More frequent trains will run during day, evening, and weekend hours — making the Antelope Valley Line the first Metrolink line to offer nearly hourly service
When Metrolink implements its next set of service changes on October 23, Antelope Valley Line (AVL) riders will see a significant boost in trips thanks to approval from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors today of funding for new weekday and weekend service.
Initiated by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger – who is also a Metrolink and Metro Board member – over $1.6 million will be allocated to add new midday and evening round trips during the week, along with new round trips on the weekends and dedicated armed security services for late night trains.
The added Metrolink service will significantly improve the public transportation system’s accessibility and availability for a large swath of County riders from across the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys.
“Since the outset of the pandemic, we’ve been keeping a close eye on Metrolink ridership recovery and have found there is demand for service that we historically haven’t provided,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “So, when the opportunity presented itself, I seized the moment to both bring back pre-pandemic service levels and advance how we serve the needs of our previous, current, and future riders.”
The new Metrolink schedules that will be updated in October will provide riders with predictable train arrival times throughout the day, fill midday service gaps, and provide options for riders who work unconventional hours or who wish to use the system to attend community events, visit family, and other activities within reach of the AVL. Funding for the program is through cost savings earmarked exclusively for regional rail. More details about funding is further specified in the Metro’s staff report.
The detailed new weekday and expanded weekend schedules are specified as Option 3 in this document.
In addition to approving Metrolink’s AVL service increases, the Metro Board also approved a motion by Director Ara Najarian and co-authored by Barger, Hilda L. Solis and Paul Krekorian, which seeks to address issues throughout the AVL corridor pertaining to train horn noise.
“Service changes can also introduce some challenges,” said Barger. “Train horns, for example, are critical for safety but can create quality of life issues for residents who live nearby. I am sensitive to these and other concerns that may arise. I’m committed to finding solutions.”