STM Blog
Why I Want to Take the Train from Phoenix to Los Angeles—Even If It’s Not Easy
The author expresses a deep love for train travel, particularly the Amtrak routes. Despite Phoenix lacking direct Amtrak service, the longing for a train journey from Phoenix to Los Angeles remains strong. The experience of transitioning from desert landscapes to the California coast symbolizes the possibilities of enhancing passenger rail connectivity in the region.
I’ve always loved trains.
Not just as transportation, but as an idea: the rhythm of the rails, the slow reveal of landscapes you’d never notice from 35,000 feet, the sense that the journey itself actually matters. That’s why every time I read about Amtrak’s Sunset Limited, especially its long sweep across the Southwest, I can’t help but think the same thing:
I wish I could take the train from Phoenix to Los Angeles—and then ride the Pacific Surfliner.
The Arizona Reality: Close, But Not Quite
Here’s the catch that every Arizona rail fan knows too well: Phoenix doesn’t have direct Amtrak service. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/episodes/why-i-want-to-take-the-train-from-phoenix-to-los-angeles
The Sunset Limited does cross southern Arizona, stopping in places like Yuma, Tucson, Benson, and Maricopa. Maricopa is technically the closest Amtrak station serving the Phoenix metro area—but it’s about 30 miles south of downtown, meaning a car ride or bus connection is still required.
It’s a small detail, but it matters. Phoenix is the fifth-largest city in the United States, yet if I want to ride Amtrak west to Los Angeles, I first have to leave the city by road just to board the train.
Still, even with that inconvenience, the idea is hard to shake.
Boarding the Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited is one of Amtrak’s most historic long-distance routes, running from Los Angeles to New Orleans. In Arizona, it cuts through desert landscapes that feel timeless—wide skies, distant mountains, and towns that grew up alongside the railroad itself.
This isn’t high-speed rail. It’s not flashy. It’s slow, deliberate travel, the kind that lets you sit back, watch the desert roll by, and remember that the Southwest was built on rail long before interstates and budget airlines.
From Maricopa or Tucson, the train heads west toward California, crossing into the Imperial Valley before arriving in Los Angeles.
The Real Dream: Connecting to the Surfliner
For me, Los Angeles isn’t the end of the line—it’s the gateway.
Once in LA, I’d love to step off the Sunset Limited and transfer to the Pacific Surfliner, one of the most scenic passenger rail routes in the country. From there, the journey hugs the coastline through Santa Barbara, Ventura, Orange County, and San Diego, offering ocean views that feel almost unreal from a train window.
That connection—from Arizona desert to California coastline—feels like the perfect expression of what passenger rail does best. You don’t just arrive somewhere. You experience the transition.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about nostalgia or being a train enthusiast.
It’s about options.
Rail travel offers something planes and highways don’t: accessibility, comfort, and a sense of continuity between communities. The fact that Phoenix still lacks direct passenger rail service feels like a missed opportunity—not just for travelers like me, but for the region as a whole.
Every time stories circulate about the Sunset Limited or long-distance Amtrak routes, they remind me that the bones of a better rail network already exist. What’s missing is the will to connect major cities like Phoenix directly into that system.
Someday Soon?
I still hope that one day, taking the train from Phoenix to Los Angeles won’t require a workaround. Until then, the Sunset Limited remains both a real option—and a symbol of what could be.
Because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:
If I ever get the chance to roll out of Arizona by rail, connect in LA, and ride the Surfliner along the Pacific, I’ll be on that train—camera ready, coffee in hand, watching the country unfold exactly the way it’s meant to be seen.
Coming Soon: Travel Stories from STM Daily News
Travel is more than getting from one place to another—it’s about how we experience the journey. In the weeks ahead, STM Daily News will be sharing new travel stories that explore rail routes, regional history, overlooked connections, and the human side of movement across the Southwest and beyond.
From passenger rail reflections and historic routes to modern transit challenges and scenic journeys worth slowing down for, our upcoming coverage looks at travel as culture, infrastructure, and lived experience.
Coming Soon: Travel Stories from STM Daily News
Travel is more than getting from one place to another—it’s about how we experience the journey. In the weeks ahead, STM Daily News will be sharing new travel stories that explore rail routes, regional history, overlooked connections, and the human side of movement across the Southwest and beyond.
From passenger rail reflections and historic routes to modern transit challenges and scenic journeys worth slowing down for, our upcoming coverage looks at travel as culture, infrastructure, and lived experience.
Follow along at STM Travels as we continue to explore the roads—and rails—that shape how we move.
Author
Urbanism
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens, Bringing Subway Service to Mid-Wilshire and Beverly Hills
LA Metro’s D Line Extension: LA Metro officially opens Phase 1 of the D Line Subway Extension, connecting Downtown Los Angeles, Mid-Wilshire, and Beverly Hills with three new underground stations.
The future of transportation in Los Angeles has officially arrived.
LA Metro’s D Line Extension Phase 1 Officially Opens
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) officially opened Section 1 of the long-awaited D Line Subway Extension on May 8, 2026, expanding underground rail service westward through the historic Mid-Wilshire corridor and into Beverly Hills.
The 3.92-mile extension is one of Metro’s most ambitious transit infrastructure projects and marks a major milestone in Los Angeles public transportation. The new section extends subway service beyond the current Wilshire/Western station in Koreatown and introduces three new underground stations:
- Wilshire/La Brea
- Wilshire/Fairfax
- Wilshire/La Cienega
The expansion is part of Metro’s larger “Twenty-Eight by ’28” initiative designed to improve mobility across the region ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in About 20 Minutes
With the extension now open, riders can travel from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills in approximately 20 minutes with no transfers required.
The D Line extension is expected to significantly improve travel along the heavily congested Wilshire Boulevard corridor, offering commuters, visitors and residents a faster and more reliable alternative to driving.
“Traveling through Mid-Wilshire to experience the culture, cuisine and commerce across diverse neighborhoods will be easier, faster and more accessible,” said Fernando Dutra, Metro Board Chair and City of Whittier Council Member.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins also highlighted the importance of the project in connecting Angelenos to some of the city’s most iconic destinations.
“Angelenos and visitors alike will love the extended service from Downtown Los Angeles to Beverly Hills, delivering greater access to the iconic and culturally diverse communities, institutions and destinations that define the deep history along Wilshire Boulevard,” Wiggins said.
New Stations Connect Riders to Cultural Landmarks
Wilshire/La Brea Station
Located near Hancock Park and the western edge of Koreatown, the station provides access to cultural and entertainment destinations including:
- Korean Cultural Center
- Marciano Art Foundation
- Ebell Theater
- Popular restaurants including Republique and Sycamore Kitchen
Wilshire/Fairfax Station
Known as the heart of Museum Row, this station serves some of Los Angeles’ most recognizable cultural institutions and attractions, including:
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
- Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Petersen Automotive Museum
- La Brea Tar Pits
- The Grove
- Original Farmers Market
The station also connects neighborhoods including Little Ethiopia, Park La Brea and the historic Fairfax District.
Wilshire/La Cienega Station
Serving as the eastern gateway to Beverly Hills, the station provides convenient access to Restaurant Row and destinations including the Beverly Center.
A Major Milestone for Los Angeles Transit
The D Line extension has been decades in the making and is widely considered one of the most important transit projects in Los Angeles history.
The project was funded primarily through Measure R, the voter-approved transportation sales tax passed in 2008, along with substantial federal funding support that included:
- $1.25 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA)
- $66.4 million supplemental New Starts funding
- $749.3 million TIFIA loan
All three stations feature modern amenities including public artwork, enhanced lighting, cell phone service, bicycle hubs and improved pedestrian access.
Metro officials hope the extension will encourage more residents and visitors to use public transportation while helping reduce roadway congestion ahead of major international events scheduled for Los Angeles later this decade.
What’s Next for the D Line?
Construction is already underway on future phases of the D Line extension.
Phase 2 will continue west into Beverly Hills and Century City, while Phase 3 will eventually extend subway service to UCLA and the West Los Angeles VA campus.
Once completed, the D Line will provide a direct subway connection between Downtown Los Angeles and the Westside, dramatically reshaping mobility across one of Southern California’s busiest corridors.
Learn More
For official project details and station information, visit:
Metro D Line Opening Information
Stay connected with STM Daily News for the latest updates on Los Angeles transportation, Metro expansion projects, infrastructure developments, local news, technology, culture, and more. Visit STM Daily News for breaking stories, in-depth coverage, and exclusive content from across Southern California and beyond.
Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican-American culture and heritage, often involving parades, parties, and traditional foods such as tacos and margaritas.
How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo
Author
Blog
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability.
By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time.
But nope.
He had other plans.
“Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.”
Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail.
Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints.
While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
- A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
- Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
- A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
- And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard.
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?”
“We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually.
The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated.
But then I showed her my diagram.
She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief.
“This isn’t our house,” she said.
“Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly.
Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely.
Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds.
Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know.
But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
Enjoy this story?
Check out more nostalgic and humorous stories on STM Daily News and be sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
