Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Metrolink Offering Free Rides

Two free round trips will be offered to Metrolink riders on the revamped Santa Clarita line beginning Monday to promote improvements made along the 78-mile track.

A trip from Lancaster to Los Angeles is expected to take 1 hour 51 minutes when the new line opens Monday, according to a Metrolink statement. That’s about 25% faster than when the service began after the Northridge earthquake.

Metrolink is mailing coupons good for the free rides to more than 180,000 residents in the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys. The coupons can be redeemed with Metrolink employees who will be at stations along the line before noon Monday through June 24. The free trips must be taken by July 1.

Residents who do not receive the coupon in the mail may obtain one through Metrolink employees at the stations.

All trips include a free transfer to connecting transit.

Metrolink extended the line from Santa Clarita to the Antelope Valley to provide emergency service after the Jan. 17 earthquake by using an older rail route containing numerous curves that slowed the trains. A $50-million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant allowed Metrolink to build straighter tracks using more modern materials.

For information on Metrolink schedules and station locations, call (800) 371-LINK.