83-733: Metrolink 's Riverside Line is a commuter rail line running from L.A. Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Riverside along the Union Pacific Railroad . It runs weekday peak commuter hours only, with very little midday and reverse commute service. In 2011, the average weekday ridership was 5,161 passengers. The Riverside Line, the fourth line to be introduced, was added to the Metrolink system in June 1993. This line featured Saturday service from June 2000 until January 2002, when it
166-512: A Metrolink commuter train carrying 222 persons collided head on with a Union Pacific freight train, toppling one of the passenger cars and the locomotive onto its side in the Chatsworth district of Los Angeles. Of the 135 people who were injured, 81 were transported to local hospitals in serious or critical condition. The velocity of the trains caused the Metrolink locomotive to telescope into
249-559: A baggage car, three or four sleeper cars, a dining car, sightseer lounge and three coach cars. If demand warrants, a fourth coach is added between Chicago and Kansas City. Private cars or deadhead cars also sometimes ride along. As is already happening on all its long-distance routes, Amtrak will replace the P42DCs with modern Siemens ALC-42 locomotives by 2027, and the Superliner cars with new long-distance cars by 2032. The portion of
332-494: A ban on use of mobile phones. 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
415-733: A contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). In 2023, the system had a ridership of 4,861,000, or about 19,200 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024. 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. Metrolink owns several hundred miles of track; however, it also shares track with freight railroads. The system, founded in 1991 as
498-402: A hill and struck the tracks after its owners failed to secure the parking brake. On June 27, 2022, the eastbound Southwest Chief derailed after striking a dump truck at a level crossing near Mendon, Missouri . Of 12 crew and 275 passengers, 3 deaths and 150 injuries have been reported; the driver of the truck also died. The Southwest Chief runs up to 90 mph (145 km/h) along
581-522: 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 . In late 2018, Metrolink announced that San Bernardino Line ticket prices would be reduced by 25% at least through 2019 in an attempt to increase ridership. Similar discounts have been introduced to other lines since 2016. In 2023, Metrolink made fares free for students of all ages. Inter-city rail service around Los Angeles persisted through
664-613: A more comprehensive approach was deemed necessary. Senate Bill 1402 was signed into law on May 25, 1990, which directed local transportation authorities to establish a regional plan for commuter rail by the year's end. In October 1990, the member agencies of the SCRRA had announced the purchase of 175 miles (282 km) of track, maintenance yards, and stations and other property from Southern Pacific for $ 450 million in 1990 ($ 1.05 billion adjusted for inflation). The rights to use Los Angeles Union Station were purchased from Union Pacific ,
747-695: A narrative between La Junta, Colorado , and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Beginning in May 2013, Trails and Rails volunteers also boarded to provide narration between Chicago and La Plata, Missouri . From June through August, the Southwest Chief is used by Scouts traveling to and from Philmont Scout Ranch via the Raton station . During those months, Raton station is staffed by Amtrak employees and handles checked baggage. The Southwest Chief runs Superliner train sets. Trains typically consist of two P40 or P42 locomotives ,
830-518: A parcel of land owned by the Orange County Transportation Authority just north of Irvine station . The project will receive funding from California's SCORE Transit Intercity Rail Capital Program. The project also includes an extension to Ridge Valley, a road north of the parcel where the project will occur. Beginning in 2024, Arrow will use at least one hydrail unit, called a Zero Emissions Multiple Unit (ZEMU). Furthermore,
913-583: A perceived reduction in the quality of services, after the Amtrak takeover. In October 1980 the Limited began running with the new coaches Superliner I built by Pullman-Standard , being the fourth of Amtrak's western long-distance trains to be equipped with the new coaches (already running with such cars were the San Francisco Zephyr , Desert Wind and Empire Builder ). On November 30, 1981, Amtrak replaced
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#1732854760783996-515: A rail line for eventual use by commuter and high-speed trains. This alternate plan would provide a "one-seat ride" at the start of service between the Central Valley and downtown, or even Orange County (via Anaheim ). A new Metrolink station in Placentia , which will serve the 91/Perris Valley Line's north Orange County passengers, has completed its final design phase, save for issues related to
1079-597: A route shared with the California Zephyr , Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg . Southwest Chief service to Joliet, Streator and Chillicothe was dropped as part of the realignment, although Joliet continues to see Amtrak service from other trains. The Chief realignment through the Cameron Connector to the Mendota Sub tracks caused Amtrak to concentrate all of its Galesburg operations in the present station , and
1162-735: A section of the line, though plans exist to rehabilitate tracks for Metrolink service. A study from 1991 estimated a cost between $ 70 million to $ 90 million to rebuild the line. As of December 1, 2022, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has laid a third track south of the Interstate 5 overpass in Irvine leading into the future site of the Orange County maintenance facility. The facility will serve as an additional site to service Metrolink and Amtrak trains on
1245-650: A significant portion of its route, made possible by automatic train stop systems originally installed by the Santa Fe Railway. Of Amtrak's long-distance routes, only the Texas Eagle runs faster (with a maximum speed of 100 mph (161 km/h) through much of Illinois). During the spring and summer, volunteer rangers with the Trails and Rails program from the National Park Service travel on board and provide
1328-475: A stationary freight locomotive and a Metrolink train moving in the opposite direction. The man who parked the vehicle on the tracks, Juan Manuel Alvarez, 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. Twenty-five people were killed and 135 injured when
1411-727: Is to extend the Antelope Valley line from Lancaster to Rosamond, along the Rosamond Corridor to service Edwards Air Force Base . The Santa Paula Branch Line was acquired by the Ventura County Transportation Commission in 1995. The railway, a former portion of the Southern Pacific Coast Line , connects the city of Ventura to Santa Clarita paralleling California State Route 126 . Fillmore and Western Railway operates excursion service over
1494-658: The Texas Chief was discontinued. Until the 1979 realignment via Topeka, service operated via the direct route between Kansas City and Emporia, via Olathe , Gardner and Ottawa . The western portion of the Pasadena Subdivision was converted to the Gold Line in the 1990s, requiring the Southwest Chief to be rerouted to the San Bernardino Subdivision between Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Eastbound service
1577-528: The 91/Perris Valley Line in 2002. Much of the decline in service has been a direct result of competition with the 91/Perris Valley Line or San Bernardino Line, or track right-of-way disputes with Union Pacific . Planning of the line's route has also come into question later in its lifetime, as the line was not redirected to the north half of the Monte Vista Subdivision to possibly construct a station to directly serve Ontario International Airport, which
1660-469: The Antelope Valley Line trains, Ventura County Line trains, Pacific Surfliner trains, and Coast Starlight trains by one and a half minutes and will permit trains to operate with 30-minute headways in both directions, massively improving service frequencies along the corridors. The location of the tracks will be slightly realigned in order to accommodate a new pedestrian overcrossing. The project
1743-712: The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway . For most of its existence, it was "all- Pullman ", carrying sleeping cars only. The Santa Fe merged the Super Chief with its all-coach counterpart, the El Capitan , in 1958. The merged train was known as the Super Chief/El Capitan , but retained the train numbers used by the Super Chief , 17 westbound and 18 eastbound. Amtrak retained the Super Chief/El Capitan after taking over passenger rail service on May 1, 1971. Initially retained
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#17328547607831826-511: The Cal State LA station and take any of the westbound buses one stop to the Medical Center. LA Metro also has plans for an infill station serving Pico Rivera , located on the 91/Perris Valley and Orange County lines between Commerce and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs stations. The SCRRA is a joint powers authority governed by five county-level agencies that fund the Metrolink service:
1909-601: The California High-Speed Rail between Merced and Burbank , projected to commence in 2022 (but since repeatedly delayed to 2033), passengers would use Metrolink for travel between Burbank and Los Angeles . An alternative plan would have track-sharing to Union Station but this would require electrification for that portion of the line. Such an electrification would be similar to the Caltrain Modernization Program , which also involves electrifying
1992-454: The Hector Mine earthquake . All the cars stayed upright and four passengers were injured. On March 14, 2016, the Southwest Chief derailed 3 miles (4.8 km) from Cimarron, Kansas . Of 14 crew and 128 passengers, 20 were injured. Investigators determined the train derailed after the tracks were knocked out of alignment by a runaway truck from a nearby farm operation that had rolled down
2075-801: 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 . 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, e x-officio members from
2158-652: The MCI Center , where they occupied around 40,000 square feet (3,700 m ) of space. Law enforcement service systemwide is handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's Transit Services Bureau. Southwest Chief The Southwest Chief (formerly the Southwest Limited and Super Chief ) is a long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak on a 2,265-mile (3,645 km) route between Chicago and Los Angeles through
2241-706: The Midwest and Southwest via Kansas City , Albuquerque , and Flagstaff mostly on the BNSF's Southern Transcon , but branches off between Albuquerque and Kansas City via the Topeka, La Junta , Raton , and Glorieta Subdivision . Amtrak bills the route as one of its most scenic, with views of the Painted Desert and the Red Cliffs of Sedona , as well as the plains of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado. During fiscal year 2023,
2324-761: The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has expressed interest to expand usage of the ZEMU from Arrow to the San Bernardino Line , which would result in them operating all the way to Los Angeles Union Station . OCTA officials are interested in moving the LOSSAN corridor (Los Angeles-San Diego), which carries the Orange County Line and the Pacific Surfliner , from its current alignment inland to avoid service disruptions due to coastal erosion along
2407-580: The San Bernardino Transit Center and use diesel multiple units operated by Omnitrans in lieu of Metrolink locomotive-hauled coaches on the rest of the route. In late 2019, Metrolink assumed the operating rights and carried out construction after Omnitrans was dismissed due to restructuring of that organization. Groundbreaking for Arrow's construction took place on July 19, 2019. Arrow began operation on October 24, 2022. 218 people were killed in Metrolink train incidents from 1993 to 2008,
2490-1080: The San Clemente Pier . Special service has also been extended to the Pomona Fairplex , the Ventura County Fairgrounds , and Auto Club Speedway for certain events. Weekend service is offered on all routes except the Riverside Line. The system currently consists of eight lines: Metrolink's fare structure is based on a flat fee for boarding the train and an additional distance cost with fares calculated in 25-cent increments between stations. Metrolink tickets are valid fare for most connecting buses and trains; certain Metrolink tickets are valid on certain Amtrak routes. 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 restructuring caused
2573-785: The Southern California Association of Governments , the San Diego Association of Governments , and the state of California . 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. Before 2011, Metrolink's headquarters were in
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2656-556: The Southern California Regional Rail Authority ( SCRRA ) and adopting "Metrolink" as its moniker, started operation in 1992. Average weekday ridership was 42,928 as of 2017. It is operated by Amtrak under contract with the SCRRA. In addition to suburban communities and cities, Metrolink also serves several points of interest such as downtown Los Angeles , downtown San Bernardino , Burbank , Hollywood Burbank Airport , Cal State LA , Angel Stadium , and
2739-503: The Southwest Chief carried 253,838 passengers, a 13.5% increase from FY2022. However, this is a 25% decrease from its pre-COVID-19 pandemic ridership of 338,180 passengers in FY2019. The route grossed US$ 43,184,176 in revenue during FY 2016, a 3.8% decrease from FY 2017. The Southwest Chief is the successor to the Super Chief , which was inaugurated in 1936 as the flagship train of
2822-481: The Southwest Chief from the affected sections of track to its Southern Transcon via Wichita, Amarillo, and Clovis—the same route once used by the San Francisco Chief . To avoid a reroute, Amtrak sought help from the affected states—Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico. The states eventually contributed money toward rebuilding and rehabilitating the tracks—much of it obtained from federal transportation grants—and
2905-515: The Super Chief / El Capitan names with Santa Fe's permission. From June 11 to September 10, 1972, Amtrak operated the Chief , a second Chicago–Los Angeles train along the same route, reviving the name of another notable Chicago–Los Angeles sleeper train operated by the Santa Fe. This was the only occasion on which Amtrak ran a second train to duplicate a long-distance service along its entire route outside
2988-539: The station building along the former Santa Fe line was closed and later demolished. In January 1994, the Southwest Chief was rerouted between San Bernardino and Los Angeles onto the Santa Fe Third District via Fullerton and Riverside. Previously, it served Pasadena and Pomona via the Santa Fe Pasadena Subdivision , which was closed to all through traffic following damage to a bridge over
3071-401: The Antelope Valley line ten years ahead of schedule, rapidly adding six stations in six weeks. The Inland Empire-Orange County Line opened in 1995, and more trains on the Orange County service were funded. The 91 Line (now the 91/Perris Valley Line) opened in 2002. From July 2004, Metrolink fares were changed from zone based to one based on distance. In 2005, a five-year operational contract
3154-604: The California State Rail Plan of 2005. Nonetheless, in 2013 Caltrans conducted a feasibility study of a Coachella Valley service and RCTC has resolved to pursue establishing one. By 2020, plans for the Coachella Valley–San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service had evolved to an Amtrak-operated service. Expansion to Kern County has been discussed in a 2012 Kern County Council of Governments report. The expansion proposed
3237-506: The Inland Empire–Orange County Line, as well as weekend service on the Orange County, Riverside, and Inland Empire–Orange County lines. Average weekday ridership was 41,000 during May 2011. A survey found that 90% of users during a typical weekday in 2009 would have previously driven alone or carpooled and that the system replaced an estimated 25,000 vehicle trips. During a weekend closure of Interstate 405 in July 2011,
3320-460: The Metrolink board approved a $ 1.5 million plan to repair the plows on the Hyundai Rotem cab cars. Once the repairs were completed, the cars returned to service and the leased BNSF locomotives were returned. 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. On April 26, 2018, Metrolink
3403-676: The Missouri General Assembly approved $ 1 million of state funds to establish a Southwest Chief infill station in Carrollton , between the Kansas City and La Plata stations. If approved by the governor, the state funds would have to be matched by local agencies. On October 2, 1979, the Southwest Limited derailed at Lawrence, Kansas . Of the 30 crew and 147 passengers on board, two were killed and 69 were injured. The cause
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3486-512: The New York–Florida corridor. Amtrak dropped the El Capitan designation on April 19, 1973, truncating only the name to Super Chief , and on March 7, 1974, the Santa Fe directed Amtrak to stop using the Super Chief and Texas Chief (another notable service originally operated by Santa Fe and which between Chicago and Emporia, Kansas shared route with the Super Chief/El Capitan . Amtrak also took over that service in 1971) names due to
3569-658: The Redlands Passenger Rail Project, opened on October 24, 2022. The 9-mile (14 km) eastward rail extension from San Bernardino to Redlands was planned by the San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG). The association considered whether to extend commuter rail along the corridor or to install either bus rapid transit or light rail lines, but in December 2015, SANBAG officials said they planned to extend Metrolink service only to
3652-739: The Union Pacific Railroad opposes further passenger service on its tracks. Nonetheless, in 1999, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments was investigating the possibility of two daily round trips via the Riverside 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 . This extension would likewise require significant money for infrastructure improvements: at least $ 500 million, according to
3735-476: The Ventura, Santa Clarita (now the Antelope Valley ), and San Bernardino Lines . In 1993, service was expanded to include the Riverside Line and the following year the Orange County Line was conveyed from Amtrak branding to Metrolink. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake saw the closure of Interstate 5 and other regional freeways, bringing widespread attention on Metrolink alternatives. Metrolink experimented with expanded service to Camarillo and Oxnard, and it extended
3818-537: The action and urged providing the match. In an open letter, former Amtrak President and CEO Joseph H. Boardman said, "The Southwest Chief issue is the battleground whose outcome will determine the fate of American’s national interconnected rail passenger network". In June 2018, Amtrak announced that it was considering the replacement of rail service along the Kansas portion of the Southwest Chief with Amtrak Thruway buses between Albuquerque and Dodge City, where train service east to Chicago would resume. Senators in
3901-514: The affected area succeeded in offering an amendment to a funding bill. Per a press release from the office of co-sponsor Senator Jerry Moran , "This amendment would provide resources for maintenance and safety improvements along the Southwest Chief route and would compel Amtrak to fulfill its promise of matching funding for the successful TIGER IX discretionary grant ... In addition, this amendment would effectively reverse Amtrak’s decision to substitute rail service with bus service over large segments of
3984-495: The eastbound lanes of Interstate 210 in Arcadia during the Northridge Earthquake . Between 1997 and 1998, Amtrak operated the Southwest Chief in conjunction with the Washington–Chicago Capitol Limited . The two trains used the same Superliner equipment sets and passengers traveling on both trains could remain aboard during the layover in Chicago. Originally announced in 1996, Amtrak planned to call this through service National Chief and assign it its own numbers (15/16), but
4067-401: The ex- Super Chief "Pleasure Dome" and " Hi-Level " cars on the Southwest Limited with new superliners, completing the replacement of the original old Super Chief cars with the new cars. The old Hi-Level coaches used on the El Capitan inspired the design for the Superliners. Santa Fe managers, impressed by the design of the new Superliners, permitted Amtrak to restore the name Chief to
4150-492: The existing San Jacinto Branch Line, which it purchased in 1993. Initial plans were for construction/renovation of the line to begin in 2012, but these were delayed by a lawsuit filed by homeowners in the affected area, who challenged the RCTC's environmental report. The lawsuit was settled in late July 2013. Construction on the $ 248.3 million extension began in October 2013; service was originally planned to begin in December 2015, and then in February 2016. In mid-February 2016,
4233-476: The extension's opening was planned in March of that year. The extension officially opened in June 2016. When COVID-19 impacted Los Angeles and its communities in March 2020, Metrolink ridership fell by 90%. Metrolink increased cleaning measures, added COVID safety protocols, and reduced service. On March 26, 2020, the agency ran on a temporarily reduced schedule, removing most trains. On April 4, 2022, Metrolink restored its 24 trains and added 2 new trains to
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#17328547607834316-407: The first passenger car. Thirty people were injured when southbound Metrolink Ventura County Line train 102 (East Ventura to LA Union Station) crashed into a truck that was stopped on the tracks at the Rice Avenue crossing near Oxnard at about 5:40 am on February 24, 2015. One person, the train's engineer, later died of his injuries. The driver, who had left the truck before the crash, was located by
4399-478: The formation of Amtrak in 1971. However, rail operations suitable for commuters remained elusive throughout the 1980s. On October 18, 1982, CalTrain , LA's first commuter rail service, began on the existing Ventura County Line , but only lasted a few months before termination, on March 1, 1983. The Orange County Transportation Commission initiated the Amtrak-operated Orange County Commuter in early 1990, running between Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano, but
4482-402: The last semaphores located on the NMDOT (former 4th Santa Fe District / Glorieta Sub) section of the line, between WSS Lamy and Waldo Siding near Cerrillos were replaced, leaving only 11 blades currently in operation between Wagon Mound and Colmor, in the BNSF Raton Sub. [REDACTED] Media related to Southwest Chief at Wikimedia Commons For 150 mph (241 km/h) or more in
4565-688: The line for work commutes. The median household income for riders was US$ 86,028 . Ridership by ethnicity was evenly split: Numerous accidents and deaths have occurred on the Riverside Line since its inception. Metrolink (California) [REDACTED] All stations are accessible 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 . The system consists of eight lines and 69 stations operating on 545.6 miles (878.1 km) of track. This includes Arrow , which Metrolink operates under
4648-448: The majority of these being pedestrians killed on the tracks, whilst 39 were as a result of three train collisions. Two people died and 22 were seriously injured on April 23, 2002, when a BNSF 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
4731-432: The merger of the Burlington Northern and the Santa Fe in 1996, BNSF constructed a connector track at Cameron, Illinois , which allowed freight and passenger trains to transfer between the BN Mendota Subdivision and the Chillicothe Subdivision. The Chief was rerouted on the old Burlington Northern (former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad - CB&Q ) through Naperville , Princeton , and Mendota to Galesburg,
4814-447: The name and numbers were never used. Amtrak dropped the practice with its May 1998 timetable. The Southwest Chief was one of five routes studied for possible performance improvements by Amtrak in FY 2012. The part of the Southwest Chief's route in western Kansas, southeastern Colorado, and northeastern New Mexico faced uncertainty throughout the 2010s. In 2010, BNSF said that Amtrak would have to pay for all track maintenance on
4897-467: The parking needed to accompany the station. Construction on the $ 24 million Placentia station began in 2018, and was scheduled to open in 2024, but now is on hold pending further negotiations with BNSF . On November 9, 2022, Metrolink broke ground on the Burbank Junction speed improvement project. The project will realign and replace the mainline track and siding between Burbank Boulevard and Magnolia Boulevard . The project will shorten trip lengths on
4980-434: The police and taken into custody. The train consisted of a Hyundai-Rotem "guardian fleet" cab car in the lead, a Bombardier Bi-level "bike car" coach, two Hyundai-Rotem "guardian fleet" coach cars and an EMD F59PH locomotive. After this accident, Metrolink leased 40 diesel freight locomotives from BNSF, to be placed into service as temporary cab cars while they investigated problems with their Hyundai-Rotem cars. On July 8, 2016,
5063-491: The portion of the Southwest Chief ' route between La Junta and Lamy (Raton and Glorieta Subdivisions), because BNSF does not run any freight trains over this segment. BNSF also said that they would be lowering the track class on the portion of the Southwest Chief's route between Hutchinson and La Junta from Class IV to Class III and decreasing the passenger train speed limit from 79 mph (127 km/h) to 60 mph (97 km/h). In return, BNSF proposed rerouting
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#17328547607835146-413: 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
5229-402: The route between La Junta and Albuquerque (Raton and Glorieta Subs) is known for having some of the last active semaphores on a Class I railroad mainline, dating back to the ATSF era. Little and/or no freight traffic on those portions of the Chief's route is what caused the semaphores to last until the present day, although over time many were removed by both BNSF and NMDOT . In August 2024,
5312-572: The route of an abandoned freight line, it would require significant funding, 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. Expansion to Hemet has also been discussed, with two stations planned. The cities of the Coachella Valley Palm Springs Area ( Palm Springs , Cathedral City , Palm Desert , Indio , and Coachella ) have requested commuter rail service from Los Angeles and Orange County, but
5395-487: The route through FY2019". In February 2020, USDOT granted $ 225,000 toward studying a Southwest Chief spur train service that would run to Colorado Springs, Colorado , via Pueblo. This follows prior plans to add service to Pueblo and connect with the proposed Front Range Passenger Rail service between Denver and Pueblo. It would have also run along former Colorado & Southern tracks through Walsenburg, reconnecting with its current alignment at Trinidad. In May 2022,
5478-469: The route was not changed. However, this same part of the Southwest Chief's route was threatened again in 2018 when it became the focal point of a struggle to determine whether to continue Amtrak as a national network or to operate regional stand-alone networks. The issue arose when Amtrak introduced new requirements for the third renewal grant and raised previously undiscussed technical issues. A letter dated May 31, 2018, co-signed by 11 Senators, condemned
5561-437: The route. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) has plans to add the current LA General Medical Center station on the El Monte Busway as an infill station to the San Bernardino Line . This would involve building a second track and center platform. The cost of this project is estimated between $ 51 million and $ 110 million. Currently, westbound Metrolink passengers must exit at
5644-402: The schedule. Metrolink and Amtrak also entered into a code-sharing agreement on the Ventura County Line , with Pacific Surfliner trains A761, A770, A777, and A784 accepting valid Metrolink tickets between stations served by the Ventura County Line and Ventura station . Metrolink also announced that Metrolink service to Ventura station on the Ventura County Line is planned. Arrow , formerly
5727-438: 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. 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
5810-463: The station's owner at the time, for $ 17 million in the same year ($ 39.6 million adjusted for inflation) (Union Station has since been purchased by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority ). Freight operations would continue on some corridors under coordination with passenger services. The joint powers authority was formally founded in 1991. Services commenced on October 26, 1992, under contracted operation by Amtrak with
5893-399: The station. As Metrolink trains along the Riverside Line share tracks with Union Pacific freight trains , delays of up to 90 minutes are not uncommon. In April 2005, morning westbound trains arrived on schedule 90% of the time, while those headed east during the evening arrived on schedule only 72% of the time. Ridership for the Riverside Line has gradually declined following the opening of
5976-441: 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. Ridership continued to rise in 2012 (up 2%), when average weekday ridership reached 42,265. Although 2013 annual boardings were almost 12.07 million, ridership dropped to 11.74 million by fall 2014 which
6059-490: The train, and Amtrak renamed it the Southwest Chief on October 28, 1984. In September 1993, the Chief was the first of Amtrak's western long-distance trains to receive the new Superliner II sleeping coaches built by Bombardier Transportation . In 1979, the Southwest Chief route between Kansas City and Emporia was shifted in order to maintain service to Topeka and Lawrence, which would otherwise have lost service when
6142-490: Was awarded $ 1.175 billion from the California State Transportation Agency in order to dramatically increase train service along its existing lines and for the expansion of the Metrolink station in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics . These funds will be used to heavily increase frequency on Metrolink's lines, with half-hourly frequencies planned on most routes. During the initial years of operation of
6225-584: Was awarded to Connex Railroad/ Veolia Transport . That same year, 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
6308-460: Was canceled after the city rejected it due to local opposition on March 16, 2004. In July 2008, it was announced that ridership had risen 16% over the previous year. Following the 2008 Chatsworth train collision in which 25 people died and 135 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
6391-482: Was cancelled due to low ridership. As of November 2021, the line has seven trains daily on weekdays only with reverse commute service temporarily eliminated in 2019, but revived with only one train per day as of 2021. The Riverside Line can be used to get to Ontario International Airport ; the East Ontario station has an airport shuttle served by Omnitrans Bus route 81 as of 2019, including discounted Lyft fares from
6474-474: Was contrary to projections. Blaming the decrease on the worst recession since World War II , Metrolink said it found itself caught between cutting service and boosting fares, both of which would likely further decrease ridership. Metrolink began offering mobile ticketing in early 2016. The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) extended the 91 Line (which was renamed the 91/Perris Valley Line ) southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Perris , using
6557-487: Was delayed by almost one year, with the project initially scheduled to break ground in the winter of 2021 and was expected to be completed in the winter of 2022. The current expected completion date is the Summer of 2023. In 2008, lobbyists pushed for a rail line to Temecula in southwestern Riverside County via the 91 Line's (now the 91/Perris Valley Line ) Riverside–La Sierra station . While this proposed line could follow
6640-401: Was excessive speed on a curve. Underlying causes included the engineer's unfamiliarity with the route and speed restriction signage having been removed during track repairs. On August 9, 1997, the eastbound Southwest Chief derailed about 5 miles northeast of Kingman, Arizona , when a bridge whose undergirding had been washed out by a flash flood collapsed under the weight of the train, which
6723-427: Was heavily renovated in 1998. As a result, many riders believe Metrolink has not made the line as much of a priority for frequent usage, which has shown in the decline of trains per day in recent schedule updates. As of 2022, the Riverside Line operates seven trains on weekdays only. In 2011, the average weekday ridership was 5,161 passengers, with 46 percent male and 54 percent female. Eighty-nine percent of riders used
6806-568: Was rerouted on November 28, 1993, replacing the stops at Pasadena and Pomona with Fullerton . Westbound service was rerouted on January 15, 1994. An additional stop at Riverside was added on April 29, 2002. Prior to 1996, the Southwest Chief operated in Illinois between Chicago and Galesburg via the ATSF's Chillicothe Subdivision, stopping at Joliet , Streator , and Chillicothe . Following
6889-412: Was traveling close to 90 mph (145 km/h). While the lead locomotive stayed on the track, the three trailing locomotives, nine passenger cars, and seven baggage and mail cars derailed. All stayed upright. Of the 325 passengers and crew aboard, 154 were injured and none were killed. On October 16, 1999, the westbound Southwest Chief suffered a minor derailment near Ludlow, California , following
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