Reservations required for Amtrak Surfliner trains over Labor Day weekend

As the number of COVID-19 infections continues to increase, Amtrak announced Wednesday that passenger reservations will be required on Pacific Surfliner trains traveling through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties from Sept. 3-7 to safely manage capacity.

Amtrak expects Labor Day weekend to be busier than normal. Additional train cars will be added when possible to increase the number of available seats on select trains, according to a statement from the transportation agency. However, the number of seats onboard each Pacific Surfliner train is limited. More dates may be added where a reservation is required, depending on travel demand.

Additionally, the Rail 2 Rail program will be suspended from Sept. 3- 7, resuming Sept. 8, meaning monthly Metrolink and COASTER passes will not be accepted on Pacific Surfliner trains.

Amtrak monthly and 10-ride passes may still be used. However, multi-ride ticket holders will be required to confirm each trip train and date through the Amtrak RideReserve program on Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or an Amtrak agent prior to traveling during the reservation period.

Passengers are encouraged to follow safety measures and any important public health orders in place during their trip and at their destination. That includes wearing a mask at stations and onboard trains at all times, washing hands or using sanitizer often and staying home if they are feeling sick, Amtrak officials said.

Per federal law and Amtrak policy, all customers and employees must wear a face mask or covering that fully covers the entire mouth and nose, fits snugly against the side of the face, and secures under the chin at all times while onboard and in stations.

The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through Southern California, serving 27 stations.

For the latest information, visit www.pacificsurfliner.com/schedules.

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