Metrolink

SoCal commuters ride Metrolink, skip I-405 closure headache

2011-07-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

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 Orange County Line Limited Service on Sunday, May 29

2011-05-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

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.

Metrolink Memorial Day Limited Service

2011-05-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

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 offers commuters more trains, faster service

2011-05-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Watch: More trains, faster service

Metrolink educates public, promotes new service at National Train Day

2011-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

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

Rail fans touring Metrolink's Guardian Fleet car

Metrolink gearing up for express service by launching safety initiatives

2011-04-23T16:37:00.000-07:00

Express Service Debut:

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

For additional details on Metrolink's express service safety initiatives, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com/news/?id=6263

High schools look to Metrolink as safe transportation alternative for prom

2011-04-21T17:24:00.000-07:00

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.

San Bernardino Railroad Days are Right Around the Corner

2011-04-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

The third annual San Bernardino Railroad Days event, sponsored this year by BNSF, is right around the corner. The two-day extravaganza will take place Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Fe Depot (1170 W. 3rd St.) near the Metrolink San Bernardino Station.

There will be food; live country-western music; western-themed re-enactments; model railroads; antique trains, trucks and cars; and a host of other fun activities for both adults and children. There is a fee for some activities.

The historic #3751 Steam Engine will be on display, and you can ride it Saturday at approximately 9 a.m. from Los Angeles Union Station to the San Bernardino Station or at 3 p.m. from the San Bernardino Station to Los Angeles Union Station. Ticket prices range from $95 to $115.

The San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum, located at the Santa Fe Depot, will be open to the public both days free of charge. Take a tour of the railroad memorabilia, antique horsedrawn buggies and other historical items on display.

Be sure to come dressed in western attire, and don’t forget to have your camera handy so you can capture all the excitement. To purchase tickets online, visit sbrailroaddays.com. You can also purchase tickets at the museum on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact the museum at 909-888-3634 or sbrrdays@me.com.

There will be plenty of parking for the event. You can park at the Metrolink lot or at the new 352-space parking structure Metrolink just opened last month.

Faithful Metrolink riders recall experiences, bid adieu

2011-04-12T20:04:00.001-07:00

Peter Parsons and Mojdeh Zolfaghari have something in common. Until March 30, they both were frequent riders who commuted to and from work on Metrolink’s Orange County Line – Parsons for nearly 12 years and Zolfaghari for 11 months. They also stopped riding Metrolink trains for the same reason: work relocation.

Parsons described his Metrolink experience as simply fun, and he also offered his take on why people should ride Metrolink trains. “It’s cheaper than driving, it’s much more relaxing, you meet a lot of nice people and you’ll always have a lot of nice friends to remember when the days of riding are over,” he said.

When recalling her time as a rider, Zolfaghari thinks back to the connection she made with other riders. “You get to know everyone, you bond with them and you become good friends. Every morning you look forward to seeing them, and every afternoon you look forward to riding with them, so I’m gonna miss it,” she said. Zolfaghari plans to ride Metrolink trains again when the opportunity presents itself. “It’s the best experience. I hope everyone uses the transportation. It’s available for everyone,” she said.

Parsons on the benefits of riding Metrolink

Zolfaghari reminisces about bonding with other riders

Metrolink and SANBAG greet early morning passengers ahead of San Bernardino parking structure grand opening

2011-04-06T20:52:00.000-07:00

Metrolink and SANBAG employees arrived at the Metrolink San Bernardino Station at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, in time for the morning rush hour (4:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.) to meet and greet riders with bags filled with transit information; snacks; a souvenir; and a free coffee voucher provided by the local Santa Fe Depot coffee vendor.

Metrolink and SANBAG held the early morning meet and greet to celebrate the grand opening of our new three-and-a-half story, 352-space parking structure located at the west end of the station and to also thank riders for their continued patronage. The number of passengers who board trains at the San Bernardino Station, one of our busiest, averages 800 per day. Before the addition of the new structure, there was only one 427-space lot that filled quickly because Metrolink riders shared it with SANBAG and San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum employees, and patrons and employees of other businesses in the area. As a result, some riders turned to street parking.

Michael Palmer, a Metrolink rider who lives in San Bernardino, said the new parking structure makes finding a spot a lot easier. “I came down and I drove right in there, and I got a nice place to park in the shade rather than having to park a block away out on the street which is now two-hour parking. So, I think it’s an added improvement, not only because of the extra spaces but you get to park in the shade too,” he said.

SANBAG held a 9 a.m. press conference featuring four speakers who discussed how the addition of the structure, which is free of charge to riders, will improve the customer service experience for Metrolink passengers: our own Bryan Payne, P.E., Assistant Director, Capital Program Management; San Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris, who is also the Vice-Chair of our Board; and San Bernardino First Ward City Councilwoman Virginia Marquez. Following the press conference, SANBAG held a ribbon cutting ceremony to make the parking structure official.

The additional spaces will not only benefit current riders but also new riders, which we anticipate an increase in due to rising gas prices.

The structure cost $6.5 million, a little less than half of the original estimate. It features LED lighting, which will yield an approximately 50 percent energy cost saving, according to Mayor Morris.

A Metrolink partnership you want to know about

2011-03-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Metrolink has been seeking out partnerships with other organizations in the region to improve our service offerings for frequent riders and also become a solution for people who need to turn to us as an alternative.

We formed our most recent partnership this week with the Department of Public Works (DPW), which operates a program that Metrolink will be involved with. DPW’s C.A.R.E. (Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort) is an outreach program that comprises multiple agencies, including DPW, the LA County Sheriff’s and Fire departments, that work together to distribute information to the public about potential storm effects and recovery efforts. The purpose of the program is twofold: 1) Educate the public about weather risks and what to do when there’s an emergency, and 2) Coordinate communications among response agencies during emergencies. C.A.R.E. distributes advisories about weather, road closures, etc.

Metrolink is working closely with DPW to provide services to your communities. For example, whenever a storm system passes through your area and DPW closes roads that are at risk of flooding, Metrolink will try to accommodate you, our frequent riders, and other Southern Californians who aren’t able to drive or take the bus because of road closures. In addition, the C.A.R.E. program will serve as another vehicle of communication for Metrolink, complementing information we provide to you via station signs, Twitter, our website, mobile site and 24-hour automated customer service line. We will forward information to C.A.R.E. so it can disseminate advisories to the public about potential Metrolink service interruptions due to flooding and other severe conditions.

Online:

C.A.R.E.: http://www.dpwCARE.org

Why bad weather can delay your train

2011-02-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

Some of you have pondered why certain weather conditions like fog, rain or snow can cause major delays to your train ride. We briefly touched upon this in our February/March 2011 issue of Metrolink Matters but wanted to give you a more in-depth explanation of how weather can affect train operations.

Adverse weather conditions can stop a train dead in its tracks, literally. To keep you safe, our operations team decides whether train operations should be slowed or temporarily suspended; if we suspend train service we provide alternative modes of transportation to you.

We thought it might be helpful to first give you a little background on railroad equipment and the signal system our engineers follow.

As you know, when engineers operate trains they have to heed “traffic” signals, just like people do every day when they drive cars. Whenever there is a problem with rail equipment, including the track and circuits, the signals default to red for safety reasons. That prompts the engineer to stop the train, which prevents an accident from occurring or further damaging equipment. Metrolink deploys staff on the scene as soon as possible to make repairs or adjustments, according to Jaime Romo, Metrolink’s signal manager.

I love that we still have “beach days” in the middle of winter here in Southern California, but we sometimes have “nasty” weather that can affect the railroad: cold, heat, fog, strong winds and rain. Because rail is made of steel, it expands or contracts depending on the temperature.

Rail expands and can break in cold temperatures, which can cause delays. But, as I mentioned earlier, the way our signal system works is that signals default to red when a problem surfaces.

When heavy fog and snow impairs an engineer’s ability to see a signal, he must treat the signal as red. Snow also presents a problem to dispatchers, who use switches to move trains from one track to another. When snow falls between the rails and the switches, dispatchers are unable to line the trains up to take different tracks. Metrolink then quickly deploys staff to assist with the switches.

Extreme heat has the opposite effect on rail, causing it to expand and become misaligned. And if a train travels at full speed on misaligned track, problems could occur. That is why we enforce heat restrictions when temperatures surge beyond a certain point, and engineers are then required to operate our trains at reduced speeds.

Like cold weather, heat can also cause problems with the switches. Sometimes the components tighten up, and we have to adjust them.

Strong winds that blow dust onto signals force engineers to slow or stop trains. Strong winds can also break gates at at-grade crossings. When that happens, Metrolink issues a protect order at the crossing to prevent engineers from operating trains at full speed through that crossing.

When heavy rains pour and water rises in excess of 3 inches above the rail, Metrolink has to suspend train operations over the affected track. The same goes when there is a washout. The reason is because water has the ability to affect circuits along the track or the stability of the track. Circuits detect activity on the track, whether it is a train or broken rail, and the signals are determined based on what the circuits detect. When there are circuit problems, the signals and crossings kick into manual mode. This means that trains have to be flagged through crossings at reduced speeds for safety reasons. Heavy rains can also cause mudslides, which make an area impassable until the mud is cleared.

Single track areas, which are track routes where one track is shared by traffic traveling in both directions, are especially affected by weather-related delays. If one train stops no other train can pass through.

But we monitor the weather constantly and prepare ahead of time for potential weather-related challenges. We have workers in place to address problems and get trains back on track as soon as possible, said Romo.

So the next time you see a little drizzle or snow outside and your train happens to be delayed, just remember that getting you to your destination on time is just as important to us as it is to you. But we won’t risk your safety.

Holiday Toy Express 2010

2011-01-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

Metrolink New Mobile Website

2011-01-09T15:18:00.000-08:00

Meet the Metrolink team: Diana Yu and Tony Chappell

When Diana Yu and Tony Chappell reflect on the new, easy- to-navigate Metrolink Mobile website they created, they see a rider standing at a platform, smartphone in hand. That customer is equipped to check on a route, train timeliness, or connecting transit at a destination station.

That was the goal when Yu and Chappell, under the direction of communications manager Claudia Ziebell, teamed up in August to create Metrolink Mobile. Yu, who has been a Metrolink customer- communications administrator for one-and-a-half years, and Chappell, who has been a Metrolink IT web programmer/analyst for a year, tackled the job when it became clear there was no budget for an outside consultant as originally planned.
“We didn’t have any mobile presence,” Yu recalls. “This was a step we could take to help serve our customers when they are away from their desks. We tried to present information that would most help our customers when they are waiting at the station or on the train or on the way to the train.”

But that information isn’t easy to see on a smartphone screen. The mobile website had to focus on the most critical topics, and be easy to read and navigate. As it happened, Metrolink had the right people for the job.

Diana Yu used to be a programmer but changed course and earned a master’s degree in human-computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon University. She would be responsible for design. Chappell, who had a degree in computer-science engineering from Ohio State University and had worked for a variety of private companies in Ohio and California, would be responsible for development. They went to work.

First, set the priorities. They had customers to thank for this. “It was all based on accumulated feedback from customers over the years,” Yu says. “Many customers had requested schedules in this format as well as service updates.” E-mail subscriptions also demonstrated strong interest in special offers and discounts, she says. And, Chappell adds, thousands of Twitter followers confirmed that Metrolink service updates are important.
Second, surmount the challenges. Chappell wrestled with an old underlying database that could have been better designed for Metrolink websites. Translating its data to display train schedules simply and clearly for mobile phones was difficult. “The Schedules page was by far the biggest challenge in developing the mobile site,” Chappell says.

Third, make it easy to use. Metrolink Mobile’s main page has eight topics—Service Updates, Schedules, Trip Planner, Station Guide, News, Special Offers, System Map, and Contact Us—plus one link to the full website and one feedback link. No matter where you travel on the site, a Main Menu button returns you instantly to the homepage. Service Updates are color-coded by line so users can quickly tell if there are alerts on their lines or not.
The Schedules area offers a feature not available on the full website, Yu points out. Enter your departure station and your arrival station, and you will see only departure and arrival times. This eliminates scrolling through irrelevant station schedules. Transfers are automatically plotted. Metrolink Mobile debuted in October and riders love it.

“General responses from our riders are that it’s a lot easier to use than the full website—a lot easier to find information—and customers liked the new Schedules feature,” Yu says. “We’re considering customer ideas on what features they would like added in the future.”

Metrolink Getting wild at work®!

2011-01-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

To connect to new customers and strengthen our relationships with employees, Metrolink has joined Wild at Work.

This online business-to-business resource will help us reach employees at more than 2,000 workplaces in the Metrolink service area. Employees of Wild at Work member companies receive coupons and special offers provided by 27,000 partner companies.

As a partner, Metrolink will be able to create special offers for this commuter population. It’s a major opportunity to reach new markets and promote our corporate pass program.

Register with Wild at Work and receive exclusive discounts and coupons for Metrolink, entertainment, dining, shopping, and services provided throughout the Southern California area.

Through Metrolink’s partnership with Wild at Work, you can receive all the benefits this site has to offer. Visit wildatwork.com, click “new user signup,” and type “Metrolink rider” in the company-name field to register.

Urban Shield Enables Regional First Responders to Exercise their Core Competencies

2010-11-17T07:33:00.000-08:00

Metrolink partnered with Amtrak in the fourth annual Urban Shield Training event Oct. 15 through 19 in Oakland, CA. Urban Shield enables regional first responders to exercise their core competencies through scenario-based training. Regional multi-agency, multi-disciplinary training exercises are offered to first responders in various exercises including rail and transit. These exercises provide opportunities to enhance response efforts and identify training needs in a simulated environment.

Approximately 30 SWAT teams competed, including international teams from Israel, Jordan and Bahrain. Metrolink Security Manager Jesus Ojeda provided safety briefings for the simulation involving a passenger trains being hijacked by terrorists to several teams, including the winning team from the State of Israel National Police. The Metrolink Media Relations team also attended and were able to work with several first responders to determine the best way to communicate and gather information during these types of crisis situations.

New Rotem Cars are “Ready to Roll”

2010-11-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

The highly anticipated Hyundai Rotem cars are “ready to roll” and will be introduced to the public, employees and stakeholders beginning the first week of December. Beginning Dec. 6, Metrolink passengers will be among the first in the nation to ride in cars with unique safety features such as collision-absorption technology. Initially, staff is proposing that the first 12 cars be deployed across the Metrolink System to provide the greatest regional benefit.

Beginning Dec. 6, Metrolink will host a series of whistle stop tours to officially launch the state-of-the-art cars to the public. Media, stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to these events which will include the participation of the Metrolink Board of Directors, whose commitment to safety made the purchase of the new, Rotem cars possible.

A Metrolink Twitter Nation in the Making

2010-10-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Around noon on Thursday, Sept. 30, Metrolink received an invaluable tip from one of our twitter followers -- @granuaille. The concerned “twitizen” tweeted @Metrolink a picture of an unattended package near the Temple Ave bridge in Pomona. The photo was immediately shown to Metrolink’s security manager, who, with the help of @granuaille, was able to determine the package was on Union Pacific tracks. The package, which turned out to be maintenance tools, was removed by law enforcement within the hour.

We are so grateful to @granuaille for his/her sharp eye, quick thinking, and sense of ownership and responsibility that led them to report this potential safety issue. Safety is our most important core value at Metrolink – with the help of passengers like @granuaille, we’ll be able to stay vigilant in keeping our railroad safe.

“Quick Ticket” Option Available for Metrolink Riders

2010-09-01T05:38:00.000-07:00

Starting on September 1, 2010, Lancaster, Palmdale and San Bernardino Ticket Vending Machines will have a “Quick Ticket” option available for customers on the home screen. This new option is designed to enhance the customer experience at the TVM and to speed up the process of purchasing individual adult one-way tickets to Los Angeles.

The "Quick Ticket" option allows passengers heading to Los Angeles to purchase a single one-way ticket to Los Angeles in 2 steps!

Below you will find two screen shots of the process to utilize this new ticketing option.

Step 1: Select the "Quick Ticket" button in RED (R4)

Step 2: Select Cash (R4), Debit (L5) or
Credit (R5) to purchase the adult one-way ticket.

This Weekend Marks the Beginning of a New Partnership

2010-06-26T12:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend marks an important milestone for Metrolink as Amtrak assumes its role as our new operations contractor on Saturday, June 26, 2010 – taking over the responsibilities previously held by Connex Railroad.

As ambassadors, Metrolink teams have been deployed throughout the system to represent the agency to the public and to our new team members reinforcing our core values – exceptional customer service, an unwavering commitment to public safety and a focus on operational excellence and financial accountability.

As an agency, our mission is clear:

“To provide an outstanding passenger experience on every ride with safe, clean, dependable, and on-time operations.”

And our vision is clear:

“Be the best commuter passenger railroad operation in the world.”

Metrolink contracted Amtrak to handle this critical role due to their depth of experience and shared commitment to exceptional public safety.

Amtrak is responsible for the hiring, training, testing and oversight of the engineers and conductors and for ensuring compliance with all safety laws and regulations.

We are pleased to have Amtrak train crews join the Metrolink Team and be our partners in delivering safe, reliable, high-quality public transportation and excellent customer service to our thousands of loyal passengers throughout Southern California.

METROLINK PREVIEWS NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART CRASH ENERGY MANAGEMENT (CEM)-ENABLED PASSENGER CARS

2010-05-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

INDUSTRY-FIRST CARS JOIN COMPREHENSIVE RAIL SAFETY PROGRAM
New CEO Ushers in Era of Enhanced Safety, Service, Efficiency and Environmental Stewardship

LOS ANGELES, CA, May 3, 2010 – Today, Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse, Metrolink CEO John Fenton, and a distinguished group of leaders showcased the commuter rail system’s first two Crash Energy Management (CEM)-enabled cars and previewed the interiors of these premiere safety-focused vehicles. Delivered in February from their manufacturing site in Korea, they are the first of 117 cars the Southern California Regional Rail Authority will put into service later this year after a rigorous testing program. Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature a unique collision-absorption technology.

“As the latest technological addition to our multifaceted public safety program, these new CEM cars will help save lives,” said Millhouse. “They were developed in strong collaboration with the world’s leading vehicle safety experts who share our commitment to passenger safety. We greatly appreciate their innovative work to enhance the safety of our passengers, train crews and busy regional transportation network.”

The cars have a unique set of design features to enhance passenger and crew safety while increasing passenger comfort. These include:

Crush zones that absorb impact at each end of the cars
Enhanced bumpers to absorb, balance and dissipate force from an impact
Couplers that absorb energy and help to keep cars in line and upright
Work tables designed to dissipate the force of a collision
Reconfigured seat placement in each car
Comfortable seats, with higher seat backs
Illuminated and marked pathways and exits
An elevated train operator compartment
Preinstalled inward and outward facing video cameras
Stainless steel exterior

The event also featured the first public address by CEO, John Fenton, who was appointed to the agency’s top post last month. Speaking from Metrolink’s new Inland Empire Eastern Maintenance Facility (EMF) – where most of the work for final assembly will be done in accordance with the “Buy America” program – Fenton laid out his forward-looking vision for the rail agency. “Metrolink has an exciting future. Safety will always be our number one value and we are setting a higher benchmark for public safety by continuing to harness cutting-edge technology and innovation.”

Fenton continued, “Moving forward, we will also adopt new practices to reinforce our value through new initiatives in customer service, efficiency, environmental and financial stewardship. Together with our employees, contractors, labor leaders, regulators such as the Federal Railroad Audministration and California Public Utilities Commission and the communities we serve, we can position Metrolink as the gold standard for commuter rail transportation across the nation. Today’s unveiling of the CEM cars is an important milestone on that path to excellence.”

Millhouse and Fenton acknowledged some of the partners in attendance who helped bring this important technology to Southern California. They included: CEM car manufacturer Hyundai-Rotem for providing world-class railway vehicle design and production; the Federal Railroad Administration; U. S. Department of Transportation; The Volpe Institute; and the American Public Transportation Association for their participation and leadership in advancing safe transportation.

The work to assemble the cars at EMF will result in expedited training, quicker access to the cars, the extension of more than 50 jobs and the opportunity to start working to ready the cars for Positive Train Control in accordance with the agency’s accelerated strategy to bring this technology to Southern California.

Procurement of the cars began more than five years ago when Metrolink contacted the Volpe Institute and the Federal Railroad Administration in order to collaborate with them in incorporating this collision absorption technology into the agency’s cab and passenger fleet that was already on order.

The CEM program now enters the critical testing phase, which is the most essential part of the procurement. Any elements in need of modification will be identified and corrected during this phase, which will assist in indentifying those that do not meet the highest standards from showing up in the entire production run. This will ultimately save time and money, produce a much higher quality product from the start, expedite the successful final testing and acceptance of the cars here in the U.S., and help ensure a successful introduction into regular train service.

The Metrolink Board Today Approved Preliminary Budget Actions

2010-04-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Metrolink board today approved preliminary budget actions including a potential 6-percent system-wide fare increase, a number of changes to fare policy and discounts, and service reductions to transmit the preliminary FY-11 budget to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) member agencies on May 1, 2010.

At today’s meeting, board members decided to reduce the number of trains suggested for elimination from 12 to four, leaving only the San Bernardino Line midday trains 306 and 323 and Ventura County Line trains 105 and 114 set for possible elimination.

Motions were made and approved by Metrolink Board members representing LA Metro, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Riverside County Transportation Commission to continue to fund the Inland Empire – Orange County Line and Ventura County Line trains and two trains to Burbank/Bob Hope Airport. The commitment to provide the additional funding is subject to approval by each one of those agencies’ governing Boards.

Metrolink’s Board is scheduled to consider final approval of the agency’s budget in June 2010. Changes in fares and service would take place at the start of the next fiscal year on July 1, 2010.

METROLINK ANNOUNCES UNDERSTANDING WITH AMTRAK ON USE OF PERSONALITY TESTING IN HIRING

2010-04-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Clarification in procedures reflects shared goals in Safety and Quality with Labor Unions

LOS ANGELES, April 21, 2010: Metrolink announced today an understanding with Amtrak regarding the use of personality assessments to determine qualifications for hiring employees to operate Metrolink trains when Amtrak assumes responsibility for operating Metrolink trains on June 26, 2010.

This clarification in procedure of how to apply the hiring qualifications, currently in use by Amtrak for all new employees, is based on provisions of the March 24, 2010 agreement between Amtrak and Metrolink and reflects a workable approach to addressing objections raised by railroad union leadership to the use of personality assessments for evaluating previously qualified workers.

“It is our shared goal, as partners in safety and service with Amtrak and the labor unions, to make certain that we have the most qualified pool of employees safely operating our trains,” said John E. Fenton, Metrolink Chief Executive Officer. “This understanding demonstrates our firm commitment to work collaboratively with the railroad labor leaders in recognition of their efforts to ensure that Amtrak will provide safe and quality service in operating our trains.”

The hiring procedure that will apply to all Connex employees who are transitioning to Amtrak employment will involve those employees taking personality tests. However, the results of these tests will not be an automatic disqualifier for operating Metrolink trains. Both Metrolink and Amtrak concur that these particular tests are not definitive indicators of an individual’s ability to safely operate trains on our system.

“We are committed to working with our contractors, labor leaders, freight partners and employees to ensure a safer environment not only for the passengers and communities we serve, but for all who provide Metrolink train service every day,” added Fenton.

The clarification in procedure also paves the way for Amtrak’s use of personality assessments as one of several tools available to evaluate the qualifications of a Connex employee for Amtrak employment. Personality assessment tools will instead be used to provide information for those who may benefit from additional training or development with respect to particular skills.

Camarillo Metrolink Station Getting New Surveillance System

2010-04-12T22:02:00.000-07:00

The Camarillo Police Department will be installing cameras at the Metrolink station on Lewis Road in an effort to deter crime.

The electronic surveillance feed will be operational in May and will go directly to the police station so officers can monitor activity at the station. The Department of Homeland Security is set to reimburse the Camarillo Police Department $24,000 for the system.

Prior experience using nearby businesses surveillance equipment to track down the perpetrators of a robbery prompted the department to look into installing cameras as a deterrent against crime in the area. The information that can be gathered by these devices may also be valuable in helping solving crimes as well as work as a deterrent against unlawful activities.

The City of Moorpark was the first to install this type of electronic surveillance system at its Metrolink station five years ago.

Metrolink Stations are neither owned nor maintained by Metrolink. The cities where the stations are located are the station owners.

Current Camarillo Station Information:

ADDRESS
30 Lewis Road
Camarillo, CA 93012

DIRECTIONS
From the 101 Fwy., exit at Carmen Dr. Go South on Carmen to Ventura Blvd. Go East on Ventura.

PARKING
Approximately 200 parking spaces

AMENITIES
Public phone, bike lockers

CONNECTING TRANSIT
VISTA (fare required)
Amtrak
City of Camarillo Dial-A-Ride (fare required)

RAIL 2 RAIL PROGRAM
Rail 2 Rail offers Metrolink Monthly Pass Holders additional travel options on Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains.

STATION OWNER AND OPERATOR
City of Camarillo, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010
For station maintenance and repair: (805) 388-5346

For more information, visit www.metrolinktrains.com

METROLINK ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

2010-04-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

John E. Fenton brings broad transit and leadership experience to agency.

LOS ANGELES, CA April 2, 2010: After a closed session personnel discussion amongst the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Keith Millhouse today announced that Metrolink has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer John E. Fenton effective April 16, 2010.

Mr. Fenton was chosen after a national search conducted by the Board of Directors with assistance from interim Chief Executive Officer Eric Haley. Mr Fenton brings a broad base of experience to the position, both in transportation services and executive management.

“Metrolink is pleased to announce that John Fenton has agreed to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and continue to build on the success the agency has had delivering quality commuter rail service at a time of great economic uncertainty,” said Millhouse. “With a unique combination of experience operating rail services and serving at the highest level of executive management, Mr. Fenton is well prepared to ensure passenger safety and service in our complex railroad operating environment.”

Most recently, Mr. Fenton was the Operating Partner of CIH Capital Partners, a full service investment bank. Previously he served as President and CEO of OmniTRAX, Inc., a Denver, CO based transportation services company offering a broad range of customized solutions to the industrial and transportation sectors. The company operations include 33 business units and 1,600 employees located across ten states and three Canadian provinces.

In the late 1990’s he was the General Manager/Vice President of the Canadian National Railway, Canada's largest freight railroad providing transportation and intermodal service linking customers in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico through approximately 20,400 miles of track. He previously was Vice President of the Kansas City Southern Railway and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, which later became part of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.

Mr. Fenton has a Master of Science, Systems Management (MSSM) from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Administration/Transportation Management from Indiana University, Bloomington.

The Board has authorized a two member ad hoc committee to negotiate final contract terms with Mr. Fenton. When final, the contract will be available on request consistent with the applicable law.

Metrolink Service Interruption – March 20, 2010

2010-03-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

At approximately 9:20 am on Saturday, March 20, eastbound San Bernardino Line train 354 (the 9:00 am departure from Union Station) struck a Union Pacific Railroad maintenance of way pick-up truck that was crossing the tracks at the Temple Avenue grade crossing in the City of Industry. The Union Pacific Railroad employee, who was working on a track adjacent to the Metrolink track in that area, died as a result of the incident. Injuries to three passengers on the train involved were reported and they were transported to a local hospital.

There was some damage to the front of the locomotive of train 354 which had a locomotive on each end. There was also damage to a switch in the area that had to be repaired before service could be restored. Metrolink Public Information Officer, Angie Starr was on the scene to answer media inquiries.

During the service disruption, buses were requested and provided by LA Metro for passengers at Covina, Baldwin Park and LA Union Station until the San Bernardino Line was reopened. Metrolink Passenger Services Personnel was dispatched to LA Union, Covina and Baldwin Park Stations to assist passengers and External Communications personnel responded to maintain communications with passengers via our social media networks. Utilizing social media tools like Twitter has proven to be an amazing tool for us. We are now able to communicate with passengers as quickly as the information is available and interact virtually in real time. Metrolink sent nearly 20 update messages during this service interruption through @Metrolink and @MetrolinkSB and many other messages responding to passenger inquiries.

We believe we have the responsibility to provide relevant and timely information to our customers and we will strive to continue to improve our communications and expand our reach to the largest number of passengers possible.

We have over 4,700 followers via Twitter today but we think all our customers would benefit from following @Metrolink and/or any of the individual Metrolink Line twitter accounts @metrolinkOC, @MetrolinkIEOC, @Metrolink VC, @Metrolink91, @MetrolinkSB, @MetrolinkANT, @MetrolinkRIV). We encourage all our passengers to follow us on Twitter for up to date information on any service disruptions of 15 min or more Monday through Friday from 6:00am to 7:30pm or 24/7 during a major service interruption.

AMTRAK SET TO OPERATE METROLINK COMMUTER TRAINS BEGINNING JUNE 26

2010-03-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

Mutual commitment to safety key factor in new partnership

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, March 26, 2010—Citing a mutual commitment to providing an exceptional safety environment for passengers, employees and the communities it serves, Metrolink and Amtrak announced today they have executed a final contract for Amtrak to operate Metrolink trains on all seven lines of the Los Angeles-based commuter rail agency beginning June 26, 2010.

“Moving to Amtrak as our new operating contractor is another important step in our multi-faceted public safety program. Amtrak brings a depth of experience and commitment to passenger safety that we share at Metrolink,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse. “We look forward to having Amtrak provide our riders with a level of safety, service and professionalism that is second to none,” added Millhouse.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), the governing board of Metrolink, contracted with Amtrak, in part, because of its significant commitment to passenger safety and multiple safety programs that will complement and enhance the safety efforts undertaken by SCRRA.

“We are pleased to move forward with this board action,” said Metrolink CEO Eric Haley. “The depth of relevant experience and management support Amtrak has for our operation is unique in the passenger rail environment and we look forward to working with them again in this capacity.”

“Amtrak is proud of our safety record and we are dedicated to providing excellent and efficient service to Metrolink and its passengers,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman.

The final agreement provides for an initial four-year operating contract with the potential for two additional three-year extensions. Amtrak is to provide the train and engine crews required to operate the locomotives and railcars owned by Metrolink, including the new equipment being delivered that is built with state of the art crash energy management systems designed to enhance protection for passengers and crew.

Over the coming weeks and months Amtrak will work closely with Metrolink, Metrolink’s current operator and its employees, and other contractors to ensure a smooth transition.

SCRRA decided to enter into this contract with Amtrak because of the railroad’s unique qualifications and experience in intercity and commuter rail operations, its excellent safety performance, its present operation of intercity trains over four of the seven lines that comprise Metrolink service, and its prior experience as the original operator of Metrolink trains from 1992 to 2005.

What’s a “train cycle” and how does it affect me?

2010-03-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Metrolink train sets are comprised of three to six cars depending on the routes it will run and the number of passengers it may transport. Currently we operate thirty two train sets on any given weekday. These train sets are scheduled on cycles. A cycle may be defined as the complete set of trips a train makes in a given 24 hour span. Cycles are created to maximize the available fleet and resources.

What does this have to do with what we call “cascade” train delays? Anytime a train experiences a problem that causes a delay, it may affect other trips. For example, on cycle #1 (see chart below) if Ventura County Line train 109 out of LA Union Station (LAUS) experiences a significant delay for any reason, whether it is passenger, weather, equipment or track related; it may delay train 116 and potentially delay train 113. Trains 109, 116, 113 and; 102 are the same train and are operated by the same engineer and conductor. Once train 109 reaches Moorpark, it makes its way back to LAUS as train 116, then that same train becomes train 133 out of LA Union Station heading toward the Montalvo Station. This train stays at Montalvo overnight and becomes train 102 at 5:27 a.m. to LAUS and starting the cycle again later that day.

You may wonder how a delay on the Orange County Line may affect a train on the Riverside Line. Cycle #1 is a simple cycle with all trains operating on the same route. However, if you review cycle #23 on the chart below, you will notice that the same train travels on four of the seven Metrolink lines and makes 4 round trips. It first makes a full round trip between LA Union Station and Irvine on the Orange County line as trains 686 from LAUS and 689 back from Irvine. The second round trip is between LAUS and Riverside-Downtown on the Riverside Line as trains 412 from LAUS and 401 the next morning from Riverside, then a trip on the 91 Line to LAUS as train 702 and back to Riverside-Downtown on the Riverside Line as train 409. The last trip for that cycle is on the San Bernardino Line as trains 306 to San Bernardino and 323 back to Union Station completing a total of 450 miles. Therefore, a delay on train 686 on the Orange County line may affect the on-time performance of train 412 on the Riverside Line.

Cycles may cover anywhere from 125 to about 525 miles and all 32 cycles cover over 8,500 miles per day.

Train cycles are changed when train schedules are adjusted or changed. All of the train sets except one start out from train storage or “layover” locations at the end of each route: (San Bernardino, Riverside, Montalvo, Moorpark, and Oceanside). One train set originates from Metrolink’s Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) near Glendale early in the morning. Following the morning rush and mid-day service, train sets return to the Central Maintenance Facility for inspection, testing, cleaning and minor servicing in preparation for afternoon mid-day service and the afternoon rush.

When building train cycles or determining trains that can turn from one schedule to another using the same size train consist, Metrolink considers

• Passenger load factors to determine how many cars are needed for individual trains;
• Mileage traveled of each train schedule which affects fuel consumption
• The time each train arrives at Los Angeles Union Station following morning service and is brought to the CMF to allow sufficient time for inspecting, testing, servicing and cleaning of each train.

As of February 15, train cycles are scheduled as follows:

Metrolink makes every effort to advise customers in real time of any disruptions in service utilizing station signs, via the use of Twitter and on our website. To learn more about how to follow Metrolink or your specific line on Twitter, click here.

Two CEM Cars Arrived at Metrolink's Facility in Colton

2010-03-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

Metrolink’s two new CEM cars made the approximately 65-mile trek on Burlington Northern –Santa Fe Railway flat cars to Metrolink’s Eastern Maintenance Facility in Colton where the manufacturing process will continue according to “Buy America” standards.

In the first photo, a contract welder is cutting the hold-down bracket weld that held one of the cars in place and prevented unnecessary movement throughout its shipment from South Korea.

The second photo shows a team of Hyundai Rotem crewmembers moving the truck assembly (made up of the bottom two side frames, wheel sets, brake rigging, yaw dampers and shocks) toward the car for placement.

Metrolink will keep you updated on this exciting process - Stay tuned!

First Two Metrolink CEM Cars Have Arrived!

2010-03-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Metrolink and the SCRRA Board of Directors welcome the first two of its new fleet of crash energy management-enabled Hyundai Rotem passenger rail cars upon their arrival at the Port of Long Beach from South Korea.

Building on its history of safety innovation, Metrolink will be the first passenger rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature unique crash energy management (collision-absorption) technology.

Metrolink Heralds Arrival of Pilot Crash Energy Management-Enabled Passenger Cars

2010-03-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

System is first railroad in the nation to adopt state-of-the-art technology as part of comprehensive rail safety program

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 2, 2010–Today at the Port of Long Beach, Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse, Chief Executive Officer Eric Haley and a distinguished group of leaders greeted the arrival of the system’s first two Crash Energy Management (CEM)-enabled cars. Delivered from their manufacturing site in South Korea, the cars are the first of 117 cars the agency will put into service later this year after a rigorous testing program. Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to adopt these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature a unique collision-absorption technology.

“As the latest technological addition to our comprehensive public safety program, these new CEM cars will help save lives,” said Millhouse. “Their arrival on our shore is the result of dynamic collaboration with world-class vehicle safety experts across two continents who share our commitment to passenger safety. On behalf of Metrolink’s thousands of loyal commuters, I want to thank them for their innovative work to enhance the safety of our transportation network.”

The CEM program now enters the critical testing phase, which is the most essential part of the procurement. Any elements in need of modification will be identified and corrected during this phase, which will prevent those that do not meet the highest standards from showing up in the entire production run. This will ultimately save time and money, produce a much higher quality product from the start, expedite the successful final testing and acceptance of the cars here in the U.S. and help ensure a successful introduction into regular train service.

Procurement of the cars began more than five years ago when Metrolink contacted the Volpe Institute and the Federal Railroad Administration in order to incorporate collision absorption technology into the system’s cab and passenger fleet that was already on order.

Speaking dockside where the cars were offloaded from U.S. flagged cargo ship, Ocean Charger, Millhouse acknowledged some of the partners in attendance who helped bring this important technology to Southern California. They included: CEM car manufacturer Hyundai-Rotem for providing world-class railway vehicle design and production; Intermarine USA for carrying the cars on their heavy-lift vessel, Ocean Charger; Suntrans International, the oceanic freight forwarder that ensured the safe passage of the cars from Korea; and the Port of Long Beach, leading gateway for Trans-Pacific trade, for their global leadership in goods movement and for hosting the arrival event.

Millhouse also announced that most of the work to assemble the new cars will be done at Metrolink’s Eastern Maintenance Facility in the City of Colton in accordance with the “Buy America” program that requires final assembly of rolling stock take place in the United States.

“Performing the work here will also result in expedited training, quicker access to the cars, the extension of more than 50 jobs and the opportunity to start working on modifications to ready the cars for Positive Train Control in accordance with our accelerated strategy to bring this technology to Southern California,” added Millhouse.

ABOUT METROLINK

Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service in its 17th year of operations. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. The agency currently contracts with Connex Railroad, LLC for the personnel that operate, supervise and manage Metrolink commuter rails service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network.

Crash Energy Management White Paper by Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

First Two Metrolink Crash Energy Management-Enabled Passenger Rail Cars Arrive at the Port of Long Beach

2010-03-02T07:33:00.000-08:00

Press opportunity scheduled for TODAY at 10:00 A.M.
Port of Long Beach

LOS ANGELES, CA, Tuesday, March 2, 2010—Join the Metrolink Board of Directors as we welcome the first two of our new fleet of 117 Hyundai Rotem rail cars upon their arrival at the Port of Long Beach from South Korea. Building on our history of safety innovation, Metrolink will be the first commuter rail system in the nation to operate these state-of-the-art cab and passenger cars, which feature unique collision-absorption technology.

Who: Metrolink Board Chairman Keith Millhouse and members of the Metrolink Board, CEO Eric Haley and Guests from the Port of Long Beach, Hyundai Rotem, Intermarine USA and Safetrans International.

Event location is a secure facility. Only authorized/credentialed media outlets permitted to enter. Please confirm your attendance by contacting Angie Starr by email at starra@scrra.net.

Witnesses Report Individual Crawling Under Trains at Orange County Stations

2010-02-25T18:16:00.000-08:00

Trespasser waits until before train departs before moving under train

Metrolink passengers and outdoor station cameras have witnessed an individual crawling under a stopped train twice recently at Orange County Line stations with an apparent intent to injure himself. This individual waits until just before the train departs the station before moving under the train. He was severely injured both times and taken to a hospital by local law enforcement after each incident. These incidents are currently under investigation.

Railroad right-of-way and station platform safety is critical to the protection of passengers and community members – it is illegal to be on the railroad right-of-way as this conduct can be lethal. If this type of behavior is observed, please notify a law enforcement officer, station personnel or Metrolink employee, or call 911. For more information on railroad safety, please visit Metrolink’s website and California Operation Lifesaver.

In response to Passengers…Brrrrr, Ice Age Train Ride

2010-02-19T11:07:00.000-08:00

Metrolink has been receiving a higher number of “cold train” reports from our passengers this year compared to the winter season last year. These comments have been coming in through calls to our customer service center and through our new media channels like Twitter.

This matter was brought to the attention of our Mechanical Services Contractor and we have requested that the temperature control rheostat be set to the “Warmer” position on our cars.

As part of the PM (periodic maintenance) process at the Metrolink Central Maintenance Facility, the HVAC systems are checked regularly to ensure the heating, cooling and ventilation phases are working correctly.

In addition, staff advised our forces at the outlying points where our trains spend the night to close the side doors on the cars as soon as their inspections and cleaning of the cars is completed during cold weather to keep them as warm as possible for morning commuters.

We hope these efforts will help keep our riders comfortable on their daily Metrolink commute.

Hey! Why is there a car missing on my train?

2010-02-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

As many of our passengers have experienced, there have been recurring delays on San Bernardino Line train 307 over the past few weeks. A few years ago, in response to increases in ridership, Metrolink purchased several cars from New Jersey Transit (NJT) and added them to the fleet where they operate along with our existing passenger cars. While the NJT cars are generally compatible with our existing cars, one aspect of the NJT car’s design makes it difficult to operate their doors. When stopping at a station, the conductor has to operate the NJT car doors from the Bombardier cars adjacent to the NJT car and then walk to the cab car to assist passengers boarding at the disabled access station ramp. This process results in delays departing from stations.

Metrolink has now removed the New Jersey Transit car from train 307 and exchange it for a Bombardier bi-level car, eliminating any delays due to the operation of the NJT car’s doors.

In addition, Metrolink staff has been actively working on identifying any opportunities for efficiencies in the Metrolink system and after reviewing ridership data, its been determined that there is an opportunity to reduce one car each from four of the train cycles Metrolink currently operates. A cycle is a combination of trips a train set makes each day. Metrolink operates 32 different train cycles each weekday.

As Metrolink’s order of 117 new passenger cars begins to arrive at the end of February, additional cars that have been leased from other agencies will be returned. The latest look at the allocation of cars has identified an opportunity to send back three cars that have been leased from the Altamont Commuter Express service in Northern California now.

The plan calls for the elimination of one car on 4 train cycles as follows:

Cycle 9: Trains 307-302-319-328
Cycle 14: Trains 907-904-320-303-682-687
Cycle 16: Trains 684-804-807-685
Cycle 22: Trains 404-707-334-309

For example, Cycle 9 starts as train 307 departing San Bernardino at 5:54 am arriving at Union Station at 7:20 am. The same train set now departs Union Station at 7:45 am as train 302 towards San Bernardino. This train then departs from San Bernardino at 9:50 am as train 319 to Union Station. Later in the day, the same train set leaves Union Station to San Bernardino as train 328. More on train cycles to come in a future post.

All of the 4 identified cycles are currently comprised of a set of 6 cars. Reducing the number of cars per cycle allows us to return the leased ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) equipment resulting in monthly lease and fuel savings.

This plan is taking effect immediately. The performance will be evaluated and any adjustments made if necessary.

Metrolink February 15, 2010 Schedule Changes

2010-01-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

After much discussion, the Metrolink Board of Directors at their meeting of January 8, 2010, for the first time authorized reductions in service to address a budget shortfall. The Board also responded to rider concerns about the current economic situation and did not raise fares at this time.

Metrolink staff had proposed a series of service suspensions and service cuts which were expected to save $1.15 million this fiscal year and would have expanded to nearly $3.3 million in savings for FY 2010-11. Staff's assessment of the effect on Metrolink passengers is that 98.5% of current riders would have felt no impact from those actions.

The Board decided to only authorize the first two of the series of potential service reductions which will still save the agency $529,000 this fiscal year and expand to nearly $1.35 million in savings for FY 2010-11. Metrolink's CEO, Eric Haley, also noted at the meeting that should finances improve and ridership increase, service can be selectively reinstated.

The following recommendations were approved unanimously:

Reduce weekend service on the Inland Empire-Orange County (IEOC) Line through the elimination of 4 Saturday trains and 2 Sunday trains, leaving a round trip each Saturday and Sunday.
Reduce weekend service on the Orange County line through the elimination of 4 trains each Saturday and Sunday leaving 4 trains each Saturday and Sunday.
Reduce service on the IEOC line through the cancellation of 2 week day off-peak trains 852 and 853.

Following the approval of these changes, Metrolink staff re-evaluated the remaining schedule to determine if any adjustments should be made other than the elimination of the aforementioned trains. The new schedules were adjusted slightly to reduce the gaps left by the service reductions and in an effort to minimize the impact to Metrolink passengers. These adjustments will affect the weekend schedules of the Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County Lines. Weekday schedules for the Orange County, Inland Empire-Orange County, San Bernardino, Antelope Valley and 91 Lines will see some minor adjustments.

A schedule change notice with information about specific trains and new schedules has been published for the weekday schedule changes taking effect on February 15, 2010 and for the weekend schedule changes effective on February 20, 2010.

Metrolink Board Postpones Decision on Proposed Fare Increase

2009-11-30T13:38:00.000-08:00

At their meeting on November 13, 2009, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority Board of Directors deferred taking action on a system wide fare increase until the December 11th Board meeting. The Board will continue to consider alternatives, including service cuts, fare increases and deferring capital projects to provide additional operating subsidies among other funding options. The public hearing opened on November 13 remains open and the public is invited to continue to submit their comments on the fare increase proposal until December 11th.

Information regarding the proposed fare adjustments and proposed administrative actions, including service changes, is available for public inspection on the Metrolink website at www.metrolinktrains.com or in the SCRRA headquarters office, located at 700 South Flower Street, 26th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90017 during regular office hours Monday through Friday, from 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Comments and suggestions may be submitted orally or in writing at the public hearing, or posted in advance of the public hearing at Metrolinkfares@scrra.net, or by mail if received in advance of the public hearing to the attention of Metrolink Fares at the SCRRA headquarters office, or faxed to the attention of Metrolink Fares before the hearing at (213) 452-0452. All public comments, regardless of the form of communication, must be submitted and received no later than the time of the public hearing scheduled for December 11, 2009. Some or all of these matters may be continued by the Board to a later time or date in its sole discretion. Public Hearing Notice.