A passenger train is close to stopping in King City after decades of rolling through.

Erik Chalhoub here, thinking about how convenient it would be to travel across Monterey County and beyond by train. I’ve been following the years-long plans to build a passenger train station in Pajaro, as the proposed spot is only minutes away from my home and would open the doors to much easier travel to the north (heck, even to the gridlocked Santa Cruz County).

As it stands now, the only stop for passenger service is in Salinas, for travelers going north and south out of the county using Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train. Work on the Monterey County Rail Extension is underway to connect Salinas to the Gilroy Transit Center.

What about going to South Monterey County? For decades, you’ve been out of luck. Amtrak has slowly rolled through King City daily, teasing you that it’s going to stop, but alas.

That should change by the end of this decade.

For nearly 20 years, King City has explored bringing passenger rail service back. It identified a station site near Pearl and First streets for the King Station Multimodal Transit Center, and a $25 million award through the state’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program the city received in October 2024 fully funds the estimated $51 million project.

Now, King City officials announced recently that construction on the first phase of the project is expected to begin in 2028 or 2029, and Public Works Director Octavio Hurtado says a consultant to conduct an environmental review will be chosen next month.

The station will serve as a stop for Amtrak, which currently travels between Salinas and Paso Robles without stopping, about a 100-mile gap. It will also be a staging area for soldiers at nearby Fort Hunter Liggett.

Design on the station and parking lot is underway, Hurtado says.

The proposed location has historical significance. The original King’s Station, with passenger service from Southern Pacific Railroad, was built in 1886 at the corner of First and Broadway streets, about a couple of blocks away. It also accommodated Army troops until the end of World War II.

The depot building was eventually relocated to San Lorenzo Park for a historical display.

What are your thoughts on expanding local train service? If you’re a commuter from King City, would a train help you?