Amtrak to Add Stops in Valley to San Diegan

Amtrak’s San Diegan, which operates eight daily round trips between San Diego and Los Angeles, will add the San Fernando Valley, as well as Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, to its route beginning June 26, officials have announced.

Amtrak spokesman Charles Seifert said the new service will include one daily round trip between Santa Barbara and San Diego, including several stops between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

A morning southbound train, originating in Santa Barbara, will include stops in Oxnard, Simi Valley, Chatsworth, Van Nuys and Glendale before continuing on to Los Angeles and San Diego, Seifert said. That train will leave Santa Barbara at 7:45 a.m., arrive in Los Angeles at 10:15 a.m. and San Diego at 1:40 p.m.

The northbound train will leave San Diego at 4:45 p.m., arrive in Los Angeles at 7:45 p.m. and in Santa Barbara at 10:10 p.m. It includes the same stops along the way as the southbound train.

The train service will operate seven days a week.

Seifert said a one-way ticket between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles will cost $18, and a one-way ticket from Santa Barbara to San Diego will cost $29.50. Seifert said a special return fare, available Monday through Friday, can be purchased for $7.

Discounts Available

A 25% discount will be available for military, senior citizens and disabled passengers.

To celebrate the new route, Seifert said, a ceremony will be held at Los Angeles’ Union Station at 10 a.m. June 25. No regular passengers will be allowed to ride the train that day as it makes its way from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.

Instead, Amtrak and Caltrans officials, as well as state Sens. Ed Davis (R-Valencia), Gary K. Hart (D-Santa Barbara) and Alan Robbins (D-Van Nuys), will be on board as hosts of celebrations at each stop, Seifert said. The three legislators supported the new route.

The public will be allowed to tour the train at the celebrations in Oxnard and Santa Barbara.

SAN DIEGAN STOPS

The following is a schedule of celebrations planned at each stop between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara on June 25:

Celebration at Los Angeles’ Union Station beginning at 10 a.m.

San Diegan departs Los Angeles at 10:15 a.m.

Arrives in Glendale at 10:30 a.m.

Arrives in Van Nuys at 11 a.m.

Arrives in Chatsworth at 11:30 a.m.

Arrives in Simi Valley at noon.

Arrives in Oxnard at 1 p.m. Public invited to tour train.

Arrives in Santa Barbara at 4 p.m. Public invited to tour train.

The following is the Amtrak’s regular schedule of stops between Santa Barbara and San Diego, beginning June 26:

Train departs Santa Barbara at 7:45 a.m.

Arrives in Oxnard at 8:30 .m.

Arrives in Simi Valley at 9 a.m.

Arrives in Chatsworth at 9:15 a.m.

Arrives in Van Nuys at 9:27 a.m.

Arrives in Glendale at 9:45 a.m.

Arrives in Los Angeles at 10:15 a.m. There is a 30 minute layover.

Train continues to San Diego, arriving at 1:40 p.m.

Return train departs San Diego for Santa Barbara at 4:45 p.m.

Arrives in Los Angeles at 7:15 p.m. There is a 30 minute layover.

Arrives in Glendale at 8 p.m.

Arrives in Van Nuys at 8:16 p.m.

Arrives in Chatsworth at 8:30 p.m.

Arrives in Simi Valley at 8:45 p.m.

Arrives in Oxnard at 9:15 p.m.

Arrives in Santa Barbara at 10:10 p.m.