Antelope Valley Line (Metrolink)

Infobox rail line
name = Antelope Valley Line


image_width =
caption =
type = Commuter rail line
system = Metrolink
status = Operating
locale = Northern Greater Los Angeles Area
start = Los Angeles Union Station
end = Lancaster
stations = 11
routes =
ridership =
open = 1992
close =
owner = Metrolink
operator = Metrolink
character = Elevated, underground, and surface-level
stock =
linelength = 76.6 miles
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = 1,435mm (4ft 8½ inches)
el =
speed =
elevation =

infobox rdt|Antelope Valley Line map The Antelope Valley Line is a commuter rail line that serves the Northern Los Angeles County area as part of the Metrolink system. The line is presently more rural in character because it travels through the sparsely populated Soledad Canyon between Santa Clarita and Palmdale, serving the small community of Acton along the way. The line began service in 1992, and was called the Santa Clarita Line at the time. It was one of the three original lines in the Metrolink system along with Ventura County and San Bernardino lines.

The route initially ran from Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Clarita station. The railroad originally had plans to extend the line north to the Antelope Valley in 10 to 15 years after inception; however these plans were expedited in 1994 following the Northridge Earthquake. The earthquake caused the collapse of the mainline connectors of State Route 14 (the Antelope Valley Freeway) onto the mainline lanes of Interstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway) in the Newhall Pass, forcing all traffic to use the parallel 2 lane truck bypass that was unaffected by the quake. Immediately following the earthquake, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority made the decision to extend the line in order to help relieve the resultant traffic bottleneck. The line between Santa Clarita and Lancaster was up and running two days after the earthquake. In 1997 the Antelope Valley line began operating on Saturdays and Sunday service began in September 2007.

The Antelope Valley line operates Monday thru Sunday with 24 trains operating on the weekdays, 10 trains on Saturdays, and 6 trains on Sundays of September 2007.

The Antelope Valley Line serves 11 stations

# Union Station, Los Angeles
# Glendale, Glendale
# Downtown Burbank, Burbank
# Sun Valley, Sun Valley
# Sylmar/San Fernando, Sylmar/San Fernando
# Newhall, Santa Clarita
# Santa Clarita, Santa Clarita
# Via Princessa, Santa Clarita
# Vincent Grade/Acton, South Palmdale/Acton
# Palmdale Transportation Center, Downtown Palmdale
# Lancaster, Lancaster

Future Expansion

*Metrolink is considering increasing midday service along Antelope Valley line but the added service is unlikely to be added until Metrolink receives their orders for more cab cars, coaches, and locomotives which are scheduled to be delivered in Late 2008. Daams, Kristopher. [http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=48715&format=html "Midday Bus Service to Union Station Planned"] , "The Signal", May 28 2007. Accessed May 29 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/ Metrolink Schedules]
* [http://www.transit-rider.com/ca.losangeles/metrolink.cfm?id=antelopevalley Antelope Valley Line Photos]

References