Rail 2 Rail Program

The Pacific Surfliner is an intercity route that travels between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Onboard amenities include free Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats, restrooms, and an onboard café selling snacks, light meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages. The schedules are the same for weekday and weekend service. Metrolink and COASTER trains are considered commuter services, and they travel shorter distances, but serve more stops. Onboard amenities include power outlets, restrooms, quiet cars, and bike storage. Schedules are more geared towards commuters, with peak service in the morning and afternoons, and less frequent service on weekends.

As an intercity route, the Pacific Surfliner has limited stops, so it does not serve all of the same stations as Metrolink trains or COASTER trains do. Please refer to the schedule to make sure your stations are available via Pacific Surfliner trains.

No, Rail 2 Rail is not valid on other Amtrak services, including the Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, or Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle.

• Metrolink Passengers Riding the Pacific Surfliner:
  • Metrolink monthly passes: Pacific Surfliner trains traveling to stations between Oxnard Station and Oceanside Station (valid for travel between the station pairs listed on the pass)
  • All valid Metrolink ticket types: Pacific Surfliner trains 765, 774, 785, and 794 traveling to stations between Los Angeles Union Station and Hollywood Burbank Airport Station, and Pacific Surfliner trains 761, 770, 777, and 784 traveling to stations between Los Angeles Union Station and Oxnard Station (valid for travel between the station pairs listed on the ticket)
• COASTER Passengers Riding the Pacific Surfliner:
  • COASTER Regional Day or Monthly/30-Day Passes: Pacific Surfliner trains traveling to stations between Oceanside Station and Santa Fe Depot (valid for travel between the station pairs listed on the pass)
• Pacific Surfliner Passengers Riding COASTER:
  • Pacific Surfliner monthly passes: COASTER trains traveling to stations between Santa Fe Depot and Oceanside Station (valid for travel between the station pairs listed on the pass)
• Pacific Surfliner Passengers Riding Metrolink
  • Pacific Surfliner monthly passes: Metrolink trains traveling to stations between Oceanside Station and Oxnard Station (valid for travel between the station pairs listed on the pass)

Riders who travel outside of station pairs identified on their pass are required to purchase a ticket for the portion of the trip not within the monthly pass station pairs. For example, a Metrolink monthly pass holder for Oceanside to Irvine would need to purchase a Pacific Surfliner ticket from Irvine to Los Angeles when riding the Pacific Surfliner from Oceanside to Los Angeles.

You may board and exit the train at stations within the station pairs shown on your pass. For example, a monthly pass holder for Oceanside to Irvine may get off the train or board in San Juan Capistrano.

Pacific Surfliner trains have limited space for bikes onboard, so an advance bike reservation (available at no extra cost when booking an Amtrak ticket) is required. Bike reservations are not required on Metrolink and COASTER trains.

There are certain times of year (generally around major holidays and special events), when there is high travel demand on Pacific Surfliner trains. The program is suspended on those dates to manage capacity. Riders who want to travel on the Pacific Surfliner on blackout dates must have a valid Amtrak ticket.

Amtrak monthly passholders who want to use the Pacific Surfliner are not subject to Rail 2 Rail blackout dates and can continue to use both services year round. Bike reservations can be tied to a monthly Amtrak ticket – just call in advance of the trip to book a bike space at no cost. Amtrak Guest Rewards can also be earned when booking Pacific Surfliner travel – points can be redeemed for future trips, gift cards, and more.

Amtrak policies must be followed when riding Pacific Surfliner trains