San Jose, CA to Los Angeles train

Trains from San Jose to Los Angeles

Referred to colloquially as the 'City of Angels', Los Angeles is a bustling creative and economic metropolis situated in sunny southern California. If you are looking to make the 306 mile (492 kilometer) trip from San Jose to Los Angeles, hopping on a train can be a viable alternative to road and air travel. With competitive prices and comfortable seats, companies such as Amtrak provide regular departures, making around 25 trips each day. On average, the Amtrak train from San Jose to Los Angeles takes around 11 hours, with more direct routes available twice a day that take 8 hours and 18 minutes. With journey times typically over 10 hours it is advised to bring some bottled water and snacks onboard, however, there are also informal and sit-down dining options available on most Amtrak trains.

Which train companies travel from San Jose to Los Angeles?

The company that runs the most trains from San Jose to Los Angeles is Amtrak. Amtrak offers the most connections between these two locations and also travels the distance at the fastest speed. The regular Amtrak service departs San Jose from the Diridon Caltrain Station and arrives in Los Angeles at six different locations including Union Station. The Amtrak Coast Starlight provides a slightly faster average train service, departing San Jose from the Diridon Caltrain Station and arriving at Los Angeles at the Amtrak Metrolink Station on 7724 Van Nuys Blvd. The Amtrak Coast Starlight service provides excellent views of the Pacific Ocean with the route passing through Santa Maria and Santa Barbara on the journey down to Los Angeles.

How long is the train from San Jose to Los Angeles?

The length of the journey by train from San Jose to Los Angeles varies on the type of Amtrak service that the passenger takes. A typical journey to cover the 306 mile trip from northern to southern California would take the passenger 11 hours. If they choose to travel on the Amtrak Coast Starlight service, the average travel time is slightly shorter at 10 hours and 35 minutes. However, both the regular Amtrak and the Coast Starlight service offer an express schedule with fewer stops between San Jose and Los Angeles, this cuts the travel time down to 8 hours and 18 minutes.

How many trains are there from San Jose to Los Angeles?

Every day there are around 27 daily scheduled Amtrak trains from San Jose to Los Angeles. The earliest departure is at 6:00 a.m. with the last train leaving the Diridon Caltrain Station at 11:00 p.m. Trains depart around once every hour with more trains available at peak hours. Tuesday is the busiest day for traveling, so if a quieter ride is preferred, consider booking a ticket for Thursday as fewer passengers tend to travel on this day.

What are the departure and arrival stations from San Jose to Los Angeles?

Departure station: All Amtrak services depart San Jose from the Diridon Caltrain station. Diridon Station is a central passenger rail depot, located a short 15-minute walk away from downtown San Jose. This Italian Renaissance-style building has been a functioning rail station since 1935 and is an important transit hub for Santa Clara County and Silicon Valley. The Diridon Caltrain Station is fully wheelchair accessible with elevators available on each floor. There are more than 500 parking spaces available for cars, 16 bike racks and 48 lockers for passengers looking to temporarily store their valuables. There is also a newsstand supplying basic provisions and refreshments to fuel your train journey.

Arrival station: Travelers on a regular Amtrak train from San Jose to Los Angeles the train will likely arrive at Union Train Station. Currently standing as the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States, Los Angeles Union Station is an Art Deco train station situated in the northeastern corner of downtown Los Angeles. The station is fully accessible and there are over 3,000 car parking spaces. Union Station is a half hour walk or a 15 minute bus journey to central downtown Los Angeles. If passengers choose to travel to Los Angeles on the Amtrak Coast Starlight they will most likely be arriving into the Amtrak Metrolink Station located at 7724 Van Nuys Boulevard​. This station is modest in size but boasts free car parking spaces, an air conditioned waiting room and free restroom facilities. The station is located in northern Los Angeles just south of Panorama City and it takes half an hour on public transit to reach the center of downtown Los Angeles.