Ventura County Line

Last updated

Ventura County Line
Chatsworth Station2.jpg
The Metrolink station at Chatsworth
Overview
Locale Greater Los Angeles Area and Ventura County
Termini
Stations12
Service
Type Commuter rail
System Metrolink
Operator(s) Metrolink
Daily ridership1,273 (June 2023) [1]
Technical
Line length70.9 miles (114.1 km)
CharacterElevated and surface-level
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed39 mph (63 km/h) (avg.)
Route map
Ventura County Line Ventura County Line highlighted in yellow
BSicon CONTg@G.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR+l saffron.svg
BSicon exSTRl.svg
BSicon KHSTeq saffron.svg
Ventura–East
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Oxnard
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Camarillo
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Moorpark
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Simi Valley
BSicon TUNNEL1 saffron.svg
BSicon lHST denim.svg
BSicon INT saffron.svg
Chatsworth
LAMetroLogo.svg
BSicon lHST denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Northridge
BSicon lHST denim.svg
BSicon eINT saffron.svg
Van Nuys
( LAMetroLogo.svg 2031)
BSicon lHST denim.svg
BSicon INT saffron.svg
Burbank Airport–South
BSicon FLUG.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon tSTR+l green.svg
BSicon STR+l green.svg
BSicon CONTfq green.svg
BSicon tSTR green.svg
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Downtown Burbank
BSicon tSTR green.svg
BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STR saffron.svg
Glendale
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BSicon STR saffron.svg
BSicon tSTR green.svg
BSicon ABZr+r.svg
Central Maintenance Facility
BSicon tKINTaq jade.svg
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BSicon KSTRaq saffron.svg
BSicon STR+r black.svg
BSicon STRr saffron.svg
BSicon tSTRr green.svg
BSicon STR2+r maroon.svg
BSicon STRc3 maroon.svg
L.A. Union Station
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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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BSicon INTq saffron.svg
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BSicon lBHF denim.svg
BSicon STRq saffron.svg
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Stations with Amtrak service

Wheelchair symbol.svg All stations are accessible
View of the Ventura County Line railway on Tampa Avenue heading to Chatsworth station Northridge Tampa Avenue Metrolink Track.jpg
View of the Ventura County Line railway on Tampa Avenue heading to Chatsworth station

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. [2] The line is the successor of the short lived CalTrain commuter rail line.

Contents

Schedules

As of October 23,2023, the Ventura County Line is served by 20 Metrolink trains (ten in each direction) each weekday, running primarily at peak hours in the peak direction of travel. [3]

However, of those trains, only six trains (three in each direction) travel the entire length of the line between Los Angeles and Ventura–East station. Sixteen trains (eight in each direction) short turn, traveling only between Los Angeles and Moorpark station, while 20 trains (ten in each direction) travel between Los Angeles and Chatsworth station. [3]

Two round trips operate on weekends over the entire length of the line. Metrolink passengers (except those at Ventura–East station) also have access to four Pacific Surfliner trains (two in each direction) each day through a codeshare agreement. [3]

Tracks

The line operates between Moorpark and Los Angeles Union Station on tracks owned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority – the Ventura Subdivision from Moorpark to Burbank Airport and the Valley Subdivision, the Valley Subdivision from Burbank to Glendale, becoming the River Subdivision into Los Angeles Union Station. It uses the Coast Line of the Union Pacific Railroad between Moorpark and Oxnard and into Ventura where the Santa Paula Branch splits from the rest of the Coast Line. Ventura–East station and layover facility are on the Santa Paula Branch Line. [4]

History

The railway was originally constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as their Coast Line, connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco. The Montalvo Cutoff between Burbank and Ventura via the Simi Valley was built in 1904, bypassing the old line further to the north. Caltrans ran commuter rail service over the line very briefly in 1982 and 1983, but CalTrain was unsustainable due to a number of factors.

In 1990 the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, predecessor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, acquired a portion of the right-of-way between Los Angeles and Moorpark from Southern Pacific and transferred it to the newly formed Southern California Regional Rail Authority for commuter service. [5]

The line began operations in 1992 as one of Metrolink's original three routes, with service from Moorpark to Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. Service was extended to Camarillo and Oxnard in 1994 after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, then to Ventura in 2002.

Because Amtrak trains operate on the same corridor all day, every day, Metrolink did not operate weekend service on the line. As part of a six-month trial program to determine demand, Metrolink added Saturday service on April 6, 2020. [6] Permanent Saturday service started on May 29, 2021, with one round trip between LA Union Station and Moorpark. [7] Service was extended to Ventura–East on August 9, 2021. [8]

Metrolink established a code sharing agreement with Amtrak, allowing all Metrolink passengers to ride select Pacific Surfliner trains with any ticket or pass, starting April 4, 2022. The code sharing agreement adds one more morning and early afternoon trip to Ventura, expanding midday and Saturday service, and establishing de facto Sunday service on the line. [9]

Accidents

2008 Chatsworth train collision

At 4:23 p.m. on September 12, 2008, 25 people were killed in a collision between Metrolink commuter train 111 and a freight train. At least 130 people were injured, with at least one dying later at a hospital. The crash occurred on the Ventura County Line near Heather Lee Lane, south of the Ronald Reagan Freeway(SR-118) and east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Both locomotives, the leading car of the commuter train, and seven cars of the freight train were derailed.

2015 Oxnard train derailment

On February 24, 2015, according to Oxnard Police Sergeant Denise Shadinger, a Metrolink commuter train traveling from Ventura County to Los Angeles hit a road vehicle near Oxnard, California; she initially said there was an unspecified number of injuries. The incident was reported at 5:44 A.M. Three cars derailed, at least one vehicle was fully engulfed at some point, and the three derailed cars were on their sides; the locomotive was still upright. Little but scorched, mangled wreckage in an intersection and on the tracks was left of the truck; Oxnard Fire Department battalion chief Sergio Martinez said the driver fled the scene unhurt but was found and taken into custody. News helicopters and footage from ABC affiliate KABC showed footage of triage tarps lying in the 5th Street (SR 34) where on-scene firefighters were treating victims and monitoring the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a tweet, acknowledged the incident and stated they were launching an investigation. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] The train engineer died a week later and 29 others were injured. A week after the incident, an Amtrak train collided with a vehicle in the same area as the first crash. [16]

Stations

StationConnectionsLocation
Ventura–East Ventura Ventura County
Oxnard BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner Oxnard
Camarillo BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Camarillo
Moorpark BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Moorpark
Simi Valley BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner Simi Valley
Chatsworth BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
LAMetroLogo.svg Metro: LACMTA Square G Line.svg  G Line
Chatsworth Los Angeles County
Northridge Northridge
Van Nuys BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner Van Nuys
Burbank Airport–South BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner
BSicon FLUG.svg Walkway to Hollywood Burbank Airport
Burbank
Downtown Burbank Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Antelope Valley
Glendale Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: Antelope Valley
BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Glendale
L.A. Union Station Metrolink icon 2022.svg Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Antelope Valley Orange County Riverside San Bernardino
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

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is interested in expanding Metrolink service into the county. Following a meeting on May 8, 2024, the agency's board of directors directed its staff toward preparing a formal agreement with Ventura County. The proposed one-year pilot program would add an early-morning northbound train between Moorpark and Goleta with intermediate stops at Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara, as well a mid-morning southbound return train with the same intermediate stops but also continuing nonstop to L.A. Union Station. [17]

Related Research Articles

CalTrain was a short-lived commuter rail system in the Los Angeles area which operated between 1982–1983. It connected downtown Los Angeles's Union Station with Oxnard in Ventura County, using the tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It was the first local rail service in Los Angeles since 1961 and was a forerunner of the modern Metrolink Ventura County Line. Service ended in the face of high costs, lower-than-expected ridership, a changing political climate, and staunch opposition from the Southern Pacific.

<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. Arrow is operated under a contract with the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antelope Valley Line</span> Commuter rail line in Los Angeles County, California

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coast Line (Union Pacific Railroad)</span> Railroad line in California along the Pacific coast from Los Angeles to the Bay Area

The Coast Line is a railroad line between Burbank, California and the San Francisco Bay Area, roughly along the Pacific Coast. It is the shortest rail route between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Though not as busy as the Surf Line, the continuation of the Coast Line southbound to San Diego, it still sees freight movements and lots of passenger trains. The Pacific Surfliner, which runs from the San Diego Santa Fe Depot to San Luis Obispo via Union Station in Los Angeles, is the third busiest Amtrak route, and the busiest outside of the Northeast Corridor between Washington D.C. and Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somis, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Somis is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California. It was established in 1892 by Thomas Bard and D.T. Perkins on a portion of the Rancho Las Posas Mexican land grant. Somis is in the Las Posas Valley on the south bank of Fox Barranca, just west of Arroyo Las Posas. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Somis as a census-designated place (CDP).

<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">Van Nuys station</span> Railway station in Los Angeles, California

Van Nuys station is an Amtrak and Metrolink train station in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, close to the nighborhood of Panorama City. 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">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">Camarillo station</span> Railway station in Camarillo, California

Camarillo station is a passenger train station in Camarillo, California. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner between San Luis Obispo and San Diego and Metrolink's Ventura County Line between Los Angeles Union Station and Ventura–East station stop here. It is located at the foot of Ventura Boulevard at the intersection of Lewis Road, and is underneath the US Highway 101 overpass. A lengthy pedestrian overcrossing must be used to transfer between the platforms so a shorter tunnel route is planned. The first Camarillo depot was at this same location until Southern Pacific ended passenger service.

<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">Ventura–East station</span> Metrolink train station in Ventura, California, US

Ventura–East station is a Metrolink passenger train station in the Montalvo neighborhood of Ventura, California. Passengers board here for Metrolink's Ventura County Line going towards Los Angeles Union Station. The platform is just off the main coast route on the Santa Paula Branch Line which is owned by the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange station (California)</span> Passenger train and bus station in Orange, California, United States

Orange station, formally the Orange Transportation Center, is an intermodal transit station in Orange, California. It serves Metrolink trains as well as Orange County Transportation Authority buses. The station is located at the site of two former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway combination depots. The present depot structure was dedicated on May 1, 1938, and was closed with the Santa Fe's discontinuation of passenger service in 1971. The building was granted historic landmark status by the City on November 15, 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VCTC Intercity</span> Public bus service in Ventura County, California

VCTC Intercity is a public transit agency providing bus service in Ventura County, California. It provides an intercity bus service between the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Santa Paula, and Fillmore in Ventura County, and to communities in neighboring Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties. The agency is part of the Ventura County Transportation Commission, a governmental body that oversees transportation planning and funding in Ventura County. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 383,700, or about 1,400 per weekday as of the fourth quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside–Downtown station</span> Train station in Riverside, California, U.S.

Riverside–Downtown station is a train station in Riverside, California, United States. It is served by three Metrolink commuter rail lines – the 91/Perris Valley Line, Inland Empire–Orange County Line, and Riverside Line – and Amtrak intercity rail service on the Southwest Chief. The station is owned by the Riverside County Transportation Commission.

<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">2008 Chatsworth train collision</span> Head-on collision in Los Angeles, California

The 2008 Chatsworth train collision occurred at 4:22:23 p.m. PDT on September 12, 2008, when a Union Pacific Railroad freight train and a Metrolink commuter rail train collided head-on in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Oxnard train derailment</span> 2015 rail transport disaster in Oxnard, California, USA

The 2015 Oxnard train derailment occurred on February 24, 2015, at 5:44 a.m. local time when a Metrolink passenger train collided with a truck that a driver had mistakenly turned from Rice Avenue onto the tracks and became stuck. After impact, the train derailed at Oxnard, California, United States. As a result of the crash, the train engineer died from his injuries a week later and 32 passengers and crew members were injured. The truck driver exited his vehicle and ran from the scene prior to the crash; he sustained minor injuries that were unrelated to the crash sequence.

References

  1. "Quarterly Fact Sheet Q4 2022-2023" (PDF). Metrolink . June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  2. Hattem, Matt Van (June 30, 2006). "Metrolink, The commuter railroad serving Los Angeles". Trains Magazine. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
  3. SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation.
  4. 1991 California Rail Passenger Development Plan (PDF) (Report). July 1991. p. 175. Retrieved February 3, 2021.{{cite report}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  5. Harris, Mike. "Metrolink to add Saturday service on VC line in April in pilot program". Ventura County Star. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  6. "Metrolink's Ventura County Line starts Saturday service to LA's Union Station". Los Angeles Daily News. May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  7. "Metrolink expands Ventura County Line's Saturday service". Daily News. August 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  8. "Metrolink Schedule Update". www.metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  9. "Metrolink train hits a vehicle in Oxnard". vcstar.com. The E.W. Scripps Co. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
  10. "Alerts, Service Advisories and Planned Advisories | Metrolink". Metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  11. "Abandoned truck's driver arrested after commuter train crash". Msn.com. February 25, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  12. Lah, Kyung (February 25, 2015). "Train technology prevented tragedy in California". CNN.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  13. "Truck driver who caused California derailment arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run". Chicago Tribune. February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  14. "Truck driver arrested after train crash". Usatoday.com. February 25, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  15. Nelson, Laura J. (March 1, 2015). "Amtrak train strikes car in Camarillo; no serious injuries reported". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  16. "Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement for launch of Metrolink service". Trains . Kalmbach Media. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
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