Coachella Valley–San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service

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Coachella Valley–San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service is a proposed intercity rail project led by the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). It would connect Los Angeles with the Coachella Valley, ending in Indio or Coachella. The plan would start at Los Angeles Union Station, follow the route of the Southwest Chief, then switch to Union Pacific’s Sunset Route at Colton to cross San Gorgonio Pass and terminate in Indio or Coachella. The initial schedule would include two daily round trips (one in the morning and one in the afternoon in each direction).

The current rail line in the Coachella Valley is owned by Union Pacific as part of its Sunset Route. Amtrak’s Sunset Limited currently stops at Palm Springs three times a week.

History and development: Since 1991, multiple studies have explored regional passenger service from the Riverside County area to Los Angeles and beyond, including consideration of a Calexico extension. Funding has come from SunLine Transit Agency, federal grants, Caltrans, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). Amtrak was identified as the preferred operator in early environmental work. A draft environmental impact report was released in May 2021, and by July 2022 the route was certified. In September 2022, planners planned to seek about $60 million for more detailed studies on infrastructure and station locations. The project is estimated to cost around $1 billion, with about $23 million raised by 2022.

In December 2023, the FRA accepted Caltrans’ application to place the Coachella–Los Angeles route into its Corridor Identification and Development Program. This program would provide $500,000 for planning and prioritizes the route for future federal funding.