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What Goes Up: Angels Flight Fare Raised to 50 Cents

angels-flight-2011.jpg
Photo by indigoMood via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

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It's about to cost you twice as much to ride the world's shortest railway, as Angels Flight raises its fare to 50 cents, starting Monday March 12.

Luckily, Metro Pass holders can still ride the funicular for 25 cents each way, according to a release issued today by the transit agency. Frequent riders will also enjoy savings, since the "Railway will continue to offer frequent riders a 5-ride commuter book at a 20% discount -- 5 rides for 2 dollars."

Angels Flight, which recently celebrated its 110th anniversary hauling Angelenos and visitors up and down Bunker Hill, underwent a series of routine repairs earlier this year, and resumed operations with the existing quarter-per-ride fare, though there were hints the price would go up.

Angels Flight Railway President John Welborne confirmed today that the fare increase had to happen, noting that revenue from tickets has never covered operational costs, according to City News Service. "Even with this modest price increase, we still will not cover all of our expenses through fares,'' adds Welborne.

Since Angels Flight was put back into service, many have delighted in taking the one-minute rides on the railcars, nicknamed Olivet and Sinai. (They Twitter, too!)

This is the first fare increase for Angels Flight in 15 years.

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