The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) and Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC) are conducting an important study to plan for the future of rail on the Central Coast. The Coast Rail Corridor Study will look at improved rail-bus connectivity and increased rail service for Central Coast residents and visitors, while also analyzing intercity and commuter intercity and commuter options to enhance the travel experience within the corridor.
The primary goal of the Rail Transportation Program at SLOCOG is to provide a comprehensive strategy to increase passenger train reliability, travel speed, frequencies and ease of use. The program supports safe, commercially feasible, economically viable, and efficient movement of passengers and goods throughout the region, with minimal adverse impact on the population, the infastructure or the environment.
SLOCOG’s number one rail goal continues to be the return of the “Coast Daylight” service that until 1971 provided an intercity rail between San Luis Obispo County and San Francisco. The “Pacific Surfliner” continues to service San Luis Obispo in a southwardly direction. There is currently no service that directly connects San Francisco to Los Angeles via the coast. The reinstatement of the Coast Daylight would provide a direct rail line between the two cities’ downtowns.
Current Rail Updates
SLOCOG Announces Rail Pilot Program to discount Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Fares in South SLO County
The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will be available as an inexpensive public transportation pilot program beginning in Spring of 2025 with a new demand-response transit service to complement the Pacific Surfliner train schedule. For a limited time, passengers will be able to purchase tickets through Amtrak to travel between San Luis Obispo and Guadalupe under significantly discounted fares and in some cases reach their destination faster than by vehicle. If successful, this pilot program could extend past the May 2026 end-date to serve the communities of Guadalupe, the Five Cities area, and San Luis Obispo during the full timeline of U.S. 101 southbound construction.
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Rail Partners
SLOCOG coordinates and prepares agendas for the inter-regional Coast Rail Coordinating Council (CRCC). The purpose of the CRCC is to improve the frequency and speed of passenger trains on the coast route between San Francisco and Los Angeles. For CRCC Meeting Agenda, click here. Find out more about the CRCC and the Coast Daylight click here.
Since 1995, SLOCOG has been a member of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency. LOSSAN seeks to increase ridership, revenue, capacity, reliability, and safety on the coastal rail corridor from San Diego to Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo. To find out more about LOSSAN click here.