In the period following the end of World War II automobile prices dropped, freeways were built, and General Motors et al. purchased urban rail lines across the United States. Los Angles fell in love with the automobile. After almost 90 years of rail history in Los Angeles' the last remaining Red Car line went out of service in 1961 and the last street car line followed suit two years later.

The reality of freeway and street congestion led to a renaissance of rail transit. In 1990 rail commuter trains and city transit trains began running again in Los Angeles.

Metrolink Commuter Trains

In 1991, following the passage of several ballot measures authorizing transportation improvements, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) was established. Metrolink service began on Ventura, Santa Clarita and San Bernardino Lines in 1992.

As of December 2004, Metrolink operates 144 commuter trains daily between 77 stations on seven lines totaling 512 miles of track throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino Ventura, and San Diego Counties. The authority owns 39 locomotives and 155 commuter rail cars.

For More information visit the Metrolink web site.

Los Angeles MTA Train Service

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority was formed in February 1993 from the merger of the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC). The MTA (Metro) currently offers local and commuter trains on four different lines within Los Angeles County:

• The Blue Line, which opened in 1990, runs 22 miles, with 22 stations between Los Angeles and Long Beach, partially following the former Pacific Electric Long Beach Line.
• The Red Line (subway) runs between the Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, Wilshire Center, Hollywood, Universal City and North Hollywood. There are a total of 16 stations, 17.4 miles. The first segment of the line opened in 1993.
• The Purple Line (subway) shares the Red Line stations and track from Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal to the Wilshire / Vermont station, then follows Wilshire Blvd to Western Avenue. A proposed extension of the line to serve Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, Century City and Westwood is currently being studied.
• The Green Line runs between Norwalk, Los Angeles International Airport and Redondo, 14 stations, 20 miles. The line opened in 1995.
• The Gold Line initially running between Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal and Pasadena, opening 13.7 miles and 13 stations in July 2003. An extension from LAUPT to East Los Angeles opened in November 2009 adding 6 miles and 8 new stations. Additionally an extension from Pasadena to Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa "Phase 2A" began construction in June 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in mid 2014. This extension will follow the path of the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad. An additional extension to Glendora, San Dimas, Pomona and Montclair "Phase 2B" is planned.
• Construction began in September 2006 for a new 8.5 mile long Exposition Light Rail Line from 7th/Metro Center in Downtown to Venice and Washington Boulevards in Culver City. Phase 1 to Culver City is expleted to be completed in 2011. The line will travel along the Exposition railroad right-of-way between Downtown Los Angeles and Culver City to the current terminus at Washington/National. Nine new stations will be constructed along the Exposition Line route. In addition to the station at Washington/National, the new stations will be located on Flower at 23rd St. and Jefferson, and on Exposition Blvd. at Vermont, Western, Crenshaw, La Brea, and La Cienega. Phase 2 which will ultimately extend the line from Culver City to the pier in Santa Monica, is currently projected to be completed by summer 2015.

This rail network currently includes 70 stations and 79 miles of track. During the heavy peak travel times, there are as many as 250 trains operating throughout the system, serving an average of over 300,000 passenger boardings per weekday. During peak periods the trains run every 5 to 10 minutes, running 10 to 20 minutes during off peak hours.

Bus service to and from each Metro Rail station is available from Metro Bus and community bus lines. Connections can also be made to Metrolink commuter rail service and Amtrak at Union Station.

In 2011 MTA plans to begin construction of a new 8.5 mile rail line from the Expo / Crenshaw Station along Crenshaw Boulevard to LAX, complete the 8.5 mile Expo Line to Culver City (phase 1), and continue work on an 11 mile expansion of the Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa, see MTA 2011 planning map.

For more information visit the MTA web site.

San Diego Trolley - Metropolitan Transit System

The San Diego Trolley began operations on the South Line from downtown San Diego to the U.S. Border with Mexico in July 1981. The East Line opened to Euclid in March 1986 with an expansion to Spring Street in 1989. The South Line was renamed the Blue Line and the East Line was renamed the Orange Line. The Green line opened in July 2005 between Mission San Diego and Grossmont Center. The San Diego Trolley is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transit System.

The system currently includes 53.5 miles of track on three routes, mostly double tracked, serving a total of 53 stations with 134 light rail vehicles. The system serves an average of 100,000 to 110,000 riders each weekday.

• The Blue Line operates between Old Town Transit Center, City Center, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and the U.S. Border with Mexico at San Ysidro. The line is 18.8 miles long.
• The Orange Line operates between the bay side in downtown San Diego, a connection with the Gold Line at the Grossman Transit Center,and the Santee Town Center. This line is 20.7 miles long.
• The Green line 5 provides service between the San Diego Old Town Transit Center, through Mission Valley, a connection with the Gold Line at the Grossman Transit Center, and the Santee Town Center. This line is now 19.3 miles long, which includes trackage shared with the Orange Line.

For more information visit the MTS San Diego Trolley web site.

San Diego Coaster Commuter Trains

The North County Transit District operates the Coaster commuter trains, linking communities and travelers from Oceanside to San Diego Mondays through Saturdays, with additional stops in Carlsbad (2), Encinitas, Solana Beach, Sorrento Valley and Old Town. The Coaster began service in 1995, and now caries nearly 6,000 commuters daily.

For more information visit the MTS Commute web site.

San Francisco Municipal Railway

The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) is the seventh-largest public transit system in the United States, as measured by ridership. Muni's fleet includes subway-surface light-rail vehicles (Metro streetcars), electric trolley buses, the world-famous cable cars, and a unique collection of historic streetcars. Muni operates five electric rail lines and three historic cable railway lines. The first publicly owned streetcar system in a major city in the U.S., Muni has been providing public transportation since 1912.

Fore more information visit the San Francisco MUNI web site.

Sacramento Regional Transit

Sacramento Regional Transit opened its first 18.3 mile long light rail line in 1987, linking the northeastern (Interstate 80) and eastern (Highway 50) corridors with Downtown Sacramento. Expansions to Mather Field/Mills Station in 1998, to South Sacramento in 2003, Sunrise Boulevard in 2004, Folsom in 2005, and Sacramento Valley Station in 2006 have grown the system to 37.4 miles of light rail track today. The Blue Line extends from Watt/I-80 south to Meadowview, the Gold Line extends from Sacramento Valley Station east to Historic Folsom. This system includes 76 rail vehicles, 47 stations, 26 transfer centers, and 18 park and ride lots. Sacramento Regional Transit estimates they provide 51,000 average weekday passenger trips.

Fore more information visit the Sacramento Regional Transit web site.

Portland Streetcar, Portland, Oregon

The Portland Streetcars run on a 8.0-mile continuous loop (4.0-mile in each direction) from Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital at NW 23rd Avenue, to a terminus at SW Lowell and Bond.. Streetcar vehicles were manufactured by Skoda-Inekon in Plzen of the Czech Republic. They run in mixed traffic and, except at platform stops, accommodate existing curbside parking and loading. The Portland Streetcar is owned and operated by the City of Portland.

For more information visit the Portland Streetcar web site.

Sharing A Heritage   Railroad History   Train Technology   Railroad Operation   Railroad Time   Museums & Heritage Railroads   Railroads Today

Photos and text by Richard Boehle.
Entire web site. copyright 2002-2010, DigitalNetExpress.com, Burbank, California.