Metrolink Use Plummets as Free Rides End : Transportation: The drop in riders was expected, officials say, and the numbers who stayed to pay exceeded expectations.

The free ride is over.

Metrolink fares went into effect on commuter rides between Los Angeles and Orange County on Friday and ridership nose-dived.

The free rides had been offered since Monday, when Metrolink launched the Orange County line, to attract riders and let them “test-ride our trains, see what it’s all about, risk-free,” said Francisco Oaxaca, a Metrolink spokesman.

Some 4,750 people rode each day, but once riders had to pay an average of $12 per round trip at Orange County stations in San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim and Fullerton, ridership dropped by about half.

On Friday, 1,318 people took the train in the morning, and about as many rode it again at night, said Metrolink spokesman Peter Hidalgo.

However, the numbers exceeded expectations that about a third of the passengers who rode free would continue riding when they had to pay.

“We’re extremely encouraged by the results, that more people came back than we expected,” Hidalgo said. Those who don’t come back are often just exploring the new rail line, Oaxaca said.

The numbers also are encouraging because Fridays are usually slow days, and this Friday some people may have stayed home to observe Good Friday, Hidalgo added.

Metrolink retained twice as many passengers on the Orange County line when the free rides were over as it did when it launched its line last June in the less populous Riverside area.

“We attribute this to the fact that Orange County is familiar with rail travel,” having had the service of the Orange County Transportation Authority’s line, Hidalgo said.

On Monday, Metrolink took over OCTA’s service, which averaged 400 passengers on its once-daily run from San Juan Capistrano to Los Angeles. The takeover project cost $218 million, which included purchasing the track and other equipment and improving upon what was already there, Oaxaca said.

Train service runs roughly parallel to the Santa Ana Freeway for 87 miles from Oceanside to Los Angeles only during rush hour, but officials say the schedule eventually may include midday and evening trains.