A $27.1 million federal grant announced Friday will restore Amtrak passenger service between San Diego and Los Angeles to its pre-pandemic level, an effort to reduce overcrowded trains and make travel more pleasant. “Having more frequent options to go between San Diego and Los Angeles by train, instead of sitting in traffic on the I-5 freeway, is a major improvement for residents’ quality of life throughout Southern California,” said Sen. Catherine Blakespear, D-Encinitas, in a written announcement of the award. “With this grant, more people can travel conveniently on rail, and the LOSSAN rail corridor can continue to improve service, build ridership and strengthen its foundation,” she said. The route is part of the 351-mile Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo, or LOSSAN, rail corridor and provides San Diego’s only passenger and freight rail connection to the rest of the United States. The corridor serves six counties with 20 million residents. The money from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Restoration and Enhancement Grants Program will help pay for three additional daily round trips over the next six years between Los Angeles and San Diego, the second- and eighth-largest cities in the nation. U.S. Rep. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, applauded the grant. In a post Friday on X, he said it “means more trains and less crowding.” The increased service will reduce demand on certain Pacific Surfliner trains and make train travel between San Diego and Los Angeles more reliable, according to Blakespear’s office. Enhanced rail service is intended to help reduce traffic congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions and meet the state’s climate goals. As chair of the state Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency, Blakespear has sponsored legislation to improve rail management and planning. In 2024, she authored Senate Bill 1098, which created a framework to coordinate the maintenance and construction projects of the various agencies using the LOSSAN corridor. In 2023, she authored Senate Bill 677, which directed the agencies to better assess the long-term effects of climate change and to include climate resiliency in their projects. In all, the FRA awarded more than $1.1 billion Friday for 123 projects to improve rail service and safety in 41 states.