Commuters across Southern California are about to feel it on the tracks.
Metrolink is extending its weekday service cuts indefinitely, dialing back trains across most of its network as the agency grapples with a mounting budget crisis and ongoing equipment issues,according to Secret Los Angeles.
The reductions — which amount to a roughly 20% cut in service — will remain in place on six ofMetrolink’s seven lines.
The changes hit weekday riders the hardest, with fewer trains and longer gaps between departures across major corridors serving Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and connections into San Diego County.
The service reduction were first rolled out March 23 as a temporary fix after repeated mechanical issues sidelined parts of Metrolink’s newer locomotive fleet — particularly its F-125 engines.
Persistent supply chain delays and parts shortages have slowed repairs, keeping multiple trains out of service longer than expected and limiting the number of trains available for daily run.
At the same time, the financial picture has worsened.
Metrolink is facing an estimated $15 million annual gap tied to lagging ridership, which has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.
Expected reductions in funding from regional partner agencies add another $10 million shortfall, pushing the budget pressue to nearly $30 million,according to UrbanizeLA.
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Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
