Amtrak Pacific Surfliner officials were Thursday encouraging soccer fans to reserve train tickets in advance for matches in Los Angeles this month, citing expected increases in ridership during the World Cup.
Beginning June 11 and continuing through July 19, all Pacific Surfliner passengers will be required to have reservations, according to the rail service.
Officials said additional late-night trains will operate from Los Angeles on June 12, 13, 15 and 25 to accommodate fans attending matches and returning home after games conclude. On those dates, select trains departing Union Station will serve riders traveling south toward San Diego and north toward Santa Barbara.
Pacific Surfliner trains also will make an additional stop at the Burbank-Downtown station July 18 and 19 to provide access to the final weekend of the Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone.
Fans traveling by train can connect from Los Angeles Union Station to Metro service providing transportation to SoFi Stadium for matches, according to organizers.
The Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone at Union Station is scheduled for June 25-28 and will feature live match screenings, watch parties and other fan activities.
The rail service is also offering a 20% discount on coach and business-class fares to and from Los Angeles through July 15 as part of a partnership with the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.
“This is one of the most premier events Southern California has seen in a long time, and we want every fan — whether they’re coming from San Diego, Orange County, or the Central Coast — to have a great experience from the moment they step on the train,” LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency Managing Director Jason Jewell said in a statement.
Officials noted that codeshare and Rail 2 Rail services will be suspended on select high-demand dates in June and July.
The Pacific Surfliner operates along a 351-mile route connecting San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.