Simi Valley, CA (SIM)

Ticket Revenue

FY 2011

$1,222,566

Station Ridership

FY 2011

41,136

Note: Fiscal year is from
October through September.

The modern Simi Valley station is a platform with small shelters, shared with Metrolink on its Ventura County commuter train line.

The presence of thread-like clouds that sometimes may be observed in Simi Valley gave rise to its Chumash name, Shimiji, as the root of the word, “mi,” means "thread" in the Ventureno Chumash language. Prior to Spanish occupation, there is evidence that the Chumash had lived in the area for 5,000 to 10,000 years.

Rancho Simi was the earliest and largest (113,000 acres) Spanish colonial land grant within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, given in 1795 to members of the Pico family and their partners. A small colonial town known as Santa Susana del Rancho Simi thrived in the 19th century with a Spanish-speaking majority. Gradually American settlers converted this area to farms and orchards that dominated the landscape until the 1970s.

The Pacific Coast Stage Line began running over the Santa Susana pass into Simi Valley in 1861 on its route between Los Angeles and San Francisco. In the 1890s, the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) decided to build a tunnel through the Santa Susana Mountains and the original depot was constructed. While the tunnel was being dug, trains arrived from and departed to the west. Upon the tunnel’s completion, the town came to be on the main line.

Built in 1903 by the Southern Pacific Railroad, the Santa Susanna Depot in Simi Valley served passengers and farmers in the Simi Valley for more than 60 years. The depot was also headquarters for local freight shipments as well as the home of the station agent. Before it was moved to its current park site, the depot stood for more than 75 years at what is now the intersection of Los Angeles Avenue and Tapo Streets in Simi Valley. The depot is an SP standard model #22, of which there are 40 in California alone.

Simi Valley is home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, documenting the president’s 50-year career. The museum also has USAF 27000, a plane on temporary loan from the United States Air Force that was used by President Reagan as Air Force One.

A skateboarding museum with more than 2,000 items—the world’s only—calls Simi Valley home as well.

Amtrak does not provide ticketing or baggage services at this facility. Simi Valley is served by 12 daily trains.