Tag Archives: Metrolink

Metrolink offers new fares

As part of the plan to transform from a commuter rail system into an all-day, all-purpose transit network, Metrolink is implementing a new fare plan to attract new riders who find the current fares too expensive. The plan also includes eliminating certain fare types that are underutilized or redundant.

New fare types include a systemwide SoCal Day Pass, valid all day for any trip on the system. The Day Pass costs $15 on weekdays and $10 on weekends.

Another option is the $5 LA Zone Day Pass, valid for any trip between stations near the Los Angeles area. These include:

  • L.A. Union Station
  • Glendale
  • Burbank – Downtown
  • Burbank Airport – North
  • Burbank Airport – South
  • Cal State L.A.
  • Commerce
  • Montebello/Commerce

The other option is the 5-day Flex Pass, which is valid for trips between two stations on any five days within 30 days.

The round-trip tickets, 7-day pass, and 10-day Flex Pass have been retired.

Six-week closure of tracks in Southern Orange County

Beginning Monday, April 28, for about six weeks, Metrolink and Amtrak trains will not operate through the San Clemente area due to emergency construction work to protect the rail line from coastal erosion and landslides. Metrolink trains will terminate at Laguna Niguel, with no bus bridge covering the route to Oceanside. Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service from LA and points north will terminate at San Juan Capistrano. A bus bridge will take riders from Irvine to Oceanside, where the Pacific Surfliner trains will operate from there to San Diego. The Amtrak bus bridge requires reservations.

Previous weather events triggered landslides that caused lengthy closures to the track in the San Clemente area.

SoCal’s full weekend Amtrak and regional rail shutdown

This upcoming weekend (Jan 11-12, 2025), Amtrak Surfliner will shut down completely to accommodate track construction in different counties. Additionally, Metrolink will suspend service on the Ventura County, Orange County, and Inland Empire-Orange County lines, which share tracks with Amtrak Surfliner along parts of the corridor. At the south end, Coaster service will also be suspended. Coast Starlight trains, which travel along the entire West Coast, will have service temporarily truncated at Emeryville.

No bus bridge will be provided by any agency for any segment. Although options are available on certain parts of the corridor, traveling longer distances will be difficult. Between San Diego and Los Angeles, intercity buses like Flixbus/Greyhound, or other providers are options. Along the Central Coast, Flixbus offers two trips, along with intercity buses serving LAX.

The Amtrak San Joaquins offer a connection between Northern and Southern California through the Central Valley. Buses connect with trains at Bakersfield to various parts of Southern California.

Local transit provides an alternative for shorter distances, generally within a county. Metro bus service is available at Amtrak and Metrolink stops north of Los Angeles in LA County. Metro Route 161 connects the Metro G Line’s Canoga Station with Thousand Oaks. The VCTC Hwy 101 bus runs from Thousand Oaks to Oxnard on Saturdays.

Metro Route 460 connects Downtown Los Angeles with Disneyland. Riverside Transit Agency’s Route 200 links San Bernardino, Riverside, and Disneyland. OCTA’s Route 90 runs parallel, though not adjacent, to Amtrak and Metrolink between Tustin and Capistrano Beach. NCTD’s bus route 101 also parallels Amtrak and Coaster between Oceanside and UCSD, with a transfer to the San Diego Trolley for Downtown San Diego. Weekend local transit, however, does not exist between Oceanside and Orange County.

Metrolink to introduce new schedule with clockface service

Metrolink will introduce a new schedule on October 21, offering increased service and new connections on weekdays. Thirty-two weekday trains will be added, with most operating on a clockface schedule. Most trains will arrive and depart around the bottom of the hour at LA Union Station, offering connections of about 10 to 20 minutes between Metrolink lines.

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