These Are Amtrak’s Most And Least Popular Routes In California

Planning a scenic train trip along the West Coast? Need to catch a every day commuter service to work? Fascinated with a long-distance journey? Amtrak California has acquired you lined. In FY24 (fiscal yr 2024), nearly 4 million passengers boarded state-operated Amtrak trains in California, accounting for a good portion of Amtrak’s 32.8 million passengers final yr. However not all routes are equal. Ridership and repair frequency range vastly, with some traces being packed, whereas others not a lot. Simply is dependent upon the place you’re heading. A number of scenic long-distance Amtrak trains make pit stops in California, together with the Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, and Southwest Chief. However when speaking about state-supported intercity routes, there are solely three Amtrak gamers in California: Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, and San Joaquins. On this article, we’ll talk about the most well-liked and least traveled of those state-supported trains: Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquins.

With over 1.98 million passengers in FY24, the Pacific Surfliner is essentially the most traveled state-supported Amtrak route in California. The route runs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo on the Southern California coast. Amtrak even had to announce a new round-trip service on the Pacific Surfliner to fulfill elevated demand and supply a bit extra flexibility for vacationers and on a regular basis commuters. On the flip facet, San Joaquins, with simply over 909,000 riders final yr, is the least traveled state route in California. Though the quantity is just not very low, it’s nonetheless the bottom. However why does the variety of commuters range a lot? On this article, we’ll break down the routes, ridership tendencies, and what these variations reveal about California’s journey wants.

Associated

These Are Amtrak’s Most And Least Popular Routes In America

Discover the stark distinction between America’s most traveled and least crowded Amtrak routes, uncovering what drives excessive ridership and what would not.

Pacific Surfliner: The Busiest Amtrak Route In California

AMTRAK Pacific Surfliner practice on the Santa Fe station

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is undoubtedly one of the best ways to expertise the great thing about California, from the sun-drenched seashores of San Diego to the charming seaside city of San Luis Obispo. It obtained over 1.98 million passengers in FY24, a incredible 30.8% progress over FY23. Certainly, the numbers are nonetheless decrease than they have been earlier than the pandemic, however the route is the busiest state-supported hall within the nation, second solely to the busiest nationwide Amtrak routes, the Northeast Regional and Acela. Touring 351 miles, the Pacific Surfliner passes by San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. A part of the route hugs the Southern California shoreline. There are 5 every day round-trip companies between San Diego and Santa Barbara and 12 between San Diego and Los Angeles. Vacationers might simply go to well-liked sights alongside this route as a result of they’re both inside strolling distance or accessible by way of free bus companies supplied by choose transportation suppliers.

Why Is The Pacific Surfliner So Common?

The practice route passes by charming cities, hugging the Pacific and providing serene coastal vistas and simple seaside entry, making it a scenic coastal route. The route additionally has an almost hourly service, making it handy and versatile for commuters and vacationers. Free Wi-Fi, café-style eating, enterprise class, and carry-on bicycles make it an interesting selection and the route has additionally obtained strategic funding, with the LOSSAN Rail Hall Company asserting a $27 million FRA grant in early 2025 to supply 13 hourly companies between Los Angeles and San Diego. The Pacific Surfliner is undoubtedly SoCal’s reply to “Ought to I drive or not?” It affords unbeatable frequency, cozy seats, killer views, and no LA site visitors nightmares. What extra would you like?

Associated

Amtrak Announces New Partnership With Disneyland, Offering Special Discounts

The Pacific Surfliner has simply modified its look and is now providing particular reductions for one in every of California’s hottest locations. 

San Joaquins: California’s Quiet Valley Runner

San Joaquins Prepare at Bakersfield Station

On the opposite finish of the spectrum is San Joaquins, which meanders by the attractive Central Valley, hitting spots like Bakersfield, Madera, and Merced, after which splitting off towards Stockton, Sacramento, or Oakland. FY24 noticed about 910,000 riders, up a bit from final yr (roughly 7.3%). Although the quantity is just not that low, it’s nonetheless the least traveled line in comparison with its crowded state-bound siblings. Although it’s California’s least well-liked Amtrak service, the San Joaquins affords a singular journey by the state’s heartland, with a quieter, extra relaxed environment that units it other than the busier corridors of California’s rail community.

Key Factors About San Joaquins:

As of 2025, the service runs seven spherical journeys per day between Bakersfield and Stockton, which means that companies are restricted. Two of those go to Sacramento, and 5 proceed on to Oakland. The San Joaquins service primarily connects smaller cities like Madera and Merced, the place the commuter density is just not as excessive as that of the favored Pacific Surfliner. Regardless of being the least-traveled state-bound Amtrak route, it’s the seventh-busiest within the nation.

Inhabitants

39.35 Million ( 2020)

Based Date

September 9, 1850

The explanation for its success is the devoted service of Amtrak Thruway buses, which connects practice stations with locations throughout the state. Over 55% of passengers take a Thruway bus for at the least one phase of their journey. The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) is increasing capability on its routes to stop freight practice conflicts, add extra journeys, and supply connections to the California Excessive-Velocity Rail system. These enhancements undoubtedly draw in additional riders and supply them with extra flexibility.

Associated

Amtrak Passengers Agree That This One Route Needs To Make A Comeback

One long-lost Amtrak route tops the checklist of most missed—and it may reconnect main cities throughout the Gulf Coast.

Pacific Surfliner Vs. San Joaquins: The Huge Distinction

View Of Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner

Pacific Surfliner and San Joaquins are each important pillars of Amtrak in California, but they differ in routes and vacationers. Whereas Surfliner hugs the shoreline and is without doubt one of the coastal Amtrak routes with scenic oceanfront stops, San Joaquins runs by the guts of California’s agricultural hall and to Yosemite National Park, a hiker’s paradise, particularly throughout fall. The Pacific Surfliner stretches from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, connecting main vacationer locations like Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Orange County. Its recognition stems from its reliable commuter service, gorgeous shoreline vistas, and easy accessibility to leisure venues. It’s undeniably worthwhile for each vacationers and on a regular basis commuters.

Comparative Overview Of The Pacific Surfliner And San Joaquins

The San Joaquins, not as shining (when it comes to riders and Pacific surroundings) as Surfliner, is a lifeline for Central Valley commuters going from Bakersfield to Oakland or Sacramento. It is a massive deal for vacationers, together with college students, farmworkers, and every day commuters. Whereas Surfliner acquired large funding to reinforce and develop its companies, San Joaquins’ service will quickly develop as properly, including extra flexibility and connections to the state’s well-liked locations.

Associated

Amtrak Passengers Are Desperate For This New Route To Be A Reality

This proposed route exhibits what enhanced rail service would seem like within the Southeastern United States.

Although the 2 trains have completely different passenger counts, they each play essential socioeconomic and regional roles, which makes them equally important to Amtrak’s goal of offering accessible, environmentally pleasant transportation.