Amtrak Bets On Guests Riding the Iron Horse to the Del Mar Races; Additional Capacity And Roundtrip Added to Pacific Surfliner For Popular Race Season

Business Wire, July 20, 2000

Business & Entertainment Editors/Travel & Racing Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 2000

And, they're off... the freeways! Just in time for the popular Del Mar racing season, Amtrak is aiding race fans by adding capacity and trains to its Pacific Surfliner service between Los Angeles and San Diego along its Pacific Surfliner corridor. The historic Del Mar Thoroughbred Club's 61st annual summer racing season will run from July 26 through September 13, 2000 and Amtrak will operate an additional roundtrip on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Labor Day, throughout the season. Additional ridership Monday through Thursday will be accommodated by extra cars added to regularly scheduled service. Arriving in Solana Beach, double-decker buses will take guests directly to the grandstands at no extra charge.

In addition to unparalleled Thoroughbred racing, Del Mar offers a summer season full of fun and family entertainment. Back for its sixth season, Four O'clock Fridays lets fans start their weekend early, with racing starting at 4 p.m. and going until sunset, followed by free concerts by popular rock bands. Family Fun Days also return every Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day, with free activities, including inflatables, pony rides, face painters and more in the track's infield. Kids 17 and under are admitted free to the track with parent or guardian.

The additional Friday roundtrip will operate as southbound train 1576 and northbound train 1589 on July 28; August 4, 11, 18, 25; and September 1 and 8, 2000. The Saturday, Sunday and Holiday roundtrip will operate as southbound train 1574 and northbound train 1599 on July 29-30; August 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27; September 2-4, and 9-10, 2000.

Amtrak's recent debut of its own Thoroughbred, the Pacific Surfliner, will make taking the train even better. Replacing the San Diegans along its San Diego to San Luis Obispo corridor, the Pacific Surfliner service features wide comfortable seats, large panoramic windows, outlets for laptop computers at every seat pair and at-seat audio and video in Pacific Business Class, train information on digital information display boards, large overhead luggage compartments, surfboard and bicycle racks and easy boarding through electric sliding doors. In the coach-cafe car, customers can enjoy fresh, healthy menu selections, featuring local wines and microbrews.

A total of nine new trainsets will be phased into service along the corridor approximately every six to eight weeks, with all nine in service by spring 2001. Currently, two of the contemporary new trains are in service.

"Amtrak and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is an ideal partnership. Instead of fighting the notorious Southern California gridlock, fans can start the party early by taking advantage of the convenience and service on-board the train," said Cyndi Darlington, Senior Director of Marketing and Sales for Amtrak West. "This year, Del Mar and Amtrak is where the turf meets the Pacific Surfliner!"

The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club joins many other popular Southern California destinations served by the Pacific Surfliner, like Disneyland, Legoland, and the World-Famous San Diego Zoo.

"Del Mar is delighted to be working with Amtrak to make coming to the races even easier," said Del Mar Thoroughbred Club president and general manager Joe Harper. "There probably isn't a more relaxing and efficient way to come to the track than on the train."

Now guest satisfaction on-board Amtrak is guaranteed. Amtrak has introduced an unconditional guarantee of guest satisfaction, a first among national travel and transportation industry providers. Under the guarantee, which began July 4, Amtrak promises all of its guests a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable travel experience. If guests are not satisfied at any point in their Amtrak travel experience, they are encouraged to bring their concerns to the attention of any Amtrak employee, who will try to make it right. If the guest feels that the effort is not enough, they can call 1-800-USA-RAIL for a Service Guarantee Certificate, which entitles them to equivalent free travel in the future.

Amtrak and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials estimate that thousands of fans will take advantage of the convenience of taking the Pacific Surfliner to the races. The Pacific Surfliner is Amtrak's second most popular corridor, serving more than 1.5 million customers annually.

For current Amtrak schedule and fare information, visit a staffed Amtrak station, contact your local travel agent, visit Amtrak on the Internet at http://www.amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL.