New Train, New Name for San Diegan Line

Amtrak this weekend began putting new train cars into service on its San Diegan route and renamed it the Pacific Surfliner.

The changes are part of a $125-million-plus upgrade of the line, which runs between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. With more than 1.5 million passengers annually, it is Amtrak’s second busiest run, after the Boston-New York-Washington corridor.

So far, only one of the planned nine new train sets is running; the rest will be added every few weeks through spring 2001, according to Amtrak West spokeswoman Jennifer McMahon. The route’s entire current fleet, some of which is 30 years old, will be replaced, she added.

The new cars have larger windows, wider seats and easier entry (with doorways about 10 inches above the platform) than current cars. The coach cars have racks that can hold bicycles or surfboards. Currently, only some of Amtrak’s cars, called California cars, have bike racks; none has surfboard racks.

Also new: laptop outlets in coach and in business class, and personal in-seat audio and video systems for business passengers. Last month, Amtrak also began upgraded menus in coach, adding vegetarian burgers, among other items.

McMahon said the San Diegan name “did not reflect the corridor,” which includes many stops besides San Diego. Last week the line went to its summer schedule, with some time changes. Information: telephone (800) 872-7245.