March proved to be a historic month for Metrolink, the regional passenger rail line that services six counties in Southern California.
On Thursday, Metrolink said it recorded the highest number of weekend boardings for a single month in the agency’s entire history.
In total, 122,693 weekenders boarded Metrolink trains in March, eclipsing the previous record figure of 117,348 set in September 2018.
It’s an important milestone for the rail system, which is attempting to evolve from a strictly commuter-based service to a general purpose passenger rail line.
Late last year, Metrolink released an updated service schedule that includes more trains and shorter transfer windows at Los Angeles Union Station. After a “bumpy start,” the schedule was retooled earlier this year to better accommodate existing rider schedules.
Metrolink also extended its popular Student Adventure Pass, which allows students from kindergarten through college to ride for free, through at least June 2025. Deals on weekend passes, free weekend rides for kids, and the SoCal Explorer rewards program are among the coordinated efforts launched by Metrolink to attract more riders.
Board Chair and Orange County Supervisor Doug Chaffee credits these “innovative campaigns and promotions” for the record-breaking weekend ridership, and a growing and evolving customer base.
“Today’s riders know that, in addition to traveling to and from work, Metrolink is a great option for exploring regional destinations like Orange County’s famous beaches, visiting friends and family, and connecting with new experiences,” Chaffee said.
The weekend ridership record also represents a pivotal moment in Metrolink’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. It’s the first time that the rail line has exceed a pre-pandemic milestone, officials said.
Metrolink, like many transit systems and other industries, have struggled to bounce back from the steep decline brought on by the pandemic. Officials said the spring of 2020 and related COVID-19 mitigation measures brought fundamental changes to Southern California travel and transit systems.
Now, five years later, Metrolink says weekend ridership has fully recovered from the pandemic.
Monday-through-Friday ridership, however, still has ground to make up. Year-over-year weekday ridership was around 65% as of March, officials said.
But the rail line says it continues to see recovery; overall ridership on Metrolink in March was 71% of pre-pandemic highs—the highest recovery figure to date. And since debuting its updated schedule, Metrolink says “off peak” service has seen massive growth, up 74% year-over-year through March.
Several high-profile events across Southern California in March contributed to the ridership milestone, including the International Women’s Day Protest and Rally in downtown Los Angeles, Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano, and the Beyond Wonderland festival in San Bernardino.
For more information about this milestone, click here.