Orange County Line

Last updated

Orange County Line
F59PH 860 High resolution.JPG
Metrolink locomotive 860 at Irvine
Overview
Owner BNSF (Los Angeles–Fullerton)
SCRRA (Fullerton–OC/SD County Line)
NCTD (OC/SD County Line–Oceanside)
Locale Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties
Termini
Stations15
Service
Type Commuter rail
System Metrolink
Operator(s) Metrolink
Daily ridership2,950 (June 2023) [1]
Technical
Line length87.2 miles (140.3 km)
CharacterElevated and surface-level
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed90 mph (140 km/h) (top) [2]
41 mph (66 km/h) (average) [3]
Route map
Orange County Line Orange County Line highlighted in orange
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L.A. Union Station
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Commerce
(limited)
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Pico Rivera
(proposed)
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Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs
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Buena Park
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Fullerton
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Anaheim
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Orange
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Santa Ana
( BSicon TRAM.svg 2025)
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Tustin
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Irvine
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Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo
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San Juan Capistrano
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San Clemente
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San Clemente Pier
(weekends)
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Oceanside
NCTD COASTER Icon (2019).svg NCTD SPRINTER Icon (2019).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 Orange County Line is a commuter rail line run by Metrolink from Los Angeles through Orange County to Oceanside in San Diego County, connecting with the Coaster commuter rail service to San Diego. The Orange County Line carries passengers to the primary Metrolink hub at L.A. Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, as well as to many attractions in Orange County including the Knott's Berry Farm area, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Honda Center, the Disneyland Resort, Old Town Orange, Santa Ana Zoo, Mission San Juan Capistrano and many more. In San Diego County, it serves the Oceanside Pier and Camp Pendelton. [4]

Contents

History

The Orange County Line began on April 30, 1990, as the Orange County Commuter, an Amtrak-operated service between Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano funded by the Orange County Transportation Authority. [5] [6] The Orange County Commuter made a single weekday round-trip, departing San Juan Capistrano in the morning and returning in the evening. [7] Between July and December 1993 during the Orange County Commuter's final months, both the Commerce and Orange Transportation Center stations opened. Amtrak conveyed the route to Metrolink on March 28, 1994, becoming the "Orange County Line" and Metrolink's fifth route. [8] [9] Service expanded to eight trips in 1995. [10]

In October 2005, the Orange County Transportation Authority announced that it would increase service on the Orange County Line, running trains twenty hours daily, seven days a week every 30 minutes. The first part of the additional service was implemented in June 2006 with Saturday service, and July 2006 with Sunday service. The plan has drawn criticism[ citation needed ] as many Metrolink stations are located beyond walking distance from important destinations such as Disneyland and the adjacent Anaheim Convention Center, Knott's Berry Farm, and the Irvine Spectrum. Funds for new rolling stock and track improvements were allocated from the voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax, while critics[ who? ] had advocated using the money for bus operations or other transit service instead. To address some of these issues, OCTA operates a series of Stationlink shuttle routes that connect Metrolink stations in Orange County to nearby destinations.

As of 2019 service is provided seven days a week, with 29 trains on weekdays, and 8 on weekends. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner supplements Orange County Line service by providing limited stop service along the corridor and more service during mid-days, nights and weekends.

Future development

The route of the Orange County Line may be used for future extensions of the planned California High-Speed Rail line from Los Angeles Union Station to Anaheim. Potential stops include Norwalk or Fullerton.

The line it uses, the Surf Line, is vulnerable to the effects of coastal erosion and sea level rise in San Clemente, California. Between 2022 and 2023, service was suspended several times due to coastal erosion. Service most recently resumed on May 27, 2023. [11]

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) also has plans for an infill station serving Pico Rivera, located between Commerce and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs stations. [12]

Route

While the Orange County Line shares trackage with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains, its northernmost stations (from Los Angeles to Fullerton, excluding Commerce) are shared with the 91/Perris Valley Line and nearly all of its other stations with the Inland Empire–Orange County Line (from Orange to Oceanside).

The Orange County Line runs on the BNSF Railway's Southern Transcon track between Los Angeles and Fullerton, under a shared-right-of-way agreement. Several stations, most notably the ones in downtown Fullerton and Santa Ana, are renovated Spanish Colonial Revival depots originally built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Sections of the line between Santa Ana and Oceanside allow for 90-mile-per-hour (140 km/h) operating speeds. [2]

Stations

Under Amtrak operation the Orange County Commuter stopped at the following stations: Los Angeles, Commerce, Fullerton, Anaheim–Stadium, Orange, Santa Ana, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano. [13] With the Metrolink takeover in 1994 the southern terminus moved to Oceanside and five infill stations were subsequently added: [14] San Clemente and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs in 1995, [15] [16] Tustin and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo in 2002, [17] [18] and Buena Park in 2007. [19]

StationConnectionsLocation
L.A. Union Station Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Antelope Valley 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 Los Angeles County
Commerce Commerce
Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Norwalk
Buena Park Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Buena Park Orange County
Fullerton Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner , Southwest Chief
Fullerton
Anaheim BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Anaheim
Orange Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Orange
Santa Ana Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Santa Ana
Tustin Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Tustin
Irvine Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Irvine
Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Laguna Niguel
San Juan Capistrano Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
San Juan Capistrano
San Clemente Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County San Clemente
San Clemente Pier (weekends) Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Oceanside Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
NCTD COASTER Icon (2019).svg Coaster
NCTD SPRINTER Icon (2019).svg Sprinter
Oceanside San Diego County

The October 2017 timetable shows ten weekday trains from Los Angeles to Oceanside and back, eight from Fullerton to Laguna Niguel and back, seven from Los Angeles to Laguna Niguel and back, four from Fullerton to Oceanside, and two from Los Angeles to Irvine and back.

Passengers that have monthly passes can use Pacific Surfliner trains between their station pairs on any day except for specific blacked out days by Amtrak for holidays and special events (such as events at Del Mar) on this line.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County Transportation Authority</span> Transportation planning commission for Orange County, California

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the transportation planning commission for Orange County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. OCTA is responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for the transportation system in the county, including freeway expansions, express lane management, bus and rail transit operation, and commuter rail funding and oversight.

<i>Pacific Surfliner</i> Inter-city rail service in Southern California

The Pacific Surfliner is a 350-mile (560 km) passenger train service serving the communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metrolink (California)</span> Commuter rail system in 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">Inland Empire–Orange County Line</span> Commuter rail line in Southern California

The Inland Empire–Orange County (IEOC) Line is a commuter rail line run by Metrolink in Southern California. It runs from San Bernardino through Orange County to Oceanside in northern San Diego County. When the line opened it became the first Metrolink line not to serve Union Station in Los Angeles nor cross the Los Angeles River and was the only line until the Arrow service opened in October 2022. The line was also the first suburb-to-suburb commuter rail line in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surf Line</span> Rail line in Southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego

The Surf Line is a railroad line that runs from San Diego to Orange County along California's Pacific coast. It was so named because much of the line is near the Pacific Ocean, within less than 100 feet (30 m) in some places. It is the second busiest passenger rail corridor in the United States after the Northeast Corridor.

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

Burbank Airport–South station, referred to as Hollywood Burbank Airport station by Amtrak and formerly known as Bob Hope Airport station, is an unstaffed Amtrak and Metrolink train station on the southeast corner of Hollywood Burbank Airport in the city of Burbank, California. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, Amtrak's Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle, Washington, and Metrolink's Ventura County Line from Los Angeles Union Station to East Ventura stop here.

<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">Simi Valley station</span> Railway station in Simi Valley, California

Simi Valley station is a passenger rail station in the city of Simi Valley, California. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and Metrolink's Ventura County Line from Los Angeles Union Station to East Ventura stop here.

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

Moorpark station is a passenger rail station in the city of Moorpark, California. Service commenced in 1983 as an infill station on the short-lived CalTrain line. The station was rebuilt in 1992 to accommodate the new Metrolink Ventura County Line commuter trains. Service on that line began on October 26, 1992; Amtrak's Santa Barbara–San Diego San Diegan trains had begun stopping there the day before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oceanside Transit Center</span> Transit center in Oceanside, California, US

The Oceanside Transit Center is a major railway interchange in Oceanside, California, serving both intercity and suburban/commuter services. The station is used by Amtrak on the route of its Pacific Surfliner service between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. It is also a terminus for two different regional transit operators – Metrolink, the commuter rail operator for the Los Angeles area, has two of its services, the Orange County Line and Inland Empire–Orange County Line, that terminate at Oceanside, while the North County Transit District, the operator for most of the public transport in the North County, has its COASTER and SPRINTER services also terminating at Oceanside. Oceanside Transit Center is also served by Greyhound Lines and numerous NCTD BREEZE buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fullerton Transportation Center</span> Passenger rail and bus station in Fullerton, California

The Fullerton Transportation Center is a passenger rail and bus station located in Fullerton, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxnard Transit Center</span> Train and bus station in Oxnard, California, US

The Oxnard Transit Center is an intermodal transit center in downtown Oxnard, California. It is served by Amtrak Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner intercity service plus Metrolink Ventura County Line commuter service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Transportation Center</span> Passenger train and bus station in Irvine, California, United States

The Irvine Transportation Center is a passenger rail and bus terminal in the Irvine Spectrum district of southeastern Irvine, California, United States. Located on the southwest end of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, it is served by Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner route, two Metrolink commuter rail lines, and multiple Orange County Transportation Authority bus routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Juan Capistrano station</span> Passenger train station in San Juan Capistrano, California

San Juan Capistrano station is a train station in San Juan Capistrano, California, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system, and Metrolink, a commuter railroad. The station has a single side platform serving the single track of the SCRRA's Orange Subdivision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station</span> Passenger train station in Laguna Niguel, California, United States

Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station is a station on the Inland Empire–Orange County Line and Orange County Line of the Metrolink commuter rail system around Southern California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Greater Los Angeles</span> Complex multimodal regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic

Greater Los Angeles has a complex multimodal transportation infrastructure, which serves as a regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic. The transportation system of Greater Los Angeles includes the United States' largest port complex, seven commuter rail lines, Amtrak service, a subway system within the city of Los Angeles, and numerous highways. Los Angeles is integrated into the Interstate Highway System by Interstate 5, Interstate 10, and Interstate 15, along with numerous auxiliary highways and state routes. Bus service is also included locally within the area by numerous local government agencies. Subways and light commuter rail lines are present within Los Angeles proper, allowing mass transportation within the city. Commuter railroads are run by Metrolink. Amtrak has numerous railroad lines that connect Los Angeles to the rest of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center</span> Passenger train and bus station in California, United States

The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) is an intermodal transit center in Anaheim, California, United States. It serves as a train station for Amtrak intercity rail and Metrolink commuter rail, as well as a bus station used by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART), Greyhound, Megabus, Flixbus and Tres Estrellas de Oro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redondo Junction, California</span> Major Amtrak maintenance facility, Los Angeles

Redondo Junction, California is the site of an Amtrak maintenance facility. It is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of Los Angeles Union Station, southwest of Boyle Heights near Washington Boulevard and the Los Angeles River.

References

  1. "Quarterly Fact Sheet Q4 2022-2023" (PDF). Metrolink . June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. 1 2 SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation.
  3. "Metrolink Fact Sheet for June 2012" (PDF). Metrolink. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  4. "Metrolink Timetable" (PDF). June 6, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  5. "COUNTYWIDE : Ridership Healthy on Commuter Train". Los Angeles Times. May 5, 1990.
  6. Rail Passenger Development Plan: 1991-96 Fiscal Years (PDF). Sacramento, CA: Division of Mass Transportation, Caltrans. 1991. p. 173.
  7. Amtrak (October 28, 1990). "National Train Timetables" . Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  8. NARP (March 25, 1994). "NARP March 1994 Hotlines". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  9. TRAINS Magazine - Railroad News, Web Cam, Railroading Video - Metrolink
  10. Berkman, Leslie (July 14, 1995). "Metrolink Adds 2 More Trains Per Day for Orange County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
  11. Mapp, Lauren (May 27, 2023). "Amtrak, Metrolink service from San Diego to Orange County resumes after emergency closure". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  12. Scauzillo, Steve (June 27, 2023). "Plans for new Metrolink stations in Boyle Heights and Pico Rivera press on". Los Angeles Daily News . MediaNews Group . Retrieved October 28, 2023.
  13. "National Timetable". The Museum of Railway Timetables. Amtrak. October 31, 1993. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  14. Catz, Sarah L. (February 14, 1994). "Plans for Flexible Transportation Alternatives Are Moving Right Along". The Los Angeles Times . p. 91. Retrieved July 5, 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  15. Ni, Ching-Ching (March 6, 1995). "San Clemente Goes on Fast Track With Its New Metrolink Station". Los Angeles Times . p. 77. Retrieved July 5, 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Metrolink Station Opens". The Los Angeles Times . July 18, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved July 5, 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  17. McKibben, Dave (April 17, 2002). "Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Depot Set to Debut". Los Angeles Times . p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2019 via Newspapers.com.
  18. Morin, Monte (January 18, 2002). "New Metrolink Station to Debut Today in Tustin". Los Angeles Times. ISSN   0458-3035 . Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  19. Reyes, David (September 5, 2007). "Metrolink's Buena Park station opens for business". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 5, 2019.
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