Metrolink aims to reduce wait times, add off-peak trips

Metrolink has approved funding to reshuffle its schedule in an effort to reduce wait times and increase off-peak service as the agency seeks to boost ridership numbers, with the changes expected later this year.

How this will work

A major component of the plan is shortening wait times between departing and arriving trains — especially at Metrolink's main transfer hub at Union Station — to allow for shorter trips across Southern California.

Currently, about 70 trains connect at Union Station in weekday mornings with a wait time of less than 20 minutes. Under the new schedule, that number of shorter connections would more than triple to 240 — meaning that people making transfers will likely have shorter waits (and potentially less time to grab coffee or a pretzel in the meantime).

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The agency also plans to offer additional trains during midday and off-peak hours in an effort to expand its ridership to include more non-work trips.

As part of the reshuffling of train schedules, Metrolink will actually reduce the number of train sets in operation while increasing the number of departure times, said Metrolink spokesperson Scott Johnson.

"One thing that we are really looking forward to is offering more transfers at L.A. Union Station — nearly four times as many, connecting respective lines from, say, the San Bernardino line to the Ventura County line at L.A. Union Station," Johnson said.

About the pilot program it's based on

Johnson said this follows a successful pilot program with the agency's Antelope Valley line, where the agency saw increased ridership after it implemented schedule changes in October 2023.

"With that as a blueprint, we are trying to emulate that system-wide to benefit the entire Southern California region," Johnson said.

The changes come as Metrolink looks for ways to attract more riders and a different customer base after the pandemic.

While Metrolink has traditionally been a commuter rail line, the agency is trying to boost its ridership by attracting more people taking leisure trips around Southern California. Currently, Metrolink's riders are split nearly evenly between work and non-work trips, according to the agency's data.

"Metrolink is really trying to create this transformation from a traditional commuter railroad to a true regional passenger railroad," Johnson said. "We recognize that the number of individuals using our service only for morning and afternoon commutes has diminished, while others are looking to take our service for more recreational purposes throughout the day."