Earthquake: The Long Road Back : Metrolink Ridership Continues to Swell

Years of promotional campaigns failed to accomplish what 10 shaking seconds did: Commuters from the north county are getting out of their cars by the thousands and using public transportation.

Metrolink, the train service that carries commuters to destinations throughout the Southland, has had its ridership swell since the 6.6 Northridge earthquake Monday that caused the collapse of portions of several major freeways.

Most dramatic has been the surge of Metrolink use from the Santa Clarita station. Commuters from the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, who are without direct freeway access to the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles, are packing Metrolink trains. Trains out of the Santa Clarita station have gone from carrying a mere 1,000 people in and out of that valley each weekday to an expected 13,000 Friday, and the numbers continue to grow.

Beginning Monday, Metrolink for the first time will extend its service into the Antelope Valley.

Two trains each morning will stop in Lancaster and Palmdale, and two will return each evening. The trains will stop in Santa Clarita, Burbank and Glendale on their way to Union Station in L. A.

Monthly passes will sell for $208. A 10-trip ticket will cost $65. Metrolink spokesman Brendan Shepherd said February passes will also be good for the balance of January and--pending Metropolitan Transit Authority board approval Jan. 26--will also be valid through March.

Tickets will be available for sale today and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Palmdale Cultural Center, 704 E. Palmdale Blvd. In Lancaster, train tickets can be purchased today and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at an office south of Lancaster Boulevard near the railroad tracks at 416 W. Lumber St., Unit C. Passes may also be purchased weekdays from Metrolink staff members from 3:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the stations.

The 84-mile train ride from Lancaster to Union Station is expected to take two hours and 25 minutes.

The trains that will begin serving the Antelope Valley on Monday will also stop in Santa Clarita, bolstering service there. Metrolink is also adding a midmorning train from Santa Clarita and a midmorning and evening train to Santa Clarita from downtown.

It is unknown how long the Metrolink service will continue to the Antelope Valley, but there are plans to add two more stops between the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys.

The Antelope Valley Transit Authority will continue its bus service to the Santa Clarita Metrolink station only through Tuesday. On Wednesday, AVTA will resume, for the first time since the quake, bus service to downtown Los Angeles.

Now Boarding in the Antelope Valley

Metrolink will begin service from the Antelope Valley on Monday. These new stops, and departure times, will continue at least through Feb. 4: Southbound

Lancaster Palmdale Santa Clarita Burbank Glendale departure departure departure departure departure 4:11 4:26 5:22 a.m. 5:54 a.m. 6:01 a.m. 4:52 5:07 5:41 a.m. 6:13 a.m. 6:20 a.m. 6:05 a.m. 6:37 a.m. 6:44 a.m. 6:22 a.m. 6:54 a.m. 7:01 a.m. 7:33 a.m. 8:05 a.m. 8:12 a.m. 8:55 a.m. 9:27 a.m. 9:34 a.m. 10:20 a.m. 10:52 a.m. 10:59 a.m. 2:22 p.m. 2:54 p.m. 3:01 p.m. 5:19 p.m. 5:51 p.m. 5:58 p.m 7:35 p.m. 8:07 p.m. 8:14 p.m.

Lancaster Union Station departure arrival 4:11 6:15 a.m. 4:52 6:36 a.m. 7:00 a.m. 7:15 a.m. 8:26 a.m. 9:48 a.m. 11:13 a.m. 3:15 p.m. 6:14 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

*

Northbound

Union Station Glendale Burbank Santa Clarita Palmdale Lancaster departure arrival arrival arrival arrival arrival 6:26 a.m. 6:40 a.m 6:47 a.m. 7:26 a.m. 7:42 a.m. 7:58 a.m. 8:03 a.m. 8:39 a.m. 9:05 a.m. 9:18 a.m. 9:25 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 1:15 p.m. 1:29 p.m. 1:36 p.m. 2:12 p.m. 4:03 p.m. 4:16 p.m. 4:23 p.m. 4:57 p.m. 6:13 6:28 4:15 p.m. 4:28 p.m. 4:35 p.m. 5:09 p.m. 5:32 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 5:52 p.m. 6:26 p.m. 7:42 7:57 6:01 p.m. 6:14 p.m. 6:21 p.m. 6:55 p.m. 6:31 p.m. 6:44 p.m. 6:51 p.m. 7:25 p.m. 8:40 p.m. 8:53 p.m. 9:00 p.m. 9:34 p.m.

Source: Metrolink