Coast Starlight (Amtrak)

Amtrak
United States
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The Journey

Navigate from Seattle King Street Station to Los Angeles Union Station across a span of 2216km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Pacific Ocean coastline from Ventura County northward through Santa Barbara (best southbound, daylight)
  • Cascade Mountains of Oregon (Mount Hood, Three Sisters, Crater Lake region)
  • Mount Shasta (Northern California, 4,322 m) — iconic dormant volcanic peak
  • Klamath Falls region and volcanic high desert of Southern Oregon
  • Puget Sound approach into Seattle (best northbound, daylight)
  • California wine country passes near Salinas and Paso Robles
  • San Francisco Bay Area crossing through Emeryville and Oakland
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    35 hours

  • Distance

    2216 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range to Premium

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: Available for purchase in dining car / café

Ensuite: No

Meals: All meals in dining car included (plus priority lounge access at major stations)

Ensuite: No

Meals: All meals in dining car + priority lounge access + dedicated First Class attendant

Ensuite: Yes

Engine / Locomotive

GE P42DC Genesis diesel-electric locomotive (4,250 HP / 3,170 kW) — typically 2 units in head-end power configuration with Amfleet or Superliner cab control car on trailing end

Locomotive Weight

126 tonnes (P42DC)

Track Gauge

1,435 mm (standard gauge)

Braking Technology

Air brakes with dynamic braking on locomotive; electropneumatic brakes on Superliner cars

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Pacific coastline route — tracks engineered into coastal cliffs between Ventura County and San Luis Obispo with ongoing erosion monitoring

  • Cascade Mountain passes requiring 2–2.5% sustained grades in Oregon

  • Mount Shasta area high-elevation operation (1,300 m at Klamath Falls) with winter snow handling

  • Long 2,216 km single-line route requiring careful schedule coordination and host railroad slot access

  • Superliner bilevel equipment requires platform height compatibility at all 28 stops

Route distance

2,216 km (1,377 miles) Seattle–Los Angeles

Number of stops

29 stations total (Seattle + 27 intermediate + Los Angeles)

Travel time

~35 hours southbound (34h northbound)

Maximum speed

79 mph (127 km/h) on majority of route; 30–50 mph through mountain sections

Rolling stock

Superliner I/II bilevel cars (Sightseer Lounge, dining, sleeper, coach); Amfleet I café on some services

Host railroads

Amtrak own track Seattle–Portland (Point Defiance Bypass); BNSF Railway Portland–LA (Pacific-Sunsets Route)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    35 hours

  • Distance

    2216 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range to Premium

Official Booking Provider