Travelers who come to Los Angeles to catch a World Cup game this summer will find it easier than ever to get to a match. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train is adding a new daily roundtrip train between San Diego and Los Angeles to help visitors avoid traffic and parking woes and to provide access to the California coast before or after a game.
The extended train schedule is the result of a partnership between the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board and the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service.
“Southern California is built for moments like this—world-class sports, iconic destinations, and a connected coastline,” Jason Jewell, the managing director of LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, said in a release obtained by Travel + Leisure. “By partnering with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, we’re making it easier for soccer fans from around the globe, as well as local supporters, to experience Los Angeles without the stress of traffic or parking, while also discovering everything Southern California has to offer.”
With the additional roundtrip, the Pacific Surfliner will run between San Diego and Los Angeles (with several stops in between) 13 times daily. The train also continues north from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo and there are two full-corridor daily roundtrip trains that run the full 351 miles between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.
Soccer fans who arrive into Los Angeles by train can get off at Los Angeles Union Station. From there, they can take one of the new buses that run directly to the SoFi Stadium where the World Cup games take place.
The eight World Cup games that take place in Los Angeles happen between Friday, June 12 and Friday, July 10, with the final match being a quarter-final game.
In addition to alleviating traffic and parking, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner offers a comfortable, scenic ride up and down the coast. Most trains have free WiFi, a cafe car, and spacious seating, offering a comfortable and stress-free way to explore California coastal towns like San Diego, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
“Los Angeles is ready to welcome fans from near and far this summer,” said Eileen Hanson, chief marketing officer of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board in the press release. “Pacific Surfliner makes it easy for visitors to experience LA like a local by arriving sustainably, exploring beyond the stadium, and discovering the diverse neighborhoods, beaches, and iconic attractions that make Los Angeles such a dynamic global destination.”
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