Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Brompton Bicycle Host Over 75 Cyclists Car-Free From Los Angeles to San Diego

Over 75 cyclists travel from Los Angeles to San Diego, highlighting how compact folding bicycles eliminate the need for bike reservations and reduce demand for limited onboard bike rack space

ORANGE, Calif., Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®, in partnership with folding bicycle manufacturer Brompton Bicycle, welcomed over 75 cyclists aboard a train from Los Angeles to San Diego on Saturday, Oct. 24, demonstrating how folding bicycles can make rail travel more convenient and accessible for passengers looking to explore Southern California without a car.

Unlike standard bicycles, which require advance reservations and compete for limited onboard bicycle rack space, qualifying folding bicycles can be brought aboard Pacific Surfliner free as carry-on luggage, with no reservation required and provide greater flexibility when traveling by train.

The group ride demonstrated this benefit at scale, bringing together nearly 100 cyclists for a shared, guided journey that would have otherwise been difficult to coordinate using traditional bicycles and the train's seven dedicated bicycle storage racks.

"A great rail journey doesn't begin or end at the train station," said Jason Jewell, Managing Director of the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. "Making it easier for passengers to connect to their final destinations is an important part of improving the overall travel experience. This event highlights how folding bikes and passenger rail can work together to give travelers more flexibility, convenience and freedom to explore Southern California without relying on a car. We're excited to showcase how simple first- and last-mile connections can open up new possibilities for our riders."

Participants boarded at Los Angeles Union Station, with additional cyclists boarding at stations such as along the route. Upon arriving in San Diego, riders unfolded their bicycles and had the opportunity to explore popular destinations including Balboa Park, Little Italy, the Gaslamp Quarter and the Embarcadero before continuing their car-free adventure by ferry to Coronado Island.

"Brompton already has a strong community of riders throughout California, so partnering with Pacific Surfliner was a natural fit," said Alex Balansay, Brand Manager at Brompton Bicycle - North America. "Southern California has so much to offer, and bringing our riders together for a journey from Los Angeles to San Diego is a great way to celebrate that community while introducing more people to the possibilities of combining cycling and train travel."

Folding bicycles provide an option for commuters, day-trippers and weekend travelers who want to combine the convenience of intercity passenger rail with the flexibility of cycling to their final destination. The October 24 event showed how these transportation options can work together, allowing riders to travel between major Southern California cities by train and then explore local neighborhoods and attractions by bike.

Passengers can learn more about traveling with bicycles and plan their next trip at PacificSurfliner.com, and view Brompton models and dealers at brompton.com.

About the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, serving 29 stations. It is the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States. To learn more and plan a trip, visit PacificSurfliner.com.

About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency
The Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority overseeing management of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. Comprised of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the 351-mile LOSSAN rail corridor, the agency works to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on-time performance, operational flexibility and safety throughout its service area. The Orange County Transportation Authority provides administrative support to the LOSSAN Agency and its board. For more information, visit LOSSAN.org.

About Brompton Bicycle
Brompton has been designing and hand-building folding bikes in London for over 50 years. Created to transform the way people move through cities, every Brompton is built around its iconic three-part fold — engineered to go wherever its rider does.

Today, the Brompton range spans the classic 16-inch C Line, lightweight P Line, titanium T Line and 20-inch G Line, alongside Electric models powered by Brompton's e-Motiq system.

More than one million Brompton bikes are now on roads around the world. The company manufactures close to 100,000 bikes a year in the UK, with more than 70% exported internationally.

SOURCE Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner