The USA’s publicly-owned rail operator, Amtrak, has announced the addition of a new daily service between the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego in California, bringing the number of daily round-trip services to thirteen.

The move has been prompted by an increase in the time that workers spend commuting, with the US Census Bureau revealing that levels of commuting were higher last year than in the two previous years. Across the USA, passenger numbers rose significantly in 2023, and have continued to rise since.

The new service will begin operating on Monday, 26 January, and is the responsibility of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency (Agency). The agency sees the new daily Amtrak Pacific Surfliner® round-trip service as a major milestone in its work.

Amtrak points out that running an additional train will offer passengers more flexibility and convenience.

The Pacific Surfliner route is one of the busiest and most scenic intercity rail routes in the United States, covering 351 miles and serving 29 stations from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Most of the trains that operate on the route feature reclining seats with power outlets, free Wi-Fi, storage for bicycles and luggage, and a Market Café featuring fresh food, California wines, and local craft beer.

The Pacific Surfliner schedule will be adjusted in order to minimise waiting times between train services along the corridor.

The operator is offering a 20% discount on Pacific Surfliner rides between 26 January and 13 March 2026, which passengers can claim using code V526

With this addition, Pacific Surfliner operations now include:

• 13 round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego each day
• Five round trips between San Diego and Goleta each day
• Two full-corridor round trips between San Diego and San Luis Obispo each day.

This means that train service frequencies have returned to the levels before the Covid-19 pandemic. Funding for the service improvement included a $27.1 million grant through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grant Program.

Amtrak will continue to provide its Connection bus service, through which it guarantees connections north to Oakland and southeast to Indio. This provides access to destinations including Solvang, Paso Robles, Riverside, Palm Springs, and Palm Desert.

Passengers in California also benefited from accessibility improvements in recent years.

“Adding the 13th roundtrip between Los Angeles and San Diego marks a significant milestone in fully restoring pre-pandemic service levels. This additional roundtrip provides travelers with more options to choose the travel times that work best for them.”

LOSSAN Managing Director Jason Jewell