Antelope Valley Line

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Antelope Valley Line
Metrolink I5 - Balboa.jpg
Antelope Valley Line train descending from the Newhall Pass
Overview
Owner Metrolink (track; Los Angeles–Lancaster) [1]
Locale Northern Greater Los Angeles Area
Termini
Stations13
Service
Type Commuter rail
System Metrolink
Operator(s) Metrolink
Daily ridership2,647 (June 2023) [2]
History
OpenedOctober 26, 1992 (October 26, 1992)
Technical
Line length76.6 miles (123.3 km) [3]
CharacterMostly surface-level with one tunnel section
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed79 mph (127 km/h) maximum
35 mph (56 km/h) average [3]
Route map
Antelope Valley Line Antelope Valley Line highlighted in green
BSicon KBHFa green.svg
Lancaster
BSicon HST green.svg
Palmdale
BSicon HST green.svg
Vincent Grade/Acton
BSicon HST green.svg
Vista Canyon
BSicon HST green.svg
Via Princessa
BSicon BHF green.svg
Santa Clarita
BSicon HST green.svg
Newhall
BSicon TUNNEL1 green.svg
BSicon HST green.svg
Sylmar/San Fernando
BSicon HST green.svg
Sun Valley
BSicon INT green.svg
Burbank Airport–North
BSicon FLUG.svg via Bus-logo.svg
BSicon CONTgq saffron.svg
BSicon tSTR+r saffron.svg
BSicon mABZg+r green+saffron.svg
BSicon tSTR saffron.svg
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR green.svg
Downtown Burbank
BSicon tSTR saffron.svg
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR green.svg
Glendale
BSicon KDSTaq.svg
BSicon tSTR saffron.svg
BSicon mABZg+r green+.svg
Central Maintenance Facility
BSicon tKINTaq saffron.svg
BSicon lHST denim.svg
BSicon KSTRaq green.svg
BSicon STR+r black.svg
BSicon STRr green.svg
BSicon tSTRr saffron.svg
BSicon STR2+r maroon.svg
BSicon STRc3 maroon.svg
L.A. Union Station
LAMetroLogo.svg
BSicon STRc1 maroon.svg
BSicon STR black.svg
BSicon CONT4 maroon.svg
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Other service sharing track
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Multiple services sharing track
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Stations with Amtrak service

Wheelchair symbol.svg All stations are accessible

The Antelope Valley Line is a commuter rail line that serves the Northern Los Angeles County area as part of the Metrolink system. The northern segment of the line is rural in character because it travels through the sparsely populated Soledad Canyon between Santa Clarita and Palmdale, serving the small community of Acton along the way. Other portions of its route parallel the former US Route 6, now San Fernando Road and Sierra Highway. This is the only Metrolink line contained entirely within Los Angeles County.

Contents

History

The line along the Santa Clara River and into Los Angeles was completed by Southern Pacific in 1876 as the first railway to connect the city to the national network. The last passenger trains operated over the line in 1971 followed by the final freight train in 1979. [4]

In 1992 the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, predecessor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, purchased the right of way from Southern Pacific. [5] [6] Control of the line was then transferred to the newly-formed Southern California Regional Rail Authority who prepared the route for commuter rail service. Passenger operations began on October 26, 1992 and was called the Santa Clarita Line at the time. It was one of three original lines in the Metrolink system along with the Ventura County and San Bernardino lines. The route initially ran from Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Clarita station, with intermediate stops only at Glendale and Downtown Burbank stations. [7]

Earthquake traffic relief

Since the beginning of service, Metrolink had plans to extend the line north to the Antelope Valley but these plans were expedited by almost ten years following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. [7] The earthquake caused the collapse of the freeway connector of State Route 14 (the Antelope Valley Freeway) onto Interstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway) at the Newhall Pass interchange, forcing all traffic in both directions to use the parallel truck route to the east of I-5 that was unaffected by the quake. With funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency the Southern California Regional Rail Authority constructed an emergency extension of the line to Lancaster to help relieve the traffic bottleneck. The U.S. Navy Seabees construction battalion and crews from the L.A. County Public Works Department were able to construct the stations in just a few days, compared to the normal three to six months. Emergency stations in Lancaster and Palmdale were both built in just three days and Metrolink started operating trains one week after the earthquake struck. Over the next five weeks additional emergency stations were added in Sylmar/San Fernando, Vincent Grade/Acton and Santa Clarita (Via Princessa). [7] [8] While most of the emergency stations have since been replaced with permanent stations, the Via Princessa station still uses the same platform built after the earthquake.

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]

Pacoima plane crash

On January 9, 2022, a private Cessna 172 crashed onto the tracks of the Antelope Valley Line at Osborne Street in Pacoima after taking off from nearby Whiteman Airport and was then struck by a Metrolink train. The Cessna's pilot was injured in the initial crash, but Los Angeles Police Department officers on the scene were able to help him out of the wreckage before it was hit by the train. No one aboard the train was injured. [19] [20]

Service

Santa Clarita station in the Soledad Canyon Santa Clarita Metro Station (2).jpg
Santa Clarita station in the Soledad Canyon

As of October 23,2023, the Antelope Valley Line is served by 30 Metrolink trains (15 in each direction) each weekday, evenly spaced throughout the day. Of those trains, 22 travel the entire length of the line from Los Angeles to Lancaster and eight trains short turn, traveling only between Los Angeles and the Vista Canyon station in Santa Clarita. [21] Four of the short turn trains (2 in each direction) are met by Antelope Valley Transit Authority route 790, the North County TRANSporter, a bus route that allows passengers on these trains to travel to the Palmdale station. [22]

On weekends, the Antelope Valley Line is served by 24 Metrolink trains (12 in each direction), evenly spaced throughout the day. Of those trains, 12 travel the entire length of the line from Los Angeles to Lancaster and 12 trains travel only between Los Angeles and the Via Princessa station. [23]

Stations

All stations are located in Los Angeles County.

StationConnectionsLocation
Lancaster Lancaster
Palmdale Palmdale
Vincent Grade/Acton Acton
Vista Canyon Santa Clarita
Via Princessa
Santa Clarita
Newhall
Sylmar/San Fernando Sylmar
Sun Valley Sun Valley
Burbank Airport–North BSicon FLUG.svg Shuttle to Hollywood Burbank Airport Burbank
Downtown Burbank Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Ventura County
Glendale Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Ventura County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Glendale
L.A. Union Station Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Orange County Riverside San Bernardino Ventura County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner , Southwest Chief , Sunset Limited , Texas Eagle
LAMetroLogo.svg Metro: LACMTA Circle A Line.svg  A Line LACMTA Circle B Line.svg  B Line LACMTA Circle D Line.svg  D Line LACMTA Square J Line.svg  J Line
BSicon FLUG.svg FlyAway to LAX
Los Angeles

Future development

Metrolink was awarded $107 million in 2020 Intercity Rail Capital Program funds to begin a suite of upgrades to the line that would allow increasing frequencies to half-hourly between Santa Clarita and hourly to Lancaster. The improvements could add two infill stations between Burbank and Union Station, [24] but staff recommend against utilizing multiple units. [25] Metro announced in October 2020 that an environmental impact report is being prepared for a project which would add new double track between the Sylmar/San Fernando and Newhall stations and a second station platform at Santa Clarita Station. Lancaster would get a new center platform and storage tracks with this project. [26]

An expansion to Kern County has been discussed in a 2012 Kern County Council of Governments report. Trains would stop in Rosamond and Mojave. [27]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrolink (California)</span> Regional commuter rail system serving Southern California

Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County. The system consists of eight lines and 69 stations operating on 545.6 miles (878.1 km) of track. This includes Arrow, which Metrolink operates under a contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 14</span> State highway in Los Angeles and Kern counties in California, United States

State Route 14 (SR 14) is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that connects Los Angeles to the northern Mojave Desert. The southern portion of the highway is signed as the Antelope Valley Freeway. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 5 in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Granada Hills and Sylmar just immediately to the south of the border of the city of Santa Clarita. SR 14's northern terminus is at U.S. Route 395 (US 395) near Inyokern. Legislatively, the route extends south of I-5 to SR 1 in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles; however, the portion south of the junction with I-5 has not been constructed. The southern part of the constructed route is a busy commuter freeway serving and connecting the cities of Santa Clarita, Palmdale, and Lancaster to the rest of the Greater Los Angeles area. The northern portion, from Vincent to US 395, is legislatively named the Aerospace Highway, as the highway serves Edwards Air Force Base, once one of the primary landing strips for NASA's Space Shuttle, as well as the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake that supports military aerospace research, development and testing. This section is rural, following the line between the hot Mojave desert and the forming Sierra Nevada mountain range. Most of SR 14 is loosely paralleled by a rail line originally built by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and was once the primary rail link between Los Angeles and Northern California. While no longer a primary rail line, the southern half of this line is now used for the Antelope Valley Line of the Metrolink commuter rail system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ventura County Line</span> Commuter rail line in Southern California

The Metrolink Ventura County Line is a commuter rail line serving Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, in the Southern California system. The line is the successor of the short lived CalTrain commuter rail line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Bernardino Line</span> Commuter rail line in Southern California

The San Bernardino Line is a Metrolink line running between Downtown Los Angeles east through the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire to San Bernardino, with limited express service to Redlands. It is one of the three initial lines on the original Metrolink system, along with the Santa Clarita Line and the Ventura County Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soledad Canyon</span> Canyon in Los Angeles County, California, United States

Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon/valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. It is a part of the Santa Clara River Valley, and extends from the top of Soledad Pass to the open plain of the valley in Santa Clarita. The upstream section of the Santa Clara River runs through it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Santa Clarita Transit</span> Public transit agency serving the Santa Clarita Valley

City of Santa Clarita Transit is a local bus service, administered by the City's transit division, that serves the City of Santa Clarita, California and nearby surrounding unincorporated areas. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 2,111,800, or about 10,400 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024. Daily operations and maintenance of the fleet are under contract with MV Transportation. City of Santa Clarita Transit routes connect with services operated by Metro and Metrolink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chatsworth station</span> Transit hub in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California

Chatsworth station is an intermodal passenger transport station in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth, United States. It is served by Amtrak Pacific Surfliner inter-city rail service, Metrolink Ventura County Line commuter rail service, and the Metro G Line of the Los Angeles Metro Busway bus rapid transit. The station is also served by Los Angeles Metro Bus and Simi Valley Transit local buses, plus Santa Clarita Transit and LADOT Commuter Express regional express bus routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Burbank station</span> Railway station in Burbank, California

Downtown Burbank station is a passenger rail station near downtown Burbank, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line to Lancaster and Ventura County Line to East Ventura with both terminating at Los Angeles Union Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster station (California)</span>

Lancaster station is owned by and located in the city of Lancaster, California. It serves as a transfer point for several public transportation bus routes as well as the final Metrolink train station on the Antelope Valley Line that originates 69 miles (111 km) away in downtown Los Angeles, at Union Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Grade/Acton station</span> Train station in Acton, California, United States

Vincent Grade/Acton station is a Metrolink rail station just north of the community of Acton, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Lancaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Via Princessa station</span> Train station in Santa Clarita, California, US

Via Princessa station is a Metrolink (California) train station located in the Canyon Country neighborhood of the city of Santa Clarita, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Clarita station</span> Train station in Santa Clarita, California, US

Santa Clarita station is a Metrolink train station in the city of Santa Clarita, California. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster station. Because the City of Santa Clarita has three other Metrolink stations, this station is sometimes referred to as Soledad Metrolink. City of Santa Clarita Transit offers connecting bus service at the station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newhall station</span> Train station in Santa Clarita, California, US

Newhall station is an intermodal hub in the Newhall neighborhood of Santa Clarita, California. The station is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line operating between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster, Amtrak Thruway buses connecting to/from San Joaquins trains in Bakersfield, and serves as a transfer point in the City of Santa Clarita Transit bus system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylmar/San Fernando station</span> Metrolink stop in the northeast San Fernando Valley

Sylmar/San Fernando station is a Metrolink commuter rail train station located in Sylmar, California, and adjacent to the city of San Fernando. It is served by Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line between Los Angeles Union Station and Lancaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmdale Transportation Center</span> Train station in Palmdale, California, US

The Palmdale Transportation Center is a multi-modal transportation center in the city of Palmdale, California. Featuring a Metrolink rail station, a local bus hub, and commuter bus hub, the center was completely rebuilt in April 2005. It features a "clock tower plaza" which has an enclosed waiting room with concessions and vending, public telephone, restrooms, a bus pass sales office, and security service. The center has four partially enclosed shelters at the bus hub and six partially enclosed shelters for the rail platform. The center also has a large park and ride facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burbank Airport–North station</span> Railway station in Burbank, California

Burbank Airport–North station is a Metrolink train station in the city of Burbank, California. Passengers on the Antelope Valley Line, which travels between Lancaster, California and Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, can connect with the Hollywood Burbank Airport. The station is located near the intersection of San Fernando Boulevard and Hollywood Way and a free shuttle bus facilitates trips to the terminal located one-mile (1.6 km) from the station site. Metrolink ticket holders can also ride Los Angeles Metro Bus routes between the station and the terminal for free.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lang Southern Pacific Station</span> Historic site in Los Angeles County, California

Lang Southern Pacific Station is a former Southern Pacific railway station located in Soledad Canyon near the eastern end of Santa Clarita, California. On September 5, 1876, the first railway to Los Angeles was completed at this site. The Lang Southern Pacific Station was designated a California Historic Landmark on May 22, 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center</span> Transit center in Santa Clarita, California

The Vista Canyon Multi-Modal Center, also known as the Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center, is a Metrolink commuter rail station and transport hub in the Canyon Country neighborhood of Santa Clarita, California. It is located along Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line.

Burbank Airport station is a proposed California High-Speed Rail station in Burbank, California, to be located at the Hollywood Burbank Airport adjacent to and just west of that facility's proposed replacement passenger terminal, which will be built in the northeast quadrant of the airfield. The site for the rail station is bounded by Cohasset Street to the north, Winona Avenue on the south, and Hollywood Way along the eastern end of the airport property.

References

  1. "Experience Metrolink's History - metrolinktrains.com" . Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  2. "Quarterly Fact Sheet Q4 2022-2023" (PDF). Metrolink . June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Metrolink Fact Sheet (Q1 2017-18)" (PDF).
  4. "The Southern Pacific Railroad: See How the Train Station Functioned as a Stop". Santa Clarita Magazine. December 20, 2007.
  5. Martin, Hugo (September 25, 1992). "County agrees to buy rail line for service to Antelope Valley" . Los Angeles Times . ProQuest   281825164.
  6. 1991 California Rail Passenger Development Plan (PDF) (Report). Caltrans. July 1991. p. 175. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Gbenekama, Delana G. (October 2012). Metrolink 20th Anniversary Report (PDF). HWDS and Associates, Inc. pp. 9, 48. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  8. Moeser, Sharon (February 5, 1994). "Metrolink site on Via Princessa will open Monday. It is the latest addition in two weeks since emergency service was extended northward" . Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  9. "Metrolink Saturday Service Timetable". May 17, 1999. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  10. Koren, James Rufus (September 9, 2007). "Metrolink adding Sunday trains on AV line" (PDF). Antelope Valley Press. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Metrolink to double Antelope Valley Line Sunday service". Metrolink. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  12. "Metrolink riders now have faster commutes". KABC-TV. May 9, 2011. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  13. "Metrolink to offer fare reductions on Antelope Valley Line". Metrolink. April 30, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  14. "Metrolink, Metro and the Bob Hope Airport hold groundbreaking event for the Bob Hope Airport-Hollywood Way Metrolink Station". Archived from the original on July 5, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  15. Murga, Tammy (July 29, 2019). "L.A. Metro board approves motion to improve Antelope Valley Line service". Santa Clarita Valley Signal. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  16. Stewert, Raychel (October 27, 2020). "City Council holds ribbon cutting for new structure and Metrolink station" . Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  17. "Metro adds $1.6M and a new schedule for Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line". Los Angeles Daily News. MediaNews Group. September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  18. Quezada, Katherine (October 20, 2023). "Connecting communities through the rails". The Santa Clarita Valley Signal . Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  19. "Officers rescue pilot seconds before train hits crashed airplane on railroad tracks". www.msn.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  20. "Plane hit by train after crashing on train tracks in California". Reuters. January 10, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  21. "October 2024 Schedule Change | Metrolink". metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  22. "790 TRANSporter Schedule". Antelope Valley Transit Authority . Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  23. Sharp, Steven (July 17, 2020). "Metro Staff Recommend $175M Upgrade to Rail Service Between Burbank and DTLA" . Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  24. "Transit and Intercity Rail Capital ProgramFourth Round Selected Projects – Project Detail Summary" (PDF). CalSTA. California State Transportation Agency. pp. 9, 10. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  25. Sharp, Steven (October 6, 2020). "Environmental Review Starts for $220M Antelope Valley Line Upgrade". Urbanize LA. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  26. "Feasibility study" (PDF). www.kerncog.org.
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