Commute By Rail

If you are using the train as your primary commute mode, do not hold a long-term parking permit (with the exception of Housing Permits and Night/Weekend Permits), and have at least a 45% appointment on campus, you can apply for a $21 discount on your monthly train pass. Monthly passes are valid for up to two trips a day (once in each direction) between the stations indicated on your pass for an entire calendar month.

TO APPLY: Submit a TAP - TRAIN application through your ePermit Portal.

1. Select the Permits dropdown menu at the top of the screen
2. Select Apply for: ePermit / TAP / Exception
3. Submit a TAP Application for the Train Program
4. In the description section of the application, list your Amtrak Guest Rewards Number if you have one that you would like us to attach to your membership. Please also list the train station that you will be traveling from, your preferred start date for riding the train (the first of a month), and your mobile phone number if you would like to receive updates from Amtrak on your personal phone. The table below shows your monthly cost once you are enrolled in TAP's pre-tax payroll deduction train pass program:

Our maximum enrollment for the employee discounted train pass program is 40 members. We will be enrolling employees on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that you will need to apply before the 15th of the month prior to your desired enrollment date. For example, to start riding August 1st, please submit an enrollment form before July 15th.

Reserved Service Only: Pacific Surfliner from June 11 – July 19

Heads up! To better manage capacity during the soccer matches and events in LA, ticket reservations for a specific date and time are required and must be purchased in advance for Pacific Surfliner trains from June 11 – July 19. Any Pacific Surfliner multi-ride pass holders during this time should use RideReserve to confirm each trip (train and date) during this period. Multi-ride passes presented onboard will not be accepted.

Multi-Ride Pass holders will need to confirm each trip (train and date) through Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or an Amtrak agent prior to traveling on reserved services; thus, ensuring you have the safest and most comfortable journey possible. Learn more about RideReserve.

• Amtrak RideReserve confirmations can be made through Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or an Amtrak Agent.
• You can have up to two confirmations per travel day; once in each direction.
• You can make confirmations as early as 14 days prior to your departure date or as late as your scheduled departure time through Amtrak.com or the Amtrak app; or until your actual departure time via an Amtrak agent.
• RideReserve confirmations initiated on Amtrak.com and the Amtrak app can only be made with an active multi-ride reservation containing a valid email address.
• Only required on reserved services.
• Seats may not be available on all trains at all times.
• Your Multi-Ride Pass does not entitle you to travel without a RideReserve confirmation.
• If you don’t use RideReserve to make your confirmation prior to boarding a train, you will be considered an unticketed passenger and current Amtrak Carriage of Passengers terms apply.

To travel to the Goleta Amtrak station, board MTD Line 24x west-bound (toward Camino Real Marketplace) at the UCSB Bus Loop. Line 24x becomes Line 12x. Get off the bus at the intersection of Hollister Avenue and La Patera Lane. Walk up La Patera Lane 0.3 miles (6 minutes) toward the mountains. To view the trip from UCSB to Goleta Amtrak on a map, click here.

To travel to UCSB, board MTD Line 12x west-bound (toward Camino Real Marketplace) at the intersection of La Patera Lane and Hollister Avenue. Line 12x becomes Line 24x and continues to the UCSB Bus Loop.

Line 12x route map and schedule here. Line 24x route map and schedule here. You can keep up with all MTD routes and services at https://sbmtd.gov/.

Registered UCSB students may qualify for NO-cost travel on the MTD. See our MTD webpage for details.

Consider traveling by Amtrak and having the convenience of a bike on campus. The Pacific Surfliner allows passengers to bring along bicycles and hang them on a hook in the car entrance with advanced registration (please see box below).

See Bring Your Bike Onboard the Train to review all your bicycle transport options. Imagine getting off the train at the Goleta Amtrak Station and bicycling to campus. The bicycle trip between the Goleta Train Station and UCSB takes less than 20 minutes.