New commuter train launching Monday, May 4
New Peak-Hour Service on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner begins May 4! This new train service will connect commuters between Los Angeles Union Station and Goleta (GTA), with stops in Camarillo, Ventura and other cities on the way.
Take advantage of SB County’s complimentary 10-ride pass promotion. Multi-ride passes can be purchased at Amtrak.com. At Goleta station, for the trains arriving at 8:11 a.m. and departing at 4:25 p.m., MTD bus shuttles will take you to and from campus. The shuttles from Goleta train station will arrive at North Hall at 8:30 a.m. and depart at 3:50 p.m. A westbound shuttle will also leave from the Goleta train station around the commuter train times, stopping at Hollister and Coromar (for those working on Navigator Way off campus).
Combining train and bus trips to build a schedule that works for you.
Your train pass is valid on VCTC Coastal Express and Santa Barbara MTD, giving you more ways to commute. Just show your valid Amtrak Pacific Surfliner ticket to ride free on connecting buses and shuttles. Direct shuttle service between Goleta Train Station, Elings Hall and the North Hall Bus Loop will serve UCSB train riders on the commuter lines (morning train arrival at GTA: 8:11 a.m., afternoon train departure from GTA 4:25 p.m.).
If you need to arrive on campus earlier or depart from campus later, the VCTC Coastal Express can be paired with the train at no additional cost to meet your commuter needs. The VCTC Coastal Express stops directly on campus. Please email mtps-tapprogram@ucsb.edu if you would like direct support with planning your commute. We are here to help!
UCSB’s Transportation Alternatives Program is looking to mirror other TAP programs by providing employee discounts for train passes in the future. At this time, we are working through technical processes with Amtrak to establish the program.
Monday, May 4th Launch Day Support
To help kick things off, Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG) staff will be on-site the morning of May 4th at both the Santa Barbara and Goleta train stations. They’ll have light welcome snacks and will be available to:
- Help guide riders to connecting Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) shuttles
- Answer questions
- Assist anyone trying the service for the first time. The easiest way to understand the train is simply to try it!
Resources and Information
- Train Flyer with schedule and fares: https://www.sbcag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Train-Schedule-Flyer-SBCAG.pdf
- Train Ride Guide brochure: https://www.sbcag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Train-Ride-Guide.pdf
- Complimentary 10-Ride Pass postcard: https://www.sbcag.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Free-Ride-Postcard-SBCAG.pdf
- Link to Purchase Multi-Ride Passes: https://www.amtrak.com/deals-discounts/multi-ride-rail-passes/multi-ride.html
- Train commute resources: www.sbcag.org/train
We encourage you to work with your manager to adjust your schedule where possible to allow you to try out commuting by train in May. With free WiFi on the train, a flexible work schedule is an option. If you are a manager, we encourage you to allow your employees to try out this new commuting option if feasible.