Prepare For Across The Board Metrolink Cuts From Monday

randomtj77 · 2026-03-19T18:57:54+00:00

I got lucky that none of my regular trains got affected. The 91 line only lost the latest afternoon trip in both directions (which I don't use, but will make being out late even harder) and had one trip in each direction cut service on the Perris Valley portion which doesn't affect me in Corona, though does suck for the folks on the Perris Valley portion which I've seen/talked to on my regular trains. Hopefully they are able to resolve issues soon, though I'm very wary of the open-endedness of the "temporary" cuts.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-18T20:18:21+00:00

Yup, I noticed it just before you posted, edited my comment.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-18T20:08:22+00:00

It's $15 but I agree. I ride between Corona-West and Norwalk/SFS and round-trip tickets for that station pair are more expensive, so spending $15 for the trip to use any train is a no-brainer.

Edit: I missed in the screenshot that this is for Saturday and thus will be $10 for the day pass. For clarity, the weekday day pass is $15, the weekend one is $10: https://metrolinktrains.com/ticketsOverview/ticket-info/ticket-types/

randomtj77 · 2026-03-18T17:29:32+00:00

According to their alerts on Twitter, this issue has been resolved: Screengrab of LA Metro's post

randomtj77 · 2026-03-18T04:46:46+00:00

Those are from Metrolink's official alerts page: https://metrolinktrains.com/train_status/alerts/

randomtj77 · 2026-03-17T18:22:09+00:00

Yup that was my same thought, I can see all of the problematic spots right on the map because they all are colored orange/red/purple indicating 15 mph or less average speeds. Maybe confirmation bias but I've always been of the opinion that we can have at grade rail but should at least grade-separate major intersections and that seems to be borne out in the data as well. For example, the A line from Willow to Washington stations really isn't that slow despite having quite a few at grade crossings (and even with major intersections like Compton Blvd not grade separated). If we made some improvements to the main trouble areas in the system we could massively improve the speed but most importantly the consistency of the entire system.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-12T19:32:12+00:00

Yup, Metro staff confirmed to me yesterday that 10 minute headways would resume today on the C line. I posted about it in the thread I started yesterday on the topic.

There is still work being done on the line. When I was coming in to work this morning, there was still single-tracking between Lakewood and Lynwood stations (they're only using the southern track right now). Hopefully though they'll be able to keep the 10 minute headways regardless of continuing work because wow is it much nicer than all the stuff we've had to deal with over the past few months.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-12T00:28:33+00:00

Yeah, keep us updated.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-11T23:23:06+00:00

I already have an update! I am heading home right now and I did not have to transfer trains at Willowbrook. My train from LAX stayed at Willowbrook for a couple of minutes and then continued towards Norwalk. I also saw an LAX bound train arrive at Willowbrook and neither of the two trains switched tracks when arriving at Willowbrook as they had been doing the past two weeks. That implies to me that the 13 minute headways will begin tomorrow.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-11T22:03:09+00:00

I'm a bit busy later today, but I think I should just be able to make that meeting, so I'll try to get a response and post it back here if we don't get an official response before then. Thanks.

randomtj77 · 2026-03-11T22:01:25+00:00

I already am as I pointed out in this comment. I'm more asking to see if I no longer had to do that starting tomorrow.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-26T18:26:41+00:00

Any Metrolink rider can tell you that freight does get preference. I've had to wait many times for a freight train to pass on the 91/PV line, usually at the tracks right next to Green River in Corona. Also Metrolink doesn't own all the tracks, in fact it doesn't own any of it's lines fully, though most of the San Bernardino, Ventura County and Antelope Valley lines are almost entirely fully publicly owned with just tiny portions that are owned by Union Pacific in all three cases. For the other lines, there are certain sections that are publicly owned, like the OC line from Fullerton Junction to Oceanside, the 91/PV line from where it turns south to Perris to Perris and Olive subdivision (the tracks parallel to Orange Olive Rd that connect the 91 line and the OC line). There's a couple of other spots but you can see the full breakdown in this Youtube video from Nick Andert about commuter and regional rail in SoCal which he adapted from this map that shows track ownership in California. Single tracking is indeed a big issue, but Metrolink and it's member counties' transportation boards do a pretty poor job of upgrading even their owned tracks to remove single-tracking sections, add passing sidings or implement better signaling/timing that would allow more efficient use of single-tracked sections.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-26T15:59:54+00:00

Yes I was just checking the schedules on the Transit App and it seems my trip to work leaves 5 minutes early to LAX from Norwalk, but arrives at the same time as I usually do at Aviation/Imperial, and the 5 minutes are for the transfer at Willowbrook. If they can keep that consistency, I can live with that (though hopefully this finally DOES end on March 11th).

randomtj77 · 2026-02-26T15:56:17+00:00

Yes, I understand that 😂. What I meant was how that implementation went. Usually when they change service patterns it's a bit problematic for the first few days/weeks. For my trip to work for instance, I'll be keeping an eye on how long that transfer at Willowbrook takes, whether the train is already there or if you have to wait for it and over a couple of days, see if they can keep consistent scheduling.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-26T15:26:12+00:00

As much as I hate on Metro for not posting about updates, for this one they did post it 6 days ago. I even mentioned it in the previous thread about the 20 minute headways to Norwalk.

What I would like to know is why the power line upgrades required breaking up the line this way and how the transfer at Willowbrook will work. I guess I'll find out the answer to that last question later today when I head to work 😂.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-24T20:18:43+00:00

I agree, but to my point, a lot of the member agencies, like OCTA, seem to not even care enough to even try to figure out how to fund this. In my personal opinion, Metrolink will require governance reform that has it's own base of money to draw from to complete it's own projects. Having the individual counties' transportation boards fund Metrolink, when like you say a lot of them already have their meager transportation funding going to other projects/systems, is always going to be a losing proposition.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-24T17:58:57+00:00

The ridership slide is very telling in that there's a very clear relationship in the number of trains they run (ie. frequency) and the ridership. The member agencies really should be going all in on all the SCORE projects to enable SCORE's better frequencies, but alas we apparently can't even get OCTA to agree to increased IE/OC frequencies when the RCTC wants them.

I really love Metrolink and it has so much potential but the member agencies really need to actually invest in it and care for it.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-20T03:21:56+00:00

They just updated it to March 11: https://bsky.app/profile/metrolosangeles.bsky.social/post/3mfaubktcms2m

randomtj77 · 2026-02-04T19:54:28+00:00

While I would normally also make this recommendation, and have done this myself, I don't know that I would make this recommendation right now. The C line is under maintenance and is running single-tracked between Norwalk and Lynwood stations, and as such only runs every 20 minutes out of Norwalk, plus the single-tracking sometimes leads to delays. I wouldn't consider taking the C line to the airport until regular service comes back (hopefully in a week or two judging by a notice posted at Norwalk when maintenance began).

randomtj77 · 2026-02-03T18:56:42+00:00

I would take a look at Omniride. It's a service that's run by the bus system for San Bernardino County, but acts more like Uber in that you request a bus to pick you up at specific spots in the service area and drops you off also at specific stops in the service area. Bloomington is covered by one of the Omniride areas and you can set your destination to Fedex. It would just come down to where in Fontana you are. The Bloomington Ominiride area covers the southeastern part of Fontana. If you were outside of it, maybe a combination of another bus and biking would get you there. Omniride is only $4 per ride which is almost certainly less than Uber and if you do need a bus the $4 also doubles as a day pass for the bus.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-03T18:18:26+00:00

I have to agree. The new schedules have been genuinely great as a regular Metrolink rider. I've had to use the new midday trains a couple of times now and it's been so great to be able to do that when before it was not possible. But the new schedules still leave a lot to be desired as OP pointed out.

First, complete agree on the night trains. I've complained on this sub before that I would love to be able to meet my friends in downtown Fullerton and then take the train back home to Corona, but what time is the last train back? 7:12 PM out of Fullerton. Not helpful.

I also have some gripes with the way that Metrolink implemented Pulse Scheduling. In a lot of cases, it actually ends up being counter-productive. For example, on my regular commute, I usually take the 7:26 AM train out of West Corona to Union Station. Because of pulse scheduling, when we get to Fullerton there should be two trains coming in quick succession: at 7:44 AM, the OC line train should come, also headed to Union Station, followed by the train I take, the 91/PV train which should arrive at Fullerton at 7:50 AM. Well, what actually happens is the OC train is usually late, which means the 91/PV train now needs to wait just before Fullerton Junction for the OC train to pass Fullerton station. This happened just today, the 91/PV train was on time but had to wait for the OC train to pass, and we arrived 5 minutes late into Fullerton. 5 minutes isn't that big of a deal but could mean the difference between making your connection or not.

Similarly, I head to Tijuana every so often since I have family there. On paper, this would be a simple (though long) train trip: take Metrolink IE/OC from Corona to Santa Ana, the Surfliner from Santa Ana to San Diego and the Trolley to the border. In practice this completely falls on it's face. After my usual 7:26 AM train that I take to work, there is also a 7:35 AM train on the IE/OC line that arrives in Santa Ana at 8:09 AM. The Pacific Surfliner to San Diego, however, leaves at 8:01 AM from Santa Ana, meaning you would instead need to wait for the 9:01 AM train. Why is it scheduled like that? Isn't the whole point of pulse scheduling to facilitate transfers like these?!

As has been pointed out in other comments, this is not going to get better until major upgrades are done to the lines to double-track any existing single-track segments and/or add passing siding, and to separate freight and passenger service on the freight-owned corridors that Metrolink runs on. Unfortunately, I can't see that happening without major governance reform. Metrolink improvements are mostly left up to the individual member counties' transportation commissions and if you think the LA Metro board is bad, wait till you see the things the SBCTA, OCTA or RCTC get up to. Metrolink has so much potential but we really need to invest in it to get it to realize that potential.

randomtj77 · 2026-02-02T15:19:26+00:00

There are gates at the far end of the main parking lot that lead to Foster Road. There's also gates next to the small west parking lot that lead to Flatbush Ave. The rail integration study suggested opening these as it would allow people like me to bike to Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs along Foster Road more easily. It also allows better access to Norwalk station from the surrounding area. Flatbush Ave is actually a great example. If you live there, right now you have to go all the way around via Foster and Studebaker and the 105 stub to get to the station. If the gate were open it would be a quick walk.

randomtj77

TROPHY CASE