What is the luxury train up the California coast?

Widely regarded as one of the most spectacular of all train routes, the Coast Starlight links the greatest cities on the West Coast.



The most iconic and luxurious rail experience along the California coast is Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. While it is a public train, its "luxury" status comes from the Superliner Roomette and Bedroom accommodations, which offer private sleeping quarters, inclusive meals, and access to the exclusive "Metropolitan Lounge" in major stations like Los Angeles and Portland. The train travels between Los Angeles and Seattle, with the California segment offering breathtaking, cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean between Oxnard and San Luis Obispo—vistas that are often inaccessible by car. For travelers seeking a more "boutique" or high-end leisure experience in 2026, many utilize luxury rail tours (like those offered by Amtrak Vacations or Vacations By Rail) that package the Coast Starlight with five-star hotel stays in Santa Barbara and San Francisco. While the U.S. lacks the ultra-opulent "private" coastal trains found in Europe, the Coast Starlight’s Sightseer Lounge with its floor-to-ceiling windows provides a world-class viewing experience of the Golden State’s rugged coastline and lush agricultural valleys.

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My wife and I did the Coast Starlight for my birthday a year or two ago. I checked the schedule of the northbound train and found that the really spectacular scenery was in daylight. The southbound train has less daylight scenery. One of the most spectacular sights northbound is the morning of the second day.

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Roomettes (1 to 2 people) Two seats convert into one single bed and another bed folds down from above to form an upper bunk. You'll find roomettes in sleeper cars, or train cars that only contain sleeping accommodations. All sleeper cars have a shower room and bathroom.

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Inflation and higher construction costs have contributed to the high price tag. The project has spent $9.8 billion so far, according to Brian Kelly, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority. “We knew we've had a funding gap ever since the project started,” Kelly said.

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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.

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Exclusive to First-Class Passengers Once onboard, you'll enjoy complimentary at-seat meal and beverage service provided by our onboard staff of First Class attendants. Selections include freshly prepared chef inspired entrees as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

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Each bedroom has the capacity of two adults (with an option for a third), one to two suitcases and are 6'6” x 7'6”. Unlike roomettes, our bedrooms also have an in-room toilet, shower and a sofa that converts to a bed. Travelers looking to stretch out and upgrade from our roomette should explore our bedroom option.

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Can you go to the toilet on a train when its not moving? As a general rule, people travelling on trains are warned not to flush the on board toilet while it's not moving. That's because most trains don't have sewage tanks, meaning anything in the toilet is dumped straight onto the tracks.

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Sleeping Car Amenities and Perks These include fresh linens and towels, a hot shower, complimentary bottled water ice, soft drinks, and hot coffee. Another thing to keep in mind is that all of your Dining Car meals (up to three full-service meals a day with water, soda or juice) are included in your ticket fare.

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