Metrolink fares to rise July 1; beach, other routes to be added

Metrolink is planning a number of service changes in June and July that will effect passengers of the regional rail service, including a fare increase and additional trains throughout the region.

Fares will increase an average of 7% systemwide July 1. Monthly pass holders will begin to see the new fares when they purchase July passes beginning June 15. The amount of the increase will vary depending on the route and the type of ticket.

On July 2, Metrolink will add a round-trip from Riverside to Laguna Niguel on the Inland Empire-Orange County line. There also will be an additional train between Laguna Niguel and Fullerton on the Orange County Line. Minor schedule adjustments will be made as well.

Starting the weekend of July 7, Metrolink will add four round-trip trains on weekends on its Orange County Line between Los Angeles' Union Station and Oceanside. This allows riders from across Southern California to take advantage of the $10 weekend pass to visit destinations in Orange County, such as Disneyland and the beach.

Also on July 7, Metrolink will resume its popular weekend beach trains. They will operate between Oceanside and San Bernardino. This year, however, the service will continue indefinitely, rather than end in October.

June 28 will be the last day for riders to use Metrolink's 10-trip ticket, which was available for purchase until May 14. The 45-day validity period expires June 29. The Metrolink board voted to eliminate the ticket last year due to widespread fare evasion associated with it.

Starting July 1, the Amtrak 10-trip ticket will no longer be accepted on Metrolink trains as part of the Rail 2 Rail program. The Metrolink and Amtrak monthly pass will be the only ticket types valid for interchangeable travel between the two railroads.

Metrolink, which has 512 miles of track, serves six counties -- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside. Information is available online at www.metrolinktrains.com. 

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-- Dan Weikel

Photo: A Metrolink train at Union Station. Credit: Spencer Weiner / For the Times.