Southern California residents have been dreading the Interstate 405 closure between Interstate 10 and U.S. 101, which began early last night and will continue until the wee hours of Monday morning. Metrolink has set out to make life a little easier this weekend by providing more service for people traveling around the affected areas. And some Southern Californians have pounced at the opportunity.
William Wright, who is associated with Boy Scouts Troup 104 in Mission Hills, helped to accompany 22 boy scouts from Chatsworth so they could catch their flight into Washington State. "With Carmageddon going on, we decided not to chance it on the freeways and decided to take the Metrolink from Chatsworth all the way to Union Station and then take the [LAX] FlyAway just to get around the traffic. And it worked out great," said Wright, who purchased Metrolink's $10 Weekend Pass to get to Union Station.
Mike Jennings, who just flew in from Japan, said his wife advised him to take Metrolink so they could both beat the freeway congestion. "This sure worked out well. Being able to get there on the [LAX] FlyAway bus and catch the train fairly quickly and then be able to go home, that's a good thing especially for people traveling on an extended trip," said Jennings, who lives in Valencia. "And I'll be home in probably about as quick amount of time as I could if I had driven."
For more information on the added service we're offering and our $10 Weekend Pass, visit metrolinktrains.com
William Wright before boarding his train back to Chatsworth.
Mike Jennings, shortly after flying in from Japan, waiting for an Antelope Valley Line train.
Metrolink will operate limited service this Sunday May 29th on the OC Line. No service between LA Union Station and Fullerton. Due to a planned signal maintenance work by the BNSF.
The first Southbound train will leave Fullerton at 12:23pm, Anaheim 12:31pm, Orange 12:35pm, Santa Ana 12:40pm, Tustin 12:46pm, and arrives at Irvine 1:00pm
The second Southbound train will leave Fullerton at 5:18pm, Anaheim 5:26pm, Orange 5:30pm, Santa Ana 5:35pm, Tustin 5:41pm, Irvine 5:48pm, Laguna Niguel 5:57pm, San Juan Capistrano 6:02pm, San Clemente 6:11pm, and arrives at Oceanside at 6:45pm.
The first Northbound train will leave Oceanside at 8:55am, San Clemente 9:15am, San Juan Capistrano 9:24am, Laguna Niguel 9:29am, Irvine 9:38am, Tustin 9:44am, Santa Ana 9:50am, Orange 9:55am, Anaheim 9:59am, arrives at Fullerton at 10:07am.
The second Northbound train will leave Irvine at 3:10pm, Tustin 3:16pm, Santa Ana 3:22pm, Orange 3:27pm, Anaheim 3:31pm, and arrives at Fullerton at 3:39pm.
ALERT: Our Metrolink website is currently down, please visit mobile.metrolinktrains.com or call 1-800-371-5465 and press "0" to speak with a representative should you need additional information. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Memorial Day Schedule: Metrolink will run trains on the AV Line ONLY this Monday, May 30th.
The first Northbound train from LA is AV Line Train 263 leaves LA Union Station at 12:00pm, Glendale 12:10pm, Burbank 12:16pm, Sun Valley 12:22pm, Sylmar 12:29pm, Newhall 12:42pm, Santa Clarita 12:50pm, Via Princessa 12:56pm, Vincent Grade Acton 1:32pm, Palmdale 1:42pm, arrives at Lancaster at 1:55pm.
The second Northbound from LA is AV Line Train 269 leaves LA Union Station at 6:05pm, Glendale 6:15pm, Burbank 6:21pm, Sun Valley 6:27pm, Sylmar 6:34pm, Newhall 6:47pm, Santa Carita 6:53pm, Via Princessa 6:59pm, Vincent Grade Acton 7:37pm, Palmdale 7:48pm, arrives at Lancaster at 8:00pm.
The first Southbound train from Lancaster is AV Line Train 262 leaves Lancaster at 9:45am, Palmdale 9:54am, Vincent Grade Acton 10:05am, Via Princessa 10:41am, Santa Clarita 10:47am, Newhall 10:54am, Sylmar 11:08am, Sun Valley 11:15am, Burbank 11:21am, Glendale 11:27am, arrives at LA Union Station 11:40am
The second Southbound train from Lancaster is AV Line Train 268 leaves Lancaster at 3:30pm, Palmdale 3:39pm, Vincent Grade Acton 3:50pm, Via Princessa 4:24pm, Santa Clarita 4:30pm, Newhall 4:37pm, Sylmar 4:51pm, Sun Valley 4:58pm, Burbank 5:04pm, Glendale 5:10pm, arrives at LA Union Station 5:25pm.
ALERT: Our Metrolink website is currently down, please call 1-800-371-5465 and press "0" to speak with a representative should you need additional information. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Metrolink rolled out more than a dozen new trains, some of which are express trains that will save people time. Delana Gbenekama reports from San Bernardino and Los Angeles.
Metrolink on May 9 launched 16 additional trains, including four highly anticipated express trains on its two busiest lines.
Hundreds of excited riders showed up at stations along the Antelope Valley and San Bernardino lines to try out the six-month express pilot service to LA Union Station.
“These trains will save a commuter in a week five hours off a commute. That’s serious amount of time that you can spend with your family, you can spend doing nothing, you can read – whatever you want to do, we want to give you back the five hours a week,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Richard Katz.
And many riders are already making plans for the extra time on their hands now that the wheels are rolling on the express trains.
"I have only been riding for about a month and a half, and I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled about the express train. I have two small children – one who’s going to be four in July, one who just turned two the other day – and now I get to be with them about two hours more a day, which I love,” said Melody Bell, a San Bernardino Line commuter.
The full train ride on the San Bernardino Line will last 60 minutes as opposed to 90, and the ride on the Antelope Valley Line will take 90 minutes instead of two hours.
Metrolink expects ridership to increase in a climate where patience wears thin in congested traffic and gas prices continue to rise.
“With the price of fuel and the cost of the day-to-day commute, it even makes it that much more critical or important for people because once again, it not only gives them back time but hopefully gives them back something in their budget,” said Metrolink CEO John Fenton.
Besides the express trains, additional service includes earlier and extended train rides to Bob Hope Airport, late-night service on three lines and seasonal beach trains.
For more information on Metrolink’s new services and schedules, visit metrolinktrains.com
*Creative Productions conducted interviews and shot video.
Thousands of people attended Amtrak’s National Train Day at Los Angeles Union Station Saturday, May 7 to get a closer glimpse at passenger, commuter, freight and historic cars and locomotives. Metrolink was among the exhibitors, displaying one of our new Guardian Fleet cars for the public to tour. We also handed out giveaways, including pins, bags, whistles, keychains, holiday train buttons, toothbrushes, timetables and fact sheets.
Many train enthusiasts showed up to the event to learn more about the railroad industry, tour the cars and collect souvenirs. “We came out to see what the exhibitors were presenting today and also learn some more history about Metrolink and Amtrak,” said Arvella Carter, a frequent train rider who collected information to bring home to her grandson and his classmates.
The event attracted scores of families with young children, with many of the parents and grandparents passionate about passing their love of trains down many generations. “I came to National Train Day today because the kids like choo-choos and grandpa likes choo-choos,” said Ethan Reed, a Metrolink commuter from Santa Clarita who attended with his son and father. Others came out to learn about new service offerings in Southern California. “I’m a rail fan, I really like trains and I really want to support more rail development in Los Angeles,” said Steveland Harris, who said he will start riding Metrolink trains more often now that he knows about the 16 additional trains we introduced May 9.
Jeremy Johnson, who traveled from Montclair to LA Union Station on our San Bernardino Line, gave his take on the rollout of Metrolink’s express pilot program. “I think it’s great. If they can cut back on time, that’s good. Plus it saves the rider a lot of money fuel wise.”
Other exhibitors included Union Pacific, the Pacific Harbor Line and, of course, Amtrak. This year’s festivity, which was took place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., marked the fourth annual National Train Day held in Los Angeles – Amtrak’s headquarters are in Washington, DC – as well as Amtrak’s 40th year of service.
Arvella Carter talks trains
Amtrak employee assisting visitors
Adults and children collecting Metrolink giveaways
Metrolink will debut its express service pilot program on its two busiest lines, Antelope Valley and San Bernardino, May 9, 2011.
The Antelope Valley Line express train will depart from Palmdale and stop at Santa Clarita, Downtown Burbank and Los Angeles Union Station, making the total commute time 88 minutes end-to-end. The San Bernardino Line express train will depart San Bernardino and make stops in Rancho Cucamonga, Covina and Los Angeles Union Station within 60 minutes.
If the six-month express pilot program proves successful, we will consider continuing the service on both lines and expanding the service to other lines in the future.
Public Safety Initiatives:
Metrolink has launched a public outreach initiative to increase safety awareness among its riders and station communities. We are spreading word to the public that once the service launches, not all Metrolink trains will stop at every station. Passengers need to be alert at all times and remain behind the yellow platform line until a train comes to a complete stop. As part of our outreach efforts, Metrolink will:
Distribute seat drops on Antelope Valley and San Bernardino Line trains April 24 and May 1
Have conductors make special safety announcements (May 1, 2011 through May 15, 2011) on all Antelope Valley and San Bernardino Line trains upon arrival at each stop
Hold safety blitzes (in partnership with Operation Lifesaver and the LA County Sheriff’s Department) at Glendale, Claremont and other stations that consist of disseminating information that includes platform, crossing and right-of-way safety.
Post notices on our Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) on April 24
Program voice and electronic station message board safety information at Los Angeles Union Station
Add automated safety message to our call center’s Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system to educate passengers
Have customer engagement representatives pass out flyers and educate passengers
Distribute safety material to station security guards at all stations along both lines
Place Operation Lifesaver posters in train literature holders that include information on where passengers should stand on the platforms, crossing tracks safely, and being aware of trains at all times
Distribute safety messages through press releases, passenger newsletter and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, the Metrolink website and blog)
Install permanent caution signs at affected stations to remind passengers that not all trains will stop at every station
Post temporary yard signs at highway grade crossings to address motorist and pedestrian safety
Prom season is one of the most exciting times of the year for high school students but can also be one of the most dangerous. That’s because alcohol-related peer pressure is strongest at prom time, according to a joint report on combating juvenile DUI by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The leading cause of death among U.S. teens is motor vehicle crashes, and alcohol is among the many contributing factors. In 2008, nearly 75 percent of teen drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not wearing a seat belt, according to the CDC.
In an effort to prevent students from becoming another statistic, three high schools along our San Bernardino Line have turned to us as a transportation alternative: San Gorgonio, Summit and Chino. We are offering students discounted round-trip tickets from their origin stations to Los Angeles Union Station where each school's prom will be held.
This year San Gorgonio High was the first to try out our service; it held its prom on Saturday, April 16. “The kids had a great time coming down here, and it worked out actually better than I had hoped for in terms of all the kids getting here and coming right into the station where we had the prom,” said Principal Chuck Schindler.
According to the CDC, teen drivers who are at an even higher risk of getting into motor vehicle crashes include teens driving with other teens as passengers, which is a reason San Gorgonio contacted Metrolink. “We know that a high number of teenagers do get into accidents, and so we felt that this would be a safer way to do it rather than have all our kids travel together in cars and go through the risk of driving on the freeways. A lot of our parents, once they found out, were actually excited about it and felt it was safer for their kids to use the trains rather than drive,” added Schindler.
Students who took the train arrived at LA Union Station around 6:30 p.m. to have dinner before busting a move on the dance floor. ”It was really fun and a lot easier than driving. I didn’t want to drive all the way down here, especially in a tux,” said student Joey Atencio, who added that his mother was happy when she learned that he could take the train. After the event ended, students took our 11:30 p.m. train back to San Bernardino.
Summit held its prom on April 23 and Chino will have its big night on May 21.
Summit High students exiting the train, heading to prom at Union Station's Old Ticket Room. More than 600 students attended.
An excited Tyler Washington, Summit High senior class president, on how public transportation benefits the environment.
Vanessa Cabrera, Summit High senior class vice president, on how Metrolink is a safe transportation alternative.
Jobby Tseng, Summit High senior class officer, on decorating Metrolink train cars.
