Orange County Line

Orange County Line
Orange County Line
	Metrolink locomotive 860 at Irvine
Overview
Status	Operating
Owner	BNSF Railway (Los Angeles–Fullerton); SCRRA (Fullerton–OC/SD County Line); NCTD (OC/SD County Line–Oceanside)
Locale	Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties
Termini	Los Angeles Union Station; Oceanside
Stations	15
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	Metrolink
Operator(s)	Metrolink
Daily ridership	8,255 (2012)
Technical
Line length	87.2 miles (140.3 km)
Character	Elevated and surface-level
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Operating speed	90 mph (140 km/h) (top); 41 mph (66 km/h) (average)
hide Route map
	Legend
	Antelope Valley Line
	Ventura County Line
	Amtrak
	Pacific Surfliner
	Commerce
	(limited service)
	San Clemente Pier
	(limited service)
	Coaster & Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
	to San Diego
	all stations are accessible
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

The Orange County Line is a commuter rail line run by Metrolink from Los Angeles through Orange County to Oceanside in San Diego County, connecting with the Coaster commuter rail service to San Diego. The Orange County Line carries passengers to the primary Metrolink hub at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles, as well as to many attractions in Orange County including the Knott's Berry Farm area, Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Honda Center, the Disneyland Resort, Old Town Orange, Santa Ana Zoo, Mission San Juan Capistrano and many more. In San Diego County, it serves the Oceanside Pier and Camp Pendelton.^[3]

History[]

The Orange County Line began on April 30, 1990 as the Orange County Commuter, an Amtrak-operated service between Los Angeles and San Juan Capistrano funded by the Orange County Transportation Authority.^[4]^[5] The Orange County Commuter made a single weekday round-trip, departing San Juan Capistrano in the morning and returning in the evening.^[6] Between July and December 1993 during the Orange County Commuter's final months, both the Commerce and Orange Transportation Center stations opened. Amtrak conveyed the route to Metrolink on March 28, 1994, becoming the "Orange County Line" and Metrolink's fifth route.^[7]^[8] Service expanded to eight trips in 1995.^[9]

In October 2005, the Orange County Transportation Authority announced that it would increase service on the Orange County Line, running trains twenty hours daily, seven days a week every 30 minutes. The first part of the additional service was implemented in June 2006 with Saturday service, and July 2006 with Sunday service. The plan has drawn criticism^{[citation needed]} as many Metrolink stations are located beyond walking distance from important destinations such as Disneyland and the adjacent Anaheim Convention Center, Knott's Berry Farm, and the Irvine Spectrum. Funds for new rolling stock and track improvements were allocated from the voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax, while critics^[who?] had advocated using the money for bus operations or other transit service instead. To address some of these issues, OCTA operates a series of Stationlink shuttle routes that connect Metrolink stations in Orange County to nearby destinations.

As of 2019 service is provided seven days a week, with 29 trains on weekdays, and 8 on weekends. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner supplements Orange County Line service by providing limited stop service along the corridor and more service during mid-days, nights and weekends.

Future[]

The route of the Orange County Line may be used for future extensions of the planned California High-Speed Rail line from Los Angeles Union Station to Anaheim. Potential stops include Norwalk or Fullerton.

Route[]

While the Orange County Line shares trackage with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains, its northernmost stations (from Los Angeles to Fullerton, excluding Commerce) are shared with the 91 Line and nearly all of its other stations with the Inland Empire–Orange County Line (from Orange to Oceanside).

The Orange County Line runs on the BNSF Railway's Southern Transcon track between Los Angeles and Fullerton, under a shared-right-of-way agreement. Several stations, most notably the ones in downtown Fullerton and Santa Ana, are renovated Spanish Colonial Revival depots originally built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Sections of the line between Santa Ana and Oceanside allow for 90-mile-per-hour (140 km/h) operating speeds.^[1]

Stations[]

Under Amtrak operation the Orange County Commuter stopped at the following stations: Los Angeles, Commerce, Fullerton, Anaheim–Stadium, Orange, Santa Ana, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano.^[10] With the Metrolink takeover in 1994 the southern terminus moved to Oceanside and five infill stations were subsequently added:^[11] San Clemente and Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs in 1995,^[12]^[13] Tustin and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo in 2002,^[14]^[15] and Buena Park in 2007^[16]

Station	Connections	Address	Location
Oceanside	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Coaster Sprinter	235 S. Tremont St, Oceanside 92054	Oceanside	San Diego County
San Clemente Pier (weekends only)	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner	615 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente 92673	San Clemente	Orange County
San Clemente	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County	1850 Avenida Estacion, San Clemente 92673	San Clemente
San Juan Capistrano	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner	26701 Verdugo St, San Juan Capistrano 92675	San Juan Capistrano
Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County	28200 Fobres Rd, Laguna Niguel 92677	Laguna Niguel
Irvine	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner	15215 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine 92618	Irvine
Tustin	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner	2975 Edinger Ave, Tustin 92780	Tustin
Santa Ana	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County	1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd, Santa Ana 92701	Santa Ana
Orange	Metrolink: Inland Empire–Orange County	194 North Atchison St, Orange 92866	Orange
Anaheim	Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner	2626 E. Katella Ave, Anaheim 92806	Anaheim
Fullerton	Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief	120 E. Santa Fe Ave, Fullerton 92832	Fullerton
Buena Park	Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley	8400 Lakeknoll Dr, Buena Park 90621	Buena Park
Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs	Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley	12650 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk 90650	Norwalk	Los Angeles County
Commerce (limited service)		6433 E. 26th Street, Commerce 90040	Commerce
LA Union Station	Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Antelope Valley Riverside San Bernardino Ventura County Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle Metro: B Line D Line J Line L Line FlyAway to LAX	800 N. Alameda St, Los Angeles 90012	Downtown Los Angeles

The October 2017 timetable shows ten weekday trains from Los Angeles to Oceanside and back, eight from Fullerton to Laguna Niguel and back, seven from Los Angeles to Laguna Niguel and back, four from Fullerton to Oceanside, and two from Los Angeles to Irvine and back.

Passengers that have monthly passes can use Pacific Surfliner trains between their station pairs on any day except for specific blacked out days by Amtrak for holidays and special events (such as events at Del Mar) on this line.

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation.
^ "Metrolink Fact Sheet for June 2012" (PDF). Metrolink. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
^ "Metrolink Timetable" (PDF). June 6, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
^ "COUNTYWIDE : Ridership Healthy on Commuter Train". Los Angeles Times. May 5, 1990.
^ Rail Passenger Development Plan: 1991-96 Fiscal Years (PDF). Sacramento, CA: Division of Mass Transportation, Caltrans. 1991. p. 173.
^ Amtrak (October 28, 1990). "National Train Timetables". Retrieved 2010-05-16.
^ NARP (March 25, 1994). "NARP March 1994 Hotlines". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2010-05-16.
^ TRAINS Magazine - Railroad News, Web Cam, Railroading Video - Metrolink
^ Berkman, Leslie (July 14, 1995). "Metrolink Adds 2 More Trains Per Day for Orange County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
^ "National Timetable". The Museum of Railway Timetables. Amtrak. October 31, 1993. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
^ Catz, Sarah L. (February 14, 1994). "Plans for Flexible Transportation Alternatives Are Moving Right Along". The Los Angeles Times. p. 91. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Ni, Ching-Ching (March 6, 1995). "San Clemente Goes on Fast Track With Its New Metrolink Station". Los Angeles Times. p. 77. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Metrolink Station Opens". The Los Angeles Times. July 18, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ McKibben, Dave (April 17, 2002). "Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Depot Set to Debut". Los Angeles Times. p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Morin, Monte (January 18, 2002). "New Metrolink Station to Debut Today in Tustin". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
^ Reyes, David (September 5, 2007). "Metrolink's Buena Park station opens for business". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.

External links[]

Route map:

( • help)

Orange County Line schedule

[RailSchem-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation.

[2] "Metrolink Fact Sheet for June 2012" (PDF). Metrolink. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2012.

[3] "Metrolink Timetable" (PDF). June 6, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.

[4] "COUNTYWIDE : Ridership Healthy on Commuter Train". Los Angeles Times. May 5, 1990.

[5] Rail Passenger Development Plan: 1991-96 Fiscal Years (PDF). Sacramento, CA: Division of Mass Transportation, Caltrans. 1991. p. 173.

[6] Amtrak (October 28, 1990). "National Train Timetables". Retrieved 2010-05-16.

[7] NARP (March 25, 1994). "NARP March 1994 Hotlines". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved 2010-05-16.

[8] TRAINS Magazine - Railroad News, Web Cam, Railroading Video - Metrolink

[LATimesOC-9] Berkman, Leslie (July 14, 1995). "Metrolink Adds 2 More Trains Per Day for Orange County". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 27, 2010.

[10] "National Timetable". The Museum of Railway Timetables. Amtrak. October 31, 1993. Retrieved 29 May 2020.

[11] Catz, Sarah L. (February 14, 1994). "Plans for Flexible Transportation Alternatives Are Moving Right Along". The Los Angeles Times. p. 91. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[12] Ni, Ching-Ching (March 6, 1995). "San Clemente Goes on Fast Track With Its New Metrolink Station". Los Angeles Times. p. 77. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[13] "Metrolink Station Opens". The Los Angeles Times. July 18, 1995. p. 23. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[14] McKibben, Dave (April 17, 2002). "Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Depot Set to Debut". Los Angeles Times. p. 11. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.

[15] Morin, Monte (January 18, 2002). "New Metrolink Station to Debut Today in Tustin". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved July 5, 2019.

[16] Reyes, David (September 5, 2007). "Metrolink's Buena Park station opens for business". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 5, 2019.

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show v t Metrolink
Lines	91/Perris Valley Line Antelope Valley Line Inland Empire–Orange County Line Orange County Line Riverside Line San Bernardino Line Ventura County Line
Connecting rail	Amtrak Amtrak California Coaster Metro Rail Sprinter OC Streetcar (2023) Arrow (2022)
Governing agencies	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Orange County Transportation Authority Riverside County Transportation Commission San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Ventura County Transportation Commission
Ex officio agencies	San Diego Association of Governments Southern California Association of Governments State of California
Other information	List of stations Metrolink rolling stock Transportation in Los Angeles Transportation in the Inland Empire