2023 Holiday Travel Updates
December 2023 Updates
Due to necessary track and signal work, Pacific Surfliner trains will not stop at Los Angeles Union Station between 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 December service adjustments at pacificsurfliner.com/alerts.
Holiday Travel Policies
Reservations Required: Due to no train stops at LA Union Station (LAX) between Dec. 26 and 29, passengers traveling to or from LAX will be provided a bus connection. Bus seats are limited, and passengers should make reservations in advance. During this period, all passengers traveling to and from LAX, must ride the bus they are ticketed for. Passengers without a reservation may be turned away if the buses become full.
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: Between Dec. 26 to 29, customers traveling to or from LAX 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. Passengers without a reservation may be turned away if the buses become full.
Metrolink and COASTER passengers: The Rail 2 Rail® and codeshare programs will be suspended to and from LA Union Station between Dec. 26 to 29, 2023 but will continue as normal for all other stations.
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 currently unavailable on the Pacific Surfliner.
Avoid the Rush, Arrive Early: Morning trains typically have more availability. Stations may be busier than usual during the holidays 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.