Santa Barbara station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara station in 2014
Location	209 State Street Santa Barbara, California 93101 United States
Coordinates	34°24′49″N 119°41′33″W / 34.41361°N 119.69250°W / 34.41361; -119.69250
Owned by	Redevelopment Agency of the City of Santa Barbara
Line(s)	Coast Line
Platforms	1 side platform, 1 island platform
Tracks	2
Connections	Thruway Motorcoach, MTD Downtown Shuttle
Construction
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	SBA
History
Opened	1902
Rebuilt	2000
Original company	Southern Pacific
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	365,077  6.78% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station San Luis Obispo toward Seattle Coast Starlight Oxnard toward Los Angeles Goleta toward San Luis Obispo Pacific Surfliner Carpinteria toward Los Angeles or San Diego
Former services Preceding station Southern Pacific Railroad Following station Samarkand toward San Francisco Coast Line Summerland toward Los Angeles
Southern Pacific Train Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	209 State St., Santa Barbara, California
Area	4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built	1905
Architect	Wilson, Francis W.
Architectural style	Mission/Spanish Revival
NRHP reference No.	06000658
Added to NRHP	August 2, 2006

The Santa Barbara train station is a busy place in Santa Barbara, California. It's a stop for two important Amtrak trains: the Coast Starlight and the Pacific Surfliner. The Coast Starlight travels a long way, connecting Los Angeles all the way up to Seattle, Washington.

The Pacific Surfliner trains run more often. They help people travel between San Diego and places like Goleta or San Luis Obispo. This station has staff to help you buy tickets and check your bags.

History of the Station

Santa Barbara station in a 1910 postcard

The station in 2007 after renovation in 2000

This station was built in 1902 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was designed in a special style called Spanish Mission Revival Style. This style looks like old Spanish missions. A local architect named Francis W. Wilson designed it.

The station is very close to the Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearns Wharf, and State Street. State Street is the main street in Santa Barbara. The old station building was updated in 2000. This project fixed up the ticket office and improved the water, electricity, and heating systems.

For many years, only the Coast Starlight train stopped here. Then, in 1988, Amtrak added the San Diegan service. This train used to only go between Los Angeles and San Diego. But it was extended to Santa Barbara, giving people more ways to travel.

Later, the service was extended even further to Goleta and San Luis Obispo. Because of these changes, the San Diegan train line was renamed the Pacific Surfliner in 2000.

When the long Coast Starlight train stops at the station, it can block the streets nearby. This is because the platform is very long. In 2012, Santa Barbara was one of the busiest Amtrak stations in California. About 834 passengers used it every day.

The station is also important for its history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 2, 2006. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected.

Train Routes from Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara station serves as a key stop for two main Amtrak lines.

The Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight is a long-distance train. It travels once a day in each direction. You can take it north to places like San Luis Obispo and all the way to Seattle. If you go south, it will take you to Oxnard and then to Los Angeles.

The Pacific Surfliner

The Pacific Surfliner is a popular train for shorter trips along the coast. It runs many times a day. You can travel north to Goleta or San Luis Obispo. Going south, it takes you to Carpinteria and all the way to San Diego.

• Amtrak – Stations – Santa Barbara, CA