LOS ANGELES — Southern California commuter rail operator Metrolink will add 26 trains to its schedule on April 4, moving closer to restoring service to its pre-pandemic level.
The schedule changes will also see new Sunday service on the commuter operator’s San Bernardino Line, and the option for Ventura County Line travelers to use four Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains — including on weekends, which will give that line its first Sunday option for Metrolink ticketholders.
“As Metrolink CEO, I’m elated that we’re able to restore our service close to pre-pandemic levels, so our riders can get to work, to friends and family, and to fun — more affordably and without the headaches of traffic and parking,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said in a press release. “As a Metrolink rider, I am happy that my two favorite Ventura County Line trains are coming back into service, so I can have more flexibility to get to and from work. And I know from my conversations with fellow Metrolink riders, they too are looking forward to the flexibility our new schedule will bring to their lives.”
The additional service includes six trains each on the Antelope Valley, San Bernardino, and Ventura County lines; four on the Riverside Line, and two each on the 91/Perris Valley and Orange County lines. Details of the changes, along with full schedules, are available here.
Metrolink reduced its schedules by approximately 30% in March 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 90% drop in ridership. It is currently at about 30% of pre-pandemic weekday ridership, but is seeing significant increases as employees return to their workplaces and with the rise of gas prices. The agency is projecting weekday ridership will be at 44% of pre-pandemic levels by midsummer.
Charles the article states that Metrolink is “projecting weekday ridership will be at 44% of pre-pandemic levels by midsummer”. It says nothing about what they “hope” for as you stated. I’d have to believe they’d “hope” for a 150% ridership increase. But I suspect they deal in a world of reality unlike some folks these days. As for the rest of your post. Tell it to Marjorie Taylor Green. She’ll be impressed.
I got roundly criticized — totally reamed out — the last time I posted about a commuter railroad (METRA BNSF). So I will repeat. The hysterical reaction to COVID has meant the death of public transportation in America, as well as to society’s entire fabric.
A commuter railroad hoping to rise to 44% of prior ridership? I’d call 150% something to hope for, but in post-COVID America that won’t happen.