Metrolink to raise fares, add service

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

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

On July 2, Metrolink will add round-trip service 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 will allow 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 because of widespread fare evasion.

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 Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Riverside counties.

dan.weikel@latimes.com