2023 Holiday Travel Updates
November 2023 Updates
The week of Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year. To accommodate an expected increase in passengers, we are making adjustments to the service, which includes adding capacity on board trains and buses and requiring advance reservations. Seats are limited, so book now to guarantee your seat.
Reservations required on Pacific Surfliner trains:
Wednesday, November 22 – Monday, November 27, 2023
Checked baggage will be reinstated for travelers from Saturday, Nov. 18, through Tuesday, Nov. 28, at staffed Pacific Surfliner stations: San Diego, Fullerton, Los Angeles, Van Nuys, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
December 2023 Updates
Los Angeles Union Station will temporarily close for track and signal upgrades from Dec. 26 through Dec. 29, 2023. During this time, for the first time ever, the Pacific Surfliner will bypass Union Station to journey along the east bank of the Los Angeles River and through part of the Alameda Corridor. This will be a historic week for the service, providing passengers with a one-of-a-kind travel experience along a never-before-traveled route. The train schedule during this period will be modified to provide alternate travel accommodations to passengers. Get more information on the Dec. service adjustments at pacificsurfliner.com/alerts.
Holiday Travel Policies
Reservations Required: During the reservation period, all passengers must ride the train listed on their tickets. If travel plans change, make adjustments to the reservation in advance of the scheduled departure. This can be done online at Amtrak.com (select “Modify Trip”), by phone at 800-USA-RAIL, or at a staffed Amtrak station.
Multi-Ride Passengers: During the reservation period, customers with an Amtrak monthly pass or 10-trip ticket must confirm each trip in advance through the Amtrak RideReserve program. Confirm a trip on Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app by retrieving your ticket, choosing the date and direction of travel, and selecting "confirm" on the train you'd like to reserve a seat on. You can also reserve in advance through an Amtrak customer service agent by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL or visiting a staffed station. Get more details about the RideReserve program at Amtrak.com/RideReserve. Note: When reservations are required, 10-Trip tickets can only be used by a single rider at a time.
Metrolink and COASTER passengers: The Rail 2 Rail® and codeshare programs will be suspended from Wednesday, November 22 through Monday, November 27, 2023. During this time, Metrolink and COASTER passes will not be accepted. An Amtrak ticket will be required to travel on Pacific Surfliner trains. The programs will resume on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.
Travel Tips
Cancel If You Need To: Pacific Surfliner tickets are considered "Flex Fares", which means tickets can be cancelled with a full refund to original form of payment with no fees if canceled before departure. There are no change fees. You can get more details on cancellation policies on Amtrak.com.
Luggage: Bring no more than two carry-on bags per passenger, measuring up to 28" x 22" x 11" and weighing 50 pounds or less, on board for free. Two personal items may also be brought on board. Checked baggage is only available from Nov. 18 to 28 at staffed stations. No checked baggage will be available outside these dates.
Avoid the Rush, Arrive Early: The busiest travel days are typically the Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week. Morning trains typically have more availability. Stations may be busier than usual and customers are encouraged to arrive at the station 45 minutes before departure.
See Something, Say Something: Report any suspicious activity or unattended items to an Amtrak employee or member of the Amtrak Police Department by calling (800) 331-0008, calling 911, or sending a text message to APD11 from a smartphone, or to 27311 from a standard cell phone.