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Train

  • Amtrak stationSpecial 2008 Santa Barbara Car Free Discount - 20 percent off travel to/from Santa Barbara County stations on Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® and San Joaquins® (and associated thruway coaches)!  Register on this page to receive the promotion code and all the info by mail, and for details, see this page!
     
  • 2008 Package -- Hotel and activity discounts, see Discover Santa Barbara Car Free Experience Package!
     
  • If you ride the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train to Santa Barbara, ask your train conductor for a "Transit Transfer Pass". You will get passes for two free rides on Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District buses and shuttles (for links and info see this page).
     
  • Check schedules with Amtrak (call 1-800-USA-RAIL, or look for "News" at www.amtrak.com)
     
  • See info on Amtrak California's Kids 'N' Trains program.
     
  • Amtrak wins Tourism Star Award from the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau & Film Commission in 2004 -- see Awards and Milestones below!

What could be better than a train ride along the scenic California coast to begin your vacation? Read a book instead of struggling with street maps. Have a meal, or take a nap. You will arrive rested and ready to begin. Many hotels offer free pick-up and drop-off service, ask when making your reservations. 

Santa Barbara lies along the West Coast Amtrak route. The train station is conveniently located in downtown Santa Barbara,  an easy walk, or 25-cents shuttle ride from many downtown attractions.  Additional stations are located nearby in Carpinteria and in Goleta near the airport. 

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (formerly the San Diegan) offers five trains a day coming into Santa Barbara from the south, with two continuing to San Luis Obispo. Many are new trains boasting larger windows, at-seat audio and video, laptop outlets, reclining seats with footrests, and surfboard racks. Some trains will allow you to roll on your bike and lock it up. Other trains may require your bike to be boxed.  

The Amtrak Coast Starlight runs from Seattle, Washington, through Oregon and Northern California, to Santa Barbara and on to Los Angeles. On this route, you can  enjoy winetasting, gourmet meals, and on-board entertainment.

For more information on these train routes, schedules, and booking, and special amenities, see the links below.

Taking the Train to Santa Barbara
Amtrak Amtrak schedules and fares. Download latest schedules for Pacific Surfliner and Coast Starlight from this page. Or Call 1-800- USA-RAIL
  Amtrak California A Partnership between Amtrak and the California Department of Transportation.

Awards and Milestones

Amtrak received a "Tourism Star Award" in July of 2004 from the Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau & Film Commission for outstanding partnership in promoting tourism.
  Brian Hart (left) and Carol Crego (right) of   
  Amtrak receive the award from Santa Barbara
  Mayor Marty Blum.

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner celebrated its first year ever with 2 million passengers in one year in September of 2003.  See this page!