Amtrak Pacific Surfliner 572 departs the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center after meeting northbound Surfliner 573 there. Amtrak Dash 8-32BWH 509 (one of the 20 diesels delivered to the carrier in 1991/1992 painted in the stunning "Pepsi Can" paint scheme) powers this train, as it heads to San Diego from Los Angeles, with five CalDOT former NJ Transit Comet 1B coaches (and no lounge or business class cars), with Non-Powered Control Unit 90225 (named "Sacramento" and built in August 1996 from retired Amtrak F40PH 229 - built 4/76 - by removing the diesel engine and converting that space into a baggage compartment ... note the baggage door in its side). This non-standard equipment is being utilized on the Pacific Surfliners occasionally, when the usual equipment has problems (due to age). These Surfliners are usually the LA to SD trains, rather than the ones that head north from Los Angeles to Goleta or San Luis Obispo. (Santa Ana, California - March 3, 2025)
Stretching from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, the Surf Line has become Amtrak's second busiest route. See the Pacific Surfliner and San Diegan in action along with trains from predecessors Santa Fe and Southern Pacific.
