[2] As a result, new locomotives and passenger cars were purchased by the state, and existing inter-city routes expanded.

In 2015 the management of the San Joaquin and the Pacific Surfliner were similarly transferred to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA) and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency (LOSSAN Corridor JPA), respectively.

It hugs the California coast for most of the route – coming as close as 100 ft (30 m) – providing views of the Pacific Ocean.

Central Valley communities served include Fresno, Corcoran, Hanford, Lodi, Madera, Merced, Modesto, Turlock/Denair and Wasco.

One Capitol Corridor train per day continues east of Sacramento during the afternoon commute to the small Sierra Nevada town of Auburn, returning in the morning.

In order to provide rail service in the Coachella valley, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, along with Caltrans are planning the Coachella Valley - San Gorgonio Passenger Rail service under the Amtrak California brand to bypass opposition from Union Pacific[8][9][10][11] Amtrak California operates a fleet of EMD F59PHI, GE Dash 8-32BWH and Siemens Charger locomotives.

Illinois Department of Transportation, acting as the leading agency, awarded the order to Siemens on December 18, 2013.

Caltrans paid approximately $20 million to have these former commuter cars refurbished and reconfigured to serve as intercity coaches at Amtrak's Beech Grove Shops.

[17] Caltrans has also paid to lease three Non-Powered Control Units (old F40PH locomotives converted to serve as a cab/baggage car).

[17] In November 2017, the California Department of Transportation announced that it would be ordering seven Siemens Venture trainsets through its contractor Sumitomo Corporation.

After the test failure, Sumitomo canceled its deal with Nippon Sharyo, and turned to Siemens to be the new subcontractor.

All state-contracted Amtrak Thruway and state-owned locomotives and passenger cars, with the exception of equipment used on the Pacific Surfliner route, are painted in the "California Colors" of blue and yellow.

The other state-supported rail route, the Pacific Surfliner, uses a unique blue and silver paint scheme that is different from the other Amtrak California-branded trains.