bumper-to-bumper! The one thing I don't like, however, are the poor conditions of the railroad tracks themselves. There are spots that are so bad that one would not be faulted for thinking the train was about to derail. Yikes!!! Surely as a great nation we can do better than this. Otherwise, what a relaxing & productive way to travel. read more

Took the train from Union Station to San Luis Obispo. Things changed radically when I got to the Cafe wagon. Unusual great service and unexpected comfort. if you have nothing better to do on a Tuesday afternoon - I highly recommend this. Looking at the sunset with a glass of red in my hand. Fabulous form Amtrak!! Till we meet again!! read more

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The Pacific Surfliner was worth it at one point as an easier option to get to Union Station (in my case from Orange County) and connect via the LAX Flyaway Bus to LAX. I would wholeheartedly now say to save your money (especially if you usually purchase a Business class seat up to Union Station) and either drive and park at LAX or Uber to LAX or just use Metrolink to get to Union Station Amtrak can give a rats @ss about Business Class passengers on the Pacific Surfliner as evidence by this wonderful notice (see picture) denying me entrance to the Metropolitan Lounge (which in itself is crappy and for sure not worth 25 bucks for a 15 minute stay) At minimum Amtrak should have a notice or disclaimer that pops up online when one purchases their Business Class Seat that one of the "benefits" of the Business Class fare has been removed so that folks can save their money upfront and take an alternate method to Union Station and or LAX. But this is Amtrak so these Neanderthals can't walk and chew gum at the same time so for sure it would be to difficult for the tech team to add such a notice on the website. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Metropolitan Lounge - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'm taking the Surfliner from Van Nuys to San Diego at the moment and so far I'm not particularly happy with the employees barking over the PA throughout the trip. I was hoping to take a little cat nap but that's not going to happen. The seats are not very comfortable and the reclining feature is lame. The car smells like stale cologne or bad air freshener. It is better than driving or Ubering so I'm happy to have this option! Yikes, a bunch of little kids just boarded. Where are my earplugs? 3 stars for the outlets so I can charge my phones!! read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - View - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I think this is the easiest way to travel around. The surfliner goes all along the coast, stops in several cities. It's conveniently affordable, they offer military and senior discounts. You can purchase online or purchase over the phone. Download the Amtrak app for convenience so you can see the status of your train, you can also earn travel points. For the most part the Surfliner train is comfortable. It's fairly clean, masks are required. The seats have outlets at every seat, the seats also have pull out tables, foot rests and recline. The train attendant walks around making sure everyone has a paid ticket. If you hop on the train with no ticket, the attendant will stand in front of you until you purchase a ticket online. There is a small cafe on board that sells candy, chips, pizza and other items. They take cash or charge. Bathrooms are clean depending on time of travel. The lower deck have handicap bathrooms. For the most part the train runs on time, I've only been on one delayed train with them. There is nobody there to help you get on board or lift your luggage, most seats are not assigned. I will definitely be using the train again. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

So much better than driving. Complaint was that at every stop this guy would come on pretty much screaming the stops. Sometimes he would be talking at the same time as another. Not sure why. Easily corrected so hope you do. read more

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner - Trains Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Another pleasant surprise. I could either drive three or four hours each way to San Diego in one day or take the three-hour train ride for $71 round trip for economy class. I decided to give it a go and I'm glad I did. It was a little confusing on the platform before you board because you don't know what car they will be opening for boarding. It's like a game of roulett...which door will they open? I was at the opposite end of the door they opened so I was the last to board. Fortunately, it was a Tuesday so there were plenty of open seats. I'm guessing on the weekends it wouldn't be as easy to get a good seat. Speaking of seats, if you want the ocean view, you'll want to sit on the right side of the train when you're heading south towards San Diego and the left side of the train when you're heading back to Los Angeles. The seats are amply wide, with plenty of leg room..about the same room and size of seats you'd get in first class on most domestic airlines. There's wifi and 120V plug in outlets in each row of seats. Perfect for getting work done. Speaking of getting work done, my complaint is that people who are on board for business tend to be on their phones most of the time and it does get annoying hearing them yak away about how to get a home loan, etc. I wish it were like airplanes where texting or emailing is possible but not talking on the phone...or maybe they could designate some cars as quiet cars...not voice calls allowed. The ocean views were great and my trains were right on schedule. On my way back I was able to board an earlier train with no hassles at all. I just showed the conductor my e-ticket from the Amtrack app. Yes, do use the Amtrak app. It's very easy and useful. I won't hesitate to use Amtrak again when going to San Deigo or even some cities along the way. It sure beats driving. read more

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My colleagues and I took the Surfliner from LA to San Diego for a conference. The train down to San Diego was Saturday morning at 6:10AM and was perfect and on time. However the train back to LA was supposed to be 7PM arriving LA around 10PM. The train was delayed due to mechanical issues and we did not board till 8:20PM. It crawled out of the station slowly and we were told that it would be an hour late. Then around 10PM, the train lost power somewhere between Santa Ana and Anaheim. We were told that the cafe was closed and bathrooms were closed and they had no idea when the power would be back and we were not allowed to get off the train! I have traveled all over the world and often taking trains to get around in Europe and Asia but this had never happened overseas. This feels worse than a third world country! The train eventually started moving but then stopped again at some random stop so to pick up a service crew. Where is the timetable for this service??? I am all for going green and take public transportation but this experience makes one wonder if it is worth it! read more