Thousands of Holiday Riders Take Free Metrolink Saturday Service

It was standing room only Saturday on Metrolink commuter trains offering a free holiday outing to downtown Los Angeles for suburban residents living in the Pomona, Walnut and Santa Clarita valleys.

The trains left the Claremont and Santa Clarita stations about 9 a.m., primarily carrying families, said Peter Hidalgo, spokesman for the commuter train service.

An estimated 2,300 people rode the Claremont line, while 1,200 boarded the Santa Clarita train.

They were both set to depart from Union Station at 3:30 p.m., stopping at all the regular stations where downtown Los Angeles commuters can board or debark during the trains’ usual Monday-through-Friday runs.

The 2-month-old commuter train service does not usually operate on weekends or during non-commuting hours. But Metrolink tried its first free weekend run last weekend--on the Ventura County line--to gauge potential popularity of weekend service and to encourage weekday commuters, Hidalgo said.

“We want to just try to offer an opportunity for people to try Metrolink who haven’t had that opportunity,” he said.

The free weekend runs offered commuters a chance to sample the service “during a period when they can take their families. Metrolink has always considered a weekend service--it’s just a matter of time,” he said.

Planners estimate that weekend runs to downtown Los Angeles will begin in about eight months, he said.

“So this, No. 1, is giving us a feel for what kind of a demand there is. Also, it’s an opportunity for us to give individuals a chance to be familiar, to find out where the stations are and to try the service.”

He said there was no agenda for stealing shoppers from the suburbs to benefit downtown Los Angeles, as some Ventura County officials had speculated when last weekend’s service was offered.

Museums are many travelers’ destinations, he said, particularly the Los Angeles Children’s Museum at the Civic Center Mall.

Anticipating low ridership during the last week before Christmas, Hidalgo said Metrolink also is offering free rides this week to any commuter who shows up at one of the stations and fills out a coupon.

Early afternoon service from Union Station will be offered on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve for those who work short days.

No service will be offered on Christmas or New Year’s Day.