Metrolink (California)
Metrolink (reporting mark SCAX) is a commuter rail system in Southern California, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County.[8][9] The system consists of eight lines and 69 stations operating on 545.6 miles (878.1 km) of track.[7] Arrow is operated under a contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA).[6]
This article is about the commuter rail system in Southern California. For other similarly-named systems around the world, see Metrolink.Metrolink
- 8
69
17,100 (weekdays, Q4 2023)[1]
4,861,000 (2023)[2]
Darren Kettle[3]
Wilshire Grand Center
Los Angeles, California
October 26, 1992[4]
Amtrak (under contract)
SCAX
545.6 mi (878.1 km)[7]
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
90 mph (140 km/h)
In 2023, the system had a ridership of 4,861,000, or about 17,100 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.
Metrolink connects with Los Angeles County's Metro Rail and Metro Busway systems, San Diego County's Coaster commuter rail and Sprinter hybrid rail services, and with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle inter-city rail services.[10] Metrolink owns several hundred miles of track; however, it also shares track with freight railroads.
The system, founded in 1991 as the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) and adopting "Metrolink" as its moniker,[11] started operation in 1992. Average weekday ridership was 42,928 as of 2017.[12] It is operated by Amtrak under contract with the SCRRA.
Governance[edit]
The SCRRA is a joint powers authority governed by five county-level agencies that fund the Metrolink service: the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission.[26]
Each agency appoints members to the Metrolink board of directors. Los Angeles gets four seats on the board, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties each get two seats, and Ventura County gets one seat. There are also three non-voting, ex-officio members from the Southern California Association of Governments, the San Diego Association of Governments, and the state of California.[5]
Metrolink is headquartered at the Wilshire Grand Center alongside the Southern California Association of Governments. Metrolink had previously operated out of the Metro Headquarters Building from 2011 until 2018, when Metro needed more space in their building.[106] Before 2011, Metrolink's headquarters were in the MCI Center,[107] where they occupied around 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) of space.[108]
Law enforcement service systemwide is handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Transit Services Bureau.[109]
Facilities[edit]
Metrolink operates several maintenance facilities across its service area. Its Keller Yard Central Maintenance Facility (CMF) is located on the east bank of the Los Angeles River near the intersection of the 5 and 110 Freeways, just south of the location of the former Southern Pacific Taylor Yard.[110] The facility is operated by Metrolink's equipment maintenance contractor: Bombardier Transportation.[111] The Eastern Maintenance Facility is located in San Bernardino. Metrolink trains are also serviced at Coaster's Stuart Mesa Facility, which is located between San Clemente Pier and Oceanside at the southwest end of Camp Pendleton. This yard is owned by the North County Transit District.[111]
Metrolink's operations center is located in Pomona, near Pomona–North station.[112]