A Luxe Sleeper Train Will Soon Connect San Francisco and Los Angeles

A new way to experience the Golden State’s dramatic scenery is about to launch, connecting two of California’s most iconic cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The train will be a luxurious sleeper locomotive designed to offer a refreshing alternative to the rush of modern air travel, taking passengers on a scenic, and comfortable journey that conveniently will avoid the abysmal drive up the Interstate 5.

The route stretches just under 400 miles, starting at San Francisco’s Transbay Terminal in the late afternoon and deliver them to Los Angeles’ Union Station the following morning. The journey will not be a bullet train, however, and will take approximately 12 hours from door to door. But the bypassing of the chaos of TSA and rowdy passengers at airports will be worth it in spades.

Along the way, the train will pass through some of California’s most iconic scenery, including the fog-draped hills of the Bay, the rugged coastline of Big Sur, and the agricultural expanses of the Central Coast.

The project is being spearheaded by Dreamstar Lines, a Newport Beach-based transit startup, has brought Designworks, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, on board to design the future train cars, which will include suites with bedrooms and restrooms, as well as a restaurant and a bar.

Reservations for the Golden Coast express are anticipated to open in the summer of 2025.