| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city long distance rail |
| Status | Planned |
| Locale | California |
| First service | 2025 (anticipated) |
| Current operator(s) | Dreamstar Lines |
| Website | dreamstarlines.com |
| Route | |
| Termini |
Union Station,
Los Angeles
California, US 4th and King Street Station, San Francisco, California |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Diesel |
| Operating speed |
|
| Track owner(s) |
Union Pacific Caltrain Metrolink |
Dreamstar Lines is a privately-owned passenger railroad company based in Newport Beach, CA. Dreamstar is planning a nightly inter-city service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The train would share the same routes as Amtrak, Metrolink, and Caltrain. Service is anticipated to launch as early as 2025, succeeding the Lark that ended in 1968. [1] [2]
History
Jake Vollebregt created Dreamstar Lines in Newport Beach, CA. By 2023, Vollebregt publicized plans for an overnight “hotel train” as an alternative to flying, reviving a service that had discontinued 55 years prior. [3] In April 2024, Joshua Dominic assumed leadership of the project. [4] That month, Dreamstar signed a memorandum of understanding with Union Pacific Railroad to operate trains on its right-of-way. [5]
Service
Overview
Under Dreamstar’s current proposal, two trains, one headed north and one headed south, would run every night, departing from each terminus at 10:00 p.m. and arriving at their final destination the next day at 8:30 a.m. This schedule is similar to the red-eye travel in aviation. The trains would have intermediate station stops and crew turnovers near each end of the route. [6]
Dreamstar's trainsets would consist of restored, historic bi-level cars. Onboard amenities include two sleeping arrangements; private rooms with lie-flat beds and premium bedrooms; a lounge, and breakfast delivery. Dreamstar’s tentative plan would also allow passengers to transport their automobiles on the train, [7] an accommodation derived from Amtrak’s Auto Train.
Dreamstar is expected to commence service in summer 2025.
Route description
Under the plan, Dreamstar would operate between the Union Station in Los Angeles and the 4th and King Street station in San Francisco. The train would travel through California’s Central Coast region on a railroad known as the “ Coast Line”, which is owned by Union Pacific and also serves Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner. Other portions of Dreamstar’s planned route coincide with Metrolink’s Ventura County Line between Los Angeles and Montalvo, and Caltrain’s corridor between Gilroy and San Francisco. Dreamstar’s service retraces Southern Pacific’s Lark that ran from 1910 to 1968, as well as Amtrak’s short-lived Spirit of California.[ citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ "Plans for private San Francisco-Los Angeles overnight sleeping car service revived". Trains Magazine. March 26, 2024.
- ^ Rahmanan, Anna (April 9, 2024). "A luxe overnight train from L.A. to San Francisco may soon become a reality". Time Out Los Angeles.
- ^ Peter Alan, David (27 April 2023). "Dreamstar Lines: Back to the Future?". Railway Age. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Yoshida, Yuika (15 April 2024). "Dreamstar Lines Links With Union Pacific". Orange County Business Journal. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Asperin, Alexa Mae (12 April 2024). "Los Angeles to San Francisco Overnight Train a Step Closer to Reality". Fox 11 Los Angeles. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Mailman, Erika (19 April 2023). "A new night train will whisk you from San Francisco to Los Angeles as soon as this fall". Time Out. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
- ^ Jalopnik, Daniel Golson / (April 11, 2024). "Here comes a luxury train from Los Angeles to San Francisco and it might even carry fancy cars". Quartz.