In response to mudslides closing critical stretches of highway in Santa Barbara County, Amtrak added railcars to all 10 trains on its Pacific Surfliner heavy rail route on Sunday in anticipation of increased passenger demand.
The railcards will increase passenger capacity by more than 2,000 seats per day while Highway 101 in Santa Barbara County remains closed. The 350-mile Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger train service operates from Los Angeles to San Diego to Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo.
The Pacific Surfliner has been the only viable option for surface transportation between Ventura and Santa Barbara counties since it reopened last week. Travel by car between the countries takes approximately four hours with detours and alternate routes, and the Pacific Surfliner takes approximately 45 minutes.
“Due to the limited transportation options, Pacific Surfliner trains have been extremely busy, with demand exceeding available seating capacity,” an Amtrak Pacific Surfliner release stated. “Extra railcars that had already been added to select Pacific Surfliner trains for the past two days using available equipment are being supplemented by the arrival of eight additional railcars and three locomotives from northern California, which will add up to 270 extra seats per train.”
Despite the added capacity, Amtrak has advised passengers to prepare for busy trains and delays in areas impacted by mudslides.