The NEW Amtrak Commuter Line Began Monday May 4th, 2026.

The morning commuter train arrives at Goleta Train Station (GTA) at 8:11AM. Complimentary MTD shuttles pick up directly from GTA and travel to UCSB, stopping at Elings Hall and North Hall at 8:30 AM. In the afternoon, an MTD shuttle picks up from North Hall at 3:50 PM, to arrive at GTA for the train departure at 4:25PM. Please visit sbcag.org/train for the most updated information on train, shuttle and VCTC bus schedules.

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.

The Pacific Surfliner winds along the Southern California coast between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. You will find more information about routes, fares and services at Amtrak California, on the national Amtrak website, or by calling 1(800)-USA-Rail. 

TAP Discounted Monthly Train Pass Program

If you are using the train as your primary commute mode, do not hold a long-term parking permit (with the exception of Housing Permits and Night/Weekend Permits), and have at least a 45% appointment on campus, you can apply for a $21-discounted monthly train pass based on your station of origin. Please apply by filling out this Transit Enrollment Form: http://tps.ucsb.edu/TransitPRD.

Our maximum enrollment for the employee discounted train pass program is 40 members. We will be enrolling employees on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that you will need to apply before the 15th of the month prior to your desired enrollment date. For example, to start riding August 1st, please submit an enrollment form before July 15th.

Traveling to the Train Without the Complimentary Shuttle

To travel to the Goleta Amtrak station, board MTD Line 24x west-bound (toward Camino Real Marketplace) at the UCSB Bus Loop. Line 24x becomes Line 12x. Get off the bus at the intersection of Hollister Avenue and La Patera Lane. Walk up La Patera Lane 0.3 miles (6 minutes) toward the mountains. To view the trip from UCSB to Goleta Amtrak on a map, click here.

To travel to UCSB, board MTD Line 12x west-bound (toward Camino Real Marketplace) at the intersection of La Patera Lane and Hollister Avenue. Line 12x becomes Line 24x and continues to the UCSB Bus Loop.

Line 12x route map and schedule here. Line 24x route map and schedule here. You can keep up with all MTD routes and services at https://sbmtd.gov/.

Registered UCSB students may qualify for NO-cost travel on the MTD. See our MTD webpage for details.

Bike on Board

Consider traveling by Amtrak and having the convenience of a bike on campus. The Pacific Surfliner allows passengers to bring along bicycles and hang them on a hook in the car entrance with advanced registration (please see box below).

 

 

RESERVATIONS ON THE PACIFIC SURFLINER REQUIRED FOR WALK-ON BICYCLE SERVICE

At no extra cost, you are guaranteed a space for your bicycle for an entire Surfliner trip. Reserve the space when you book your trip at an Amtrak station or just click “Add Bike to Trip” after you select a departure station and class of service. Please note, boxed bikes are NOT accepted on the Surfliner. Amtrak advises, reserve your bike space early!

 

 

See Bring Your Bike Onboard the Train to review all your bicycle transport options. Imagine getting off the train at the Goleta Amtrak Station and bicycling to campus. The bicycle trip between the Goleta Train Station and UCSB takes less than 20 minutes.