As reported earlier this week, on New Year's Eve, there will be all night Metro rail service. As one commenter pointed out, the news was actually broken in a press release where it was buried with not much detail given:

“The Tournament of Roses parade and game is the biggest venue for Metro Gold Line service all year, with upwards of 60,000 train boardings on a single day,” said Pam O’Connor, Santa Monica City Council member and Metro Board Chair. “Metro is meeting that demand this year with quality, all-night train service and free rides from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. that day to ensure the public enjoys these wonderful New Year’s festivities.”

After a few e-mails of readers who were still weary of the claim (even ourselves a bit), we had conversation with Metro just to make sure.

• Yes, trains (red, purple, blue, green, gold) will run all night.
• Rides will be free from 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Once it's 2:01 a.m., you've got to start paying.
• Once off the printed schedule, trains will run every 20 minutes.
• Fixed transitways that are not rail, mainly the Orange Line, will not have all night service.
• None of this has to do with New Year's Eve, rather, it's all about the Tournament of Roses parade. That is to say... in the name of tourism!

Photo by Juan Ocampo/Metro