Service expansion
Saturday service on the Antelope Valley Line has been operating since 1999, [9] Sunday service was added in September 2007. [10] As of August 2013, weekend service has expanded to 6 trains on Saturdays and Sundays. [11] Arrivals at LA Union Station are timed to allow passengers to connect with Amtrak trains and trains on Metrolink's Orange County and San Bernardino lines. [11]
Express service was added to the line in May 2011. [12] Two express trains operated in the peak commute direction between Palmdale and Los Angeles (one southbound train in the morning, one northbound train in the evening). Express trains were about 18 minutes faster than trains that stop at all stations. Express service was later removed.
On April 30, 2015, Metrolink announced it will be offering discounted fares to riders on the Antelope Valley Line beginning July 1, 2015 as part of a pilot program. The fare pilot program, which will be in place for six months following the program's launch, will include several new ticket pricing options for riders on the Antelope Valley Line. There will be a 25 percent reduction in fares on all ticket types for trips along the corridor from Los Angeles to Lancaster, with the exception of the Weekend Day Pass, which will remain at its current $10 fare. In addition, a new "station-to-station" fare will be introduced in which riders traveling during off-peak hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) will be able to purchase a one-way ticket to travel between stations for $2 per station. This fare is designed to encourage local trips using Metrolink as an additional mobility option complementing local bus service. [13]
A new Burbank Airport–North station opened in 2018 to serve Antelope Valley Line passengers traveling to Hollywood Burbank Airport. The station is located near the intersection of San Fernando Boulevard and Hollywood Way, with a free shuttle bus for passengers to the airport terminal located approximately one mile away from the station site. Metrolink tickets holders may also make a free Metro bus connection with Metrolink ticket. [14]
In July 2019, additional late evening train service and bi-directional service were being considered. [15] An additional infill station at Vista Canyon in Santa Clarita began construction in 2020. [16] In September 2023, the Metro Board of Directors approved $1.6 million in funding to add more midday and evening round trips starting October 23, 2023. [17] The Vista Canyon station opened the same day the expanded timetable went into service, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 20, 2023. [18]
