March proved to be a historic month for Metrolink, the local passenger rail line serving six counties in Southern California.
On Thursday, Metrolink said it has the highest number of weekend boarding in the agency’s history for a month.
In total, the weekend of 122,693 people boarded the Metrolink train in March, overturning record numbers before the set in September 2018.
This is an important milestone for the rail system, and is about to evolve from strictly commuted services to general purpose passenger rail lines.
Metrolink commuter trains running along San Clemente Beach in this undated photo. (Getty Images)
Late last year, Metrolink released an updated service schedule at Los Angeles Union Station, including more trains and shorter transfer windows. After the “Rubber Start,” a schedule suitable for the existing rider schedule was remodeled earlier this year.
Metrolink has also expanded its popular student adventure path. This will allow kindergarten to university students to ride for free at least in June 2025. The weekend pass, free weekend rides for kids, and the SoCal Explorer Rewards program are one of Metrolink’s coordinated efforts to attract more riders.
Doug Chaffey, chairman of the board and Orange County supervisor, praises these “innovative campaigns and promotions” for their record-breaking weekend ridership and their growing and evolving customer base.
“In addition to working and going in and out, riders today know that Metrolink is a great option to explore local destinations such as the famous beaches in Orange County, visit friends and family, and connect with new experiences,” Chaffey said.
Passengers with bikes will be waiting at Downtown Redlands Station on Monday, October 24th, 2022. I’m getting ready to ride the Arrow Rail Service between the Redlands and San Bernardino. (Getty Images)
The weekend’s ridership record represents a pivotal moment in Metrolink’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Officials said this is the first time the rail line has surpassed its pre-pandemic milestone.
Metrolink, like many transport and other industries, is struggling to bounce back from the sudden decline brought on by the pandemic. Officials said the spring of 2020 and associated Covid-19 mitigation measures have brought about fundamental changes to Southern California’s travel and transportation systems.
Five years later, Metrolink says that the weekend ridership has fully recovered from the pandemic.
However, the Monday-Friday ridership still has some grounds to compensate. Officials said riderships on weekdays the previous year were around 65% as of March.
However, the railway line says it continues to see recovery. Metrolink’s overall ridership in March was 71% of its pre-pandemic high, the highest recovery figure to date. Also, since debuting its updated schedule, Metrolink said its “Off Peak” service had grown significantly through March, up 74% year-on-year.
Several well-known events in Southern California in March contributed to ridership milestones, including International Women’s Day protests and rallies in downtown Los Angeles, the swallow parade in San Juan Capistrano, and the Be India Wonderland Festival in San Bernardino.
Click here to learn more about this milestone.
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