What is "surfliner"

The Surfliner is the second generation of Superliner derived bi-level intercity railcars owned by both Amtrak and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and operated under the Amtrak California brand of intercity corridor routes in Northern, Central and Southern California.

Alstom delivered the first order of cars for Amtrak between 2000 and 2001. A second order for the Caltrans Division of Rail was delivered in 2002. Amtrak's Superliner was used as the design baseline for the Surfliner, but several changes were made to the design to make the car more suitable for corridor services with frequent stops.