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Metrolink (Southern California)
Encyclopedia
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles
and the surrounding area of Southern California
; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using 512 miles (824 km) of track.
The system operates in Los Angeles County
, San Diego County
, Orange County
, Riverside County
, San Bernardino County
and Ventura County
. It connects with the Metro Rail
system which serves Los Angeles County, with the San Diego Coaster
and Sprinter commuter rail services which serves San Diego County and with Amtrak
's Pacific Surfliner
, Coast Starlight
, Southwest Chief
and Sunset Limited
intercity rail services.
The system, which is overseen by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), started operation in 1992. Average weekday ridership rose to 41,000 by May 2011.
, Bob Hope Airport
, California State University, Los Angeles
, Angel Stadium
, and the San Clemente Pier. Special service has also been extended to the Pomona Fairplex
, the Ventura Fairgrounds, and the Auto Club Speedway for certain events. The rail system experiences its peak ridership during weekday mornings and afternoons. More trains operate during the morning between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Metrolink riders can ride most buses in Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as the Metro Rail, free with their valid ticket or pass, and monthly pass holders in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties can use Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Thruway Coach services through the Rail 2 Rail program.
Fare increases normally occur annually in July, to coincide with increased fuel and labor expenses, and have generally averaged between 3.5% and 5% per year (although the restructuring caused a larger jump in rates). The oil price increases since 2003 are partly to blame for consistently increasing fares, as Metrolink trains are powered by diesel fuel.
The member agencies of the SCRRA purchased 175 miles of track, maintenance yards, and stations and other property from Southern Pacific for $450 million in 1990. The rights to use Los Angeles Union Station were purchased from Union Pacific for $17 million in the same year. The Authority was formally founded in 1991. It began operation of the Ventura, Santa Clarita, and San Bernardino Lines on October 26, 1992 (the Santa Clarita Line later became the Antelope Valley Line) which were operated by Amtrak
.
In 1993 service was expanded to include the Riverside and Orange County Lines in 1994. The Inland Empire-Orange County Line opened in 1995, becoming the first suburb to suburb commuter rail line in the country. In 1995 more trains on the Orange County service were funded. The system gained its current form in 2002 with the addition of the 91 Line.
From July 2004, Metrolink fares were changed from zone based to one based on distance. In 2005 a five year operational contract was awarded to Connex Railroad/Veolia Transport
. In 2005, the Orange County Transportation Authority
approved a plan to increase frequencies to 76 trains daily on the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County Lines by 2009, and funding for increased Metrolink service was included in the renewal of the Measure M sales tax for transportation approved by voters in November 2006. A proposed station in Yorba Linda
was canceled in 2005 due to local opposition.
In July 2008 it was announced that ridership had risen 16% over the previous year. Following the 2008 Chatsworth train collision
in which 26 people died and 126 were injured a number of safety measures were taken; in the fall of 2009, inward-facing video cameras were installed in locomotives in order to ensure that staff were complying with regulations, in particular a ban on use of mobile phones, $200million of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was provided to implement the positive train control
' crash avoidance system and in 2010 the first of 117 energy absorbing passenger carriages which lessen the toll on passengers in the case of an accident were received by the operator. Amtrak regained the contract to operate Metrolink beginning in July 2010. Average weekday ridership for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 38,400.
In 2010, to save money in the face of funding cuts, the Metrolink board voted to reduce mid-day service on the Inland Empire–Orange County Line, as well as weekend service on both the Orange County and Inland Empire–Orange County lines.
Average weekday ridership is 41,000 by May 2011. A survey found that 90% of users during a typical weekday in 2009 would have previously driven alone or carpooled and the system replaced an estimated that 25,000 vehicle trips. During a weekend closure of Interstate 405
in July 2011 the system recorded its highest-ever weekend ridership of 20,000 boardings which was 50% higher than the same weekend in 2010 and 10% higher than the previous weekend ridership record which occurred during U2 360° Tour
in June 2011.
The proposed Perris Valley Line extension to the 91 Line will link Riverside
and Perris
by 2012.
A new Metrolink station which in Placentia
will serve the 91 Line's north Orange County passengers is currently in its final design phase. Construction on the Placentia station will begin in 2012 or 2013; it will be the only station on the 91 Line not shared by another Metrolink line.
The Redlands Corridor, a 9 miles (14.5 km) eastward extension from San Bernardino
to Redlands
and Mentone
is planned by the San Bernardino Associated Governments
. The association is considering whether to extend commuter rail along the corridor or to install either bus rapid transit
or light rail
lines.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
has proposed adding commuter rail service along the Harbor Subdivision
corridor offering services to Inglewood
, Los Angeles International Airport
, the South Bay
, the Port of Los Angeles
, and/or the Port of Long Beach
. A decision whether to employ commuter rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit in this corridor has not yet been reached.
In 2008, lobbyists pushed for a rail line to Temecula
in southwestern Riverside County via the 91 Line's La Sierra station
. While this proposed line could follow the route of an abandoned freight line, it would require significant money, as freight service ceased almost 30 years ago. Despite this, the Riverside County Transportation Commission's 2008 Commuter Rail Feasibility Study still lists this route as one possibility being considered.
The cities of the Coachella Valley
(Palm Springs
, Cathedral City
, Palm Desert
, and Indio
) have requested commuter rail service from Los Angeles and Orange County, but the Union Pacific Railroad opposes further passenger service on its tracks. Nonetheless, as recently as 1999, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments was investigating the possibility of two daily round trips via the 91 Line from Los Angeles's Union Station
through Fullerton and Riverside to stations in Palm Springs and Indio (with a possible stop near Palm Desert
), possibly through a partnership with Amtrak
. What effect these might have on the 91 Line's Perris Valley extension (or vice versa) is not discussed. This extension would likewise require significant money for infrastructure improvements: at least $500 million, according to the California State Rail Plan of 2005.
governed by five county-level agencies: the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
, the Orange County Transportation Authority
, the Riverside County Transportation Commission
, the San Bernardino Associated Governments
, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission
. Ex officio members include the Southern California Association of Governments
, the San Diego Association of Governments
, and the state of California
. It is headquartered at the MTA Building
at Union Station
in Los Angeles where Metro (LACMTA) is headquartered.
The Metrolink system is operated under five year contracts. For 2010 it was allotted an operating budget of $168.1 million.
near the intersection of the 5 and 110 Freeways, just south of the location of the former Southern Pacific Taylor Yard. The facility is operated by Metrolink's equipment maintenance contractor, Bombardier Transportation.
at the southwest end of Camp Pendleton. This yard is owned by the North County Transit District
and also services Metrolink trains.
es with 117 Rotem Bi-level cars on order. An additional order of 36 Rotem cars was ordered after Metrolink obtained a loan from the LACMTA, although this still leaves Metrolink about 32 cars short of its goal of completely replacing its Bombardier fleet. With Metrolink continuing to receive its new Rotem cars, the agency has returned all its leased equipment to their owners.
freight train collided head-on with a Metrolink train in Placentia
, near the Atwood Junction, at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Richfield Road. Both trains were on the same east–west track moving toward one another. The Metrolink had the right-of-way; it was supposed to switch to a southbound track. The BNSF train was supposed to slow and stop just before the switch while the Metrolink passed, but the crew missed a signal one and a half miles back warning them to slow down. By the time the crew saw the red "stop" signal at the switch and the Metrolink train, they were going too fast to avoid a collision. Although there was speculation that the signals alerting the BNSF to slow and stop had malfunctioned, an investigation later concluded that it was human error by the crew that caused the accident.
, was apprehended and charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including murder by train wrecking. On June 26, 2008, Alvarez was convicted on the 11 murder counts and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
onto its side in the Chatsworth
district of Los Angeles. and 135 people were injured, with 81 transported to hospitals in serious or critical condition. The speed of the trains was fast enough that the Metrolink locomotive telescoped
into the first passenger car.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and the surrounding area of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using 512 miles (824 km) of track.
The system operates in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
, San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
and Ventura County
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
. It connects with the Metro Rail
Los Angeles County Metro Rail
Metro Rail is the rapid transit rail system consisting of five separate lines serving 70 stations in the Los Angeles County, California area. The new Expo line is due to enter service in early 2012. It connects with the Metro liner bus rapid transit system and also with the Metrolink commuter...
system which serves Los Angeles County, with the San Diego Coaster
San Diego Coaster
The San Diego Coast Express Rail, or Coaster , is a commuter rail service that operates in the Central and Northern coastal regions of San Diego County, California, United States. The service is operated by TransitAmerica Services on contract with North County Transit District . The service has...
and Sprinter commuter rail services which serves San Diego County and with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's Pacific Surfliner
Pacific Surfliner
The Pacific Surfliner is a Amtrak regional passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo....
, Coast Starlight
Coast Starlight
The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast...
, Southwest Chief
Southwest Chief
The Southwest Chief is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2256-mile BNSF route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. It runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, passing through Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California...
and Sunset Limited
Sunset Limited
The Sunset Limited is a passenger train that for most of its history has run between New Orleans, Louisiana and Los Angeles, California, and that from early 1993 through late August 2005 also ran east of New Orleans to Jacksonville, Florida, making it during that time the only true transcontinental...
intercity rail services.
The system, which is overseen by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), started operation in 1992. Average weekday ridership rose to 41,000 by May 2011.
Rail lines
Metrolink serves Downtown Los AngelesDowntown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
, Bob Hope Airport
Bob Hope Airport
Bob Hope Airport is a public airport located 3 miles northwest of the central business district of Burbank, a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
, California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles
California State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
, Angel Stadium
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Angel Stadium of Anaheim is a modern-style ballpark located in Anaheim, California. It is the home ballpark to Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League, and was previously home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams...
, and the San Clemente Pier. Special service has also been extended to the Pomona Fairplex
Fairplex
Fairplex, formerly known as the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, has been since 1922 the home of the L.A. County Fair. It is located in the city of Pomona, California. The L.A...
, the Ventura Fairgrounds, and the Auto Club Speedway for certain events. The rail system experiences its peak ridership during weekday mornings and afternoons. More trains operate during the morning between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
| Line | Series | Termini | Operation | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 Line | 700 | Los Angeles |
Weekdays | Southeast from Union Station, then east along the Riverside Freeway. |
| Antelope Valley Line | 200 | Los Angeles Lancaster |
Daily | Northwest from Union Station, roughly following Interstate 5 Interstate 5 Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S... . Turns east, then north, to parallel State Route 14 California State Route 14 State Route 14 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, largely in the Mojave Desert. The southern portion of the highway is signed as the Antelope Valley Freeway. The route connects Interstate 5, or Golden State Freeway, near Santa Clarita and with U.S. Route 395 near... . |
| Inland Empire–Orange County Line | 800 | San Bernardino Oceanside |
Daily | Southwest from the Santa Fe Depot to follow the Riverside Freeway west. Turns south to parallel Interstate 5. |
| Orange County Line | 600 | Los Angeles Oceanside |
Daily | Northwest from the Oceanside Transportation Center along Interstate 5. Deviates slightly from the interstate in north Orange and southeast Los Angeles counties. |
| Riverside Line | 400 | Los Angeles Riverside |
Weekdays | Northwest from the Downtown Riverside Metrolink / Amtrak Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union... station, eventually paralleling State Route 60 California State Route 60 State Route 60 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. It runs from Interstate 10 near the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles east to I-10 in Riverside County, with overlaps at State Route 57 and Interstate 215.-Route description:... . |
| San Bernardino Line | 300 | Los Angeles San Bernardino |
Daily | West from the Santa Fe Depot between Interstate 10 Interstate 10 Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,... and Interstate 210 Interstate 210 Interstate 210 may refer to:*Interstate 210 or the Foothill Freeway, a major east-west freeway running through the valleys north and east of Los Angeles, California*Interstate 210 , a bypass route in Lake Charles, Louisiana... . Runs in the Interstate 10 median starting near El Monte. |
| Ventura County Line | 100 900 |
Los Angeles Montalvo |
Weekdays | East from the Montalvo Metrolink station roughly following State Route 118 California State Route 118 State Route 118 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that begins running west to east through Ventura and Los Angeles counties in southern California. It travels from Saticoy in Ventura County east to Lake View Terrace in Los Angeles... . Turns south at Bob Hope Airport towards Union Station. Trains with 900-series numbers run between Union Station and Bob Hope Airport. |
Fares
Metrolink's fare structure is based on a flat fee for boarding the train and an additional cost for distance with fares being calculated in 25-cent increments between stations.Metrolink riders can ride most buses in Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as the Metro Rail, free with their valid ticket or pass, and monthly pass holders in Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties can use Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and Thruway Coach services through the Rail 2 Rail program.
Fare increases normally occur annually in July, to coincide with increased fuel and labor expenses, and have generally averaged between 3.5% and 5% per year (although the restructuring caused a larger jump in rates). The oil price increases since 2003 are partly to blame for consistently increasing fares, as Metrolink trains are powered by diesel fuel.
History
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
.
In 1993 service was expanded to include the Riverside and Orange County Lines in 1994. The Inland Empire-Orange County Line opened in 1995, becoming the first suburb to suburb commuter rail line in the country. In 1995 more trains on the Orange County service were funded. The system gained its current form in 2002 with the addition of the 91 Line.
From July 2004, Metrolink fares were changed from zone based to one based on distance. In 2005 a five year operational contract was awarded to Connex Railroad/Veolia Transport
Veolia Transport
Veolia Transport is the international transport services division of the French-based multinational company Veolia Environnement...
. In 2005, the Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange County Transportation Authority
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
approved a plan to increase frequencies to 76 trains daily on the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County Lines by 2009, and funding for increased Metrolink service was included in the renewal of the Measure M sales tax for transportation approved by voters in November 2006. A proposed station in Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda, California
Yorba Linda is a suburban city in northeastern Orange County, California, approximately northeast of Downtown Santa Ana, and southeast of Downtown Los Angeles....
was canceled in 2005 due to local opposition.
In July 2008 it was announced that ridership had risen 16% over the previous year. Following the 2008 Chatsworth train collision
2008 Chatsworth train collision
The Chatsworth train collision occurred at 16:22 PDT on Friday September 12, 2008, when a Union Pacific freight train and a Metrolink commuter train collided head-on in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles, California, in the United States...
in which 26 people died and 126 were injured a number of safety measures were taken; in the fall of 2009, inward-facing video cameras were installed in locomotives in order to ensure that staff were complying with regulations, in particular a ban on use of mobile phones, $200million of funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was provided to implement the positive train control
Positive Train Control
Positive train control is a system of monitoring and controlling train movements to provide increased safety.-Overview:The main concept in PTC is that the train receives information about its location and where it is allowed to safely travel, also known as movement authorities...
' crash avoidance system and in 2010 the first of 117 energy absorbing passenger carriages which lessen the toll on passengers in the case of an accident were received by the operator. Amtrak regained the contract to operate Metrolink beginning in July 2010. Average weekday ridership for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 38,400.
In 2010, to save money in the face of funding cuts, the Metrolink board voted to reduce mid-day service on the Inland Empire–Orange County Line, as well as weekend service on both the Orange County and Inland Empire–Orange County lines.
Average weekday ridership is 41,000 by May 2011. A survey found that 90% of users during a typical weekday in 2009 would have previously driven alone or carpooled and the system replaced an estimated that 25,000 vehicle trips. During a weekend closure of Interstate 405
Interstate 405 (California)
Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
in July 2011 the system recorded its highest-ever weekend ridership of 20,000 boardings which was 50% higher than the same weekend in 2010 and 10% higher than the previous weekend ridership record which occurred during U2 360° Tour
U2 360° Tour
The U2 360° Tour was a worldwide concert tour by rock band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2009 album No Line on the Horizon, the tour visited stadiums from 2009 through 2011. It was named for a stage configuration that allowed the audience to almost completely surround the stage...
in June 2011.
Expansion
Metrolink has grown in popularity and there are a number of planned extensions of the system and new stations. Station parking capacity has also been strained.The proposed Perris Valley Line extension to the 91 Line will link Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
and Perris
Perris, California
Perris is a city in Riverside County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city population was 68,386, up from 36,189 at the 2000 census. The city is named in honor of Fred T. Perris, chief engineer of the California Southern Railroad...
by 2012.
A new Metrolink station which in Placentia
Placentia, California
-Local: Placentia is a Charter city with an elected city council and professional city manager. Placentia City Council*Mayor- Scott W. Nelson*Mayor Pro Tem- Jeremy Yamaguchi*Council Member- Joe Aquirre*Council Member- Constance Underhill...
will serve the 91 Line's north Orange County passengers is currently in its final design phase. Construction on the Placentia station will begin in 2012 or 2013; it will be the only station on the 91 Line not shared by another Metrolink line.
The Redlands Corridor, a 9 miles (14.5 km) eastward extension from San Bernardino
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
to Redlands
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
and Mentone
Mentone, California
Mentone is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 8,720 at the 2010 census, up from 7,803 at the 2000 census. It is located at ....
is planned by the San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Bernardino Associated Governments is an association of local San Bernardino County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the county, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and county supervisors, and the funding agency for the county's transit...
. The association is considering whether to extend commuter rail along the corridor or to install either bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
or light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
lines.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
has proposed adding commuter rail service along the Harbor Subdivision
Harbor Subdivision (BNSF)
The BNSF Harbor Subdivision is a historic single-track main line of the BNSF Railway which stretches 26 miles/42km between the rail yards of downtown Los Angeles and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach across southwestern Los Angeles County. It was the primary link between two of the world's...
corridor offering services to Inglewood
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
, the South Bay
South Bay, Los Angeles
The South Bay is a region of the southwest peninsula of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The name stems from its geographic features stretching along the southern shores of Santa Monica Bay which forms its western border.The picture at right uses the broadest definition of the...
, the Port of Los Angeles
Port of Los Angeles
The Port of Los Angeles, also called Los Angeles Harbor and WORLDPORT L.A, is a port complex that occupies of land and water along of waterfront. The port is located on San Pedro Bay in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles, approximately south of downtown...
, and/or the Port of Long Beach
Port of Long Beach
The Port of Long Beach, also known as Long Beach’s Harbor Department, is the 2nd busiest container port in the USA. It adjoins the separate Port of Los Angeles. Acting as a major gateway for U.S.-Asian trade, the port occupies of land with of waterfront in the city of Long Beach, California...
. A decision whether to employ commuter rail, light rail, or bus rapid transit in this corridor has not yet been reached.
In 2008, lobbyists pushed for a rail line to Temecula
Temecula, California
Temecula is a city in southwestern Riverside County, California, United States with a population of 100,097 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the lowest populated American city over 100,000 population. It was incorporated on December 1, 1989...
in southwestern Riverside County via the 91 Line's La Sierra station
Riverside-La Sierra (Metrolink station)
-External links:* at the Riverside County Transportation Commission website...
. While this proposed line could follow the route of an abandoned freight line, it would require significant money, as freight service ceased almost 30 years ago. Despite this, the Riverside County Transportation Commission's 2008 Commuter Rail Feasibility Study still lists this route as one possibility being considered.
The cities of the Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley is a large valley landform in Southern California. The valley extends for approximately 45 miles in Riverside County southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the saltwater Salton Sea, the largest lake in California...
(Palm Springs
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, Cathedral City
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
, Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
, and Indio
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
) have requested commuter rail service from Los Angeles and Orange County, but the Union Pacific Railroad opposes further passenger service on its tracks. Nonetheless, as recently as 1999, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments was investigating the possibility of two daily round trips via the 91 Line from Los Angeles's Union Station
Union Station (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California. The station has rail services by Amtrak and Amtrak California and Metrolink; light rail/subways are the Metro Rail Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line. Bus rapid transport runs on the Silver Line...
through Fullerton and Riverside to stations in Palm Springs and Indio (with a possible stop near Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
), possibly through a partnership with Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
. What effect these might have on the 91 Line's Perris Valley extension (or vice versa) is not discussed. This extension would likewise require significant money for infrastructure improvements: at least $500 million, according to the California State Rail Plan of 2005.
Governance
The SCRRA is a joint powers authorityJoint Powers Authority
A Joint Powers Authority is an entity permitted under the laws of some states of the USA, whereby two or more public authorities can operate collectively. Joint Powers Authorities may be used where:*an activity naturally transcends the boundaries of existing public authorities...
governed by five county-level agencies: the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the California state-chartered regional transportation planning agency and public transportation operating agency for the County of Los Angeles formed in 1993 out of a merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the...
, the Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange County Transportation Authority
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
, the Riverside County Transportation Commission
Riverside County Transportation Commission
The Riverside County Transportation Commission is the metropolitan planning organization for Riverside County, California, United States...
, the San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Bernardino Associated Governments is an association of local San Bernardino County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the county, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and county supervisors, and the funding agency for the county's transit...
, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission
Ventura County Transportation Commission
The Ventura County Transportation Commission is the public sector transportation planning body for Ventura County, California. The VCTC oversees highway, bus, aviation, rail and bicycle activity and controls the use of government funds for transportation projects...
. Ex officio members include the Southern California Association of Governments
Southern California Association of Governments
The Southern California Association of Governments is the metropolitan planning organization of six of the ten counties in Southern California, serving Imperial County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and Ventura County...
, the San Diego Association of Governments
San Diego Association of Governments
The San Diego Association of Governments is an association of local San Diego County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the County, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and a County Supervisors, and also has capital planning and fare setting powers...
, and the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is headquartered at the MTA Building
MTA Building
The MTA Building is a 398 ft high rise office tower in Los Angeles, California. Completed in 1995, it serves as the main headquarters for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The $300 million building is the main fixture of the Patsaouras Transit Plaza and features...
at Union Station
Union Station (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California. The station has rail services by Amtrak and Amtrak California and Metrolink; light rail/subways are the Metro Rail Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line. Bus rapid transport runs on the Silver Line...
in Los Angeles where Metro (LACMTA) is headquartered.
The Metrolink system is operated under five year contracts. For 2010 it was allotted an operating budget of $168.1 million.
Maintenance facilities
Central Maintenance Facility
Metrolink's Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) is located on the east bank of the Los Angeles RiverLos Angeles River
The Los Angeles River is a river that starts in the San Fernando Valley, in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains, and flows through Los Angeles County, California, from Canoga Park in the western end of the San Fernando Valley, nearly southeast to its mouth in Long Beach...
near the intersection of the 5 and 110 Freeways, just south of the location of the former Southern Pacific Taylor Yard. The facility is operated by Metrolink's equipment maintenance contractor, Bombardier Transportation.
Stuart Mesa Maintenance Facility
Coaster's Stuart Mesa Facility is located between San Clemente Pier and OceansideOceanside (Amtrak station)
Oceanside is a station on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passenger train route located in Oceanside, California. It is located at the Oceanside Transit Center, which is also the northern terminus of the San Diego Coaster, the southern terminus of the Metrolink Orange County Line and Inland...
at the southwest end of Camp Pendleton. This yard is owned by the North County Transit District
North County Transit District
The North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States...
and also services Metrolink trains.
Eastern Maintenance Facility
Metrolink's Eastern Maintenance Facility is located in Colton. Metrolink's first crash-resistant cars were displayed at the facility at an event in May 2010.Rolling stock
The Metrolink fleet consists of 52 locomotives and 171 Bombardier BiLevel CoachBombardier BiLevel Coach
Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:...
es with 117 Rotem Bi-level cars on order. An additional order of 36 Rotem cars was ordered after Metrolink obtained a loan from the LACMTA, although this still leaves Metrolink about 32 cars short of its goal of completely replacing its Bombardier fleet. With Metrolink continuing to receive its new Rotem cars, the agency has returned all its leased equipment to their owners.
| Model | Manufactured | Road Numbers | Number In Fleet | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locomotives | ||||
| EMD F59PH | 1992–1993 | 851–873 | 23 | |
| EMD F59PHI | 1994 | 874–881 | 8 | |
| EMD F59PHI | 1995 | 882, 883 | 2 | |
| EMD F59PHI | 2001 | 884–887 | 4 | |
| EMD F40PH EMD F40PH -Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power... |
1981 | 800 | 1 | |
| MPI MPXpress MP36PH-3C | 2008–2009 | 888–902 | 15 | |
| Passenger cars | ||||
| Bombardier BiLevel Generation 1 | 1992–1993 | 101–163 | 62 | |
| Bombardier BiLevel Generation 2 | 1997 | 164–182 | 18 | |
| Bombardier BiLevel Generation 3 | 2002 | 183–210 | 26 | |
| Hyundai Rotem bilevel cars | 2010–2011 | 211-234 | 23, 60 on order | |
| Cab cars | ||||
| Bombardier BiLevel Generation 1 | 1992–1993 | 601–631 | 30 | |
| Bombardier BiLevel Generation 2 | 1997 | 632–637 | 6 | |
| Hyundai Rotem bilevel cars | 2010–2011 | 638–665 | 24, 62 on order | |
| colspan=5 align=center| | ||||
Livery
Most Metrolink-owned units are painted in the Metrolink livery, white with blue streaks. The agency is currently in the process of rolling out a new blue and green "ribbons" design. Locomotives are being given the new livery during downtime for maintenance and the new Rotem Bi-level cars are coming from the factory with the updated designed already applied.Placentia, April 2002
Two people died and 22 were seriously injured on April 23, 2002 when a BNSF RailwayBNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
freight train collided head-on with a Metrolink train in Placentia
Placentia, California
-Local: Placentia is a Charter city with an elected city council and professional city manager. Placentia City Council*Mayor- Scott W. Nelson*Mayor Pro Tem- Jeremy Yamaguchi*Council Member- Joe Aquirre*Council Member- Constance Underhill...
, near the Atwood Junction, at the intersection of Orangethorpe Avenue and Richfield Road. Both trains were on the same east–west track moving toward one another. The Metrolink had the right-of-way; it was supposed to switch to a southbound track. The BNSF train was supposed to slow and stop just before the switch while the Metrolink passed, but the crew missed a signal one and a half miles back warning them to slow down. By the time the crew saw the red "stop" signal at the switch and the Metrolink train, they were going too fast to avoid a collision. Although there was speculation that the signals alerting the BNSF to slow and stop had malfunctioned, an investigation later concluded that it was human error by the crew that caused the accident.
Glendale, January 2005
Eleven people were killed (including an off-duty sheriff's deputy and a train conductor) and over 100 people were injured, about 40 seriously on January 26, 2005 when a Metrolink passenger train collided with a vehicle parked on the tracks, which then jackknifed and struck a stationary freight locomotive and a Metrolink train moving in the opposite direction. The man who parked the vehicle on the tracks, Juan Manuel AlvarezJuan Manuel Álvarez
Juan Manuel Álvarez , a laborer from Compton, California, is a Californian convicted of causing the January 26, 2005, Glendale train crash, a collision between a passenger train, another passenger train, a freight train, and a car in Glendale, California...
, was apprehended and charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances, including murder by train wrecking. On June 26, 2008, Alvarez was convicted on the 11 murder counts and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Chatsworth (Los Angeles), September 2008
26 people were killed and 135 injured when a Metrolink commuter train carrying 222 persons collided head on with a Union Pacific freight train, toppling one of the passenger cars and the locomotiveLocomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
onto its side in the Chatsworth
Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California
Chatsworth is a district of Los Angeles, California, United States; in the northwestern San Fernando Valley. The district is bordered by the Santa Susana Mountains and unincorporated Los Angeles County lands to the north, Porter Ranch to the northeast, Northridge to the east, West Hills, Canoga...
district of Los Angeles. and 135 people were injured, with 81 transported to hospitals in serious or critical condition. The speed of the trains was fast enough that the Metrolink locomotive telescoped
Telescoping (railway)
In a railway accident, telescoping occurs when the underframe of one vehicle overrides that of another, and smashes through the second vehicle's body...
into the first passenger car.
See also
- California High-Speed RailCalifornia high-speed railThe California High-Speed Rail project is a planned future high-speed rail system in the state of California and headed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority . Initial funding for the project was approved by California voters on November 4, 2008, with the passage of Proposition 1A...
- San Diego Public Transportation
- Transportation in Los Angeles
- Metro Rail (Los Angeles County)
- List of Metrolink stations