Can you bring food on Pacific Surfliner?

Many products are locally sourced from along the Pacific Surfliner route. Visit our Market Café page to learn more. Can I consume food and drinks that I brought myself? Yes, passengers may bring their own food and drinks (excluding alcohol) and enjoy them at their seat.



Yes, passengers are absolutely allowed and even encouraged to bring their own food and non-alcoholic drinks onto the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner. Unlike airlines, there are no restrictions on liquids or snacks brought from home. You are free to eat at your seat while enjoying the coastal views between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. However, there are two important caveats: first, you cannot consume your personal food inside the "Market Café" car, as those seats are reserved for customers purchasing items from the onboard menu. Second, federal law prohibits passengers from bringing their own alcoholic beverages to consume in public areas of the train; alcohol can only be consumed if purchased from the onboard Café. Carrying a small cooler or bag of snacks is a great way to save money on this scenic route.

People Also Ask

You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars. Personal food and beverages are allowed in the upper level of Superliner Sightseer Lounges.

MORE DETAILS

A small cooler counts as a carry-on bag, and you can bring snacks, meals, take out food from nearby restaurants and even alcohol on Amtrak (note that to consume alcohol, you must be in a roomette or bedroom).

MORE DETAILS

Personal Food, Beverages and Medication You may bring your own food and beverages onboard for consumption at your seat or private Sleeping Car accommodations. However, you can only consume food and beverages purchased in Dining and Lounge Cars in those cars.

MORE DETAILS

The following items are prohibited onboard the train: non-service animals, firearms and ammunition, hover boards, corrosive or dangerous chemicals and materials, incendiaries, martial arts and self-defense items, archery equipment, devices containing propellants, sharp objects, and similar items.

MORE DETAILS

Sleeping accommodations on board Amtrak are considered Sleeper Service, which means passengers are entitled to a range of hotel-like amenities. These include fresh linens and towels, a hot shower, complimentary bottled water ice, soft drinks, and hot coffee.

MORE DETAILS

Flexible dining A wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits (the first one is on us), plus unlimited soft drinks throughout the journey. Complimentary room service provided by the Sleeping Car attendant.

MORE DETAILS

What kind of security do you go through on Amtrak? None! The train stops, you get on, and you go! They have the option of asking for ID, but rarely do.

MORE DETAILS

You can bring a smaller cooler or insulated lunch bag with you on the train to include refrigerated foods, or consider buying a meal at or near your starting station to eat while on board. If you're planning to pack food at home before your trip, here are some idea: Salty snacks like nuts, chips, crackers, pretzels.

MORE DETAILS

Most Amtrak routes offer Café service, with a variety of meals, snacks and beverages for sale. Customers in all classes of service are invited to the Café and service is available from early morning until late at night.

MORE DETAILS

Quantity Limits Each passenger may bring onboard two pieces of carry-on luggage (this includes bicycles), plus two personal items, including small bags, backpacks, laptops, and purses. Please speak to the conductor if you have questions about any other items.

MORE DETAILS

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat and choose a different seat at any time after your booking is complete by viewing your reservation in the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.

MORE DETAILS

Amtrak is now proudly serving ice cold Coca-Cola beverages.

MORE DETAILS

Usually, you just hop on the train… no security checks or bag searches. They do random bag checks sometimes, but they don't make everything go through security like at the airport.

MORE DETAILS

The average Amtrak Coach seat measures 23 inches in width (compared to around 17 inches for airplane equivalent seating) with exceptional legroom and the ability to recline for an even more comfortable sleeping position.

MORE DETAILS

Which Amtrak trains feature public showers for passengers? All modern Amtrak sleeping cars (Superliners and Viewliners) have showers for passengers. The deluxe bedrooms have their own showers in the rooms. Other sleeper passengers can use a public shower, which is downstairs on the Superliner sleepers.

MORE DETAILS

Your seat will be automatically assigned when you complete your reservation. You may change your assigned seat at any time after your booking is complete using interactive seat maps on the Amtrak app or on Amtrak.com. There is no fee to change your seat.

MORE DETAILS

thank you for reaching out to us. Sharp objects, including but not limited to axes, ice picks, knives, spears, and swords, are not allowed in carry-on baggage. For more information, please visit our website at amtrak.com/onboard/baggag….

MORE DETAILS

You + Two Bags = No Extra Charge Unlike many transportation options, traveling with Amtrak is twice as nice with our generous baggage policy. When you travel with us, you can carry-on two free pieces of luggage. Each item should not exceed 50 lbs. (23 kg) and needs to be 28 x 22 x 14 inches in size.

MORE DETAILS