Passengers have various opinions about the passenger rail cars used along the California Coast. Some people like the seating, layout and features in one type of car while other people like the features of a different car. When traveling to a destination, some people will pick which train to take based on the equipment that will be featured.
If you must travel at a specific time on a specific day, or commute to work by rail, then your options may be limited. But, if you are planning a leisurely outing by rail, you may be able to pick your desired rail accommodation by picking the time of your travel.
Click here for photos of the exteriors and interiors and more information on each type of rail passenger car featured on the Amtrak San Diegans.
Below you will find a table of our observations of which equipment has been seen on which Amtrak San Diegans. There is no guarantee that a train that you take will have the same equipment, but past observations should help you to make a good guess as to what equipment will be used on each train. We will continue to add to this table as we have the time to do so.
Northbound Train Numbers
7 7 5 7 5 5 7 5 7 5 5 5 5 5
Date 5 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 8 8 9
9 9 1 3 5 7 9 1 3 5 7 7 9 9
Da YYMMDD - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We 990203 - - H H D H S - H - - - - -
Th 990204 - - H H D H S H H D - S - -
Fr 990205 - - - H H H S H - - - - - -
Sa 990206 - - H H H D S H H H D - - -
Su 990207 H - H H D - - - H D S - - -
Mo 990208 - - - - D H S H H D - - - -
We 990210 - - - - - - - H - D - - H -
Southbound Train Numbers
5 5 5 5 7 5 7 5 5 5 7 7 7 5 5 7
Date 6 6 7 6 7 7 7 7 9 8 8 9 8 8 8 8
6 8 0 0 2 4 6 8 0 0 2 2 4 4 6 6
Da YYMMDD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We 990203 - - S - H H H S - H - - - - - -
Th 990204 - - S - H H D S - H - - H - - -
Fr 990205 - - - - - H H S - - - - - - - -
Sa 990206 - H - S - H D S H - - H - - - -
Su 990207 - H - S H H - S H - - H - - - -
Mo 990208 - - - - - - - S - H - - - - - -
We 990210 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - H -
Some Comments: Train Numbers 776 and 779 are normally the Amtrak Central Coast San Diegans which travel all the way between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Because of track improvement work, 578 is currently the southbound Amtrak Central Coast San Diegan instead of 776. Thus, 578 comes all the way south from San Luis Obispo instead of 776. The California Cars which have very large clear windows are being used on the Amtrak Central Coast San Diegans (578 & 779). So far, a Superliner Sightseer Lounge Car has been seen on all of the Amtrak Central Coast San Diegans. This is an ideal consist for this route as the train hugs the coast for well over two hours between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo! The Superliner Sightseer Lounge Car is open to all passengers and the cafe is located downstairs in that car. On trains using the California Cars, a Superliner Coach Car is used for the upgraded Pacific Class Service (Custom Class).
578 may return to LAX as 589(599) if it's late getting down to San Diego. The next day it heads down to San Diego as 570(560) and returns to San Luis Obispo as 779. This insures that the California Cars are used as the trainset on the Amtrak Central Coast San Diegans. (A "thank you" to Mike Kimura for that observation!)
