Amtrak added another train to help fill a gap in its Pacific Surfliner service between Los Angeles and San Diego. Starting last month, the new southbound train, 578, departs Los Angeles at 1:15 p.m. and arrives in San Diego at 4:12 p.m.. There’s also a northbound train, 593, which leaves San Diego at 5:25 p.m. and arrives in Los Angeles at 8:34 p.m.

“Each of the new trains will fill a nearly three-hour gap in our existing schedule, providing expanded possibilities for business and leisure travel between Los Angeles and San Diego,” said Al Murray, chairman, the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency.

The additional service is enabled by the addition of a third track and grade separations on the route between Los Angeles and Fullerton, shared by passenger and freight trains.

All told, the Pacific Surfliner operates 26 daily trains on a 351-mile route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Three million annual riders use the route, the busiest state-supported intercity rail route in the United States.