Antelope Valley Line

The line along the Santa Clara River and into Los Angeles was completed by Southern Pacific in 1876 as the first railway to connect the city to the national network. The last passenger trains operated over the line in 1971 followed by the final freight train in 1979.{{cite magazine |url=https://santaclaritamagazine.com/2007/12/the-southern-pacific-railroad-see-how-the-train-station-functioned-as-a-stop/ |title=The Southern Pacific Railroad: See How the Train Station Functioned as a Stop |magazine=Santa Clarita Magazine |date=December 20, 2007}}

In 1992 the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, predecessor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, purchased the right of way from Southern Pacific.{{cite news |work=Los Angeles Times |title=County agrees to buy rail line for service to Antelope Valley |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-09-25-me-1011-story.html |first=Hugo |last=Martin |publication-date=September 25, 1992 |url-access=limited |id={{ProQuest|281825164}}}}{{cite report |title=1991 California Rail Passenger Development Plan |url=http://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/CalDOT/california-state-rail-plans/1991-california-rail-passenger-development-plan-1991-1996-fiscal-years.pdf |access-date=3 February 2021 |publisher=Caltrans |date=July 1991 |page=175}} Control of the line was then transferred to the newly-formed Southern California Regional Rail Authority who prepared the route for commuter rail service. Passenger operations began on October 26, 1992 and was called the Santa Clarita Line at the time. It was one of three original lines in the Metrolink system along with the Ventura County and San Bernardino lines. The route initially ran from Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Clarita station, with intermediate stops only at {{scax|Glendale}} and {{scax|Downtown Burbank}} stations.{{cite book|last1=Gbenekama|first1=Delana G.|title=Metrolink 20th Anniversary Report|date=October 2012|publisher=HWDS and Associates, Inc.|pages=9, 48|url=https://www.metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/about/20thanniversery.pdf|access-date=May 21, 2018}}

Since the beginning of service, Metrolink had plans to extend the line north to the Antelope Valley but these plans were expedited by almost ten years following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The earthquake caused the collapse of the freeway connector of State Route 14 (the Antelope Valley Freeway) onto Interstate 5 (the Golden State Freeway) at the Newhall Pass interchange, forcing all traffic in both directions to use the parallel truck route to the east of I-5 that was unaffected by the quake. With funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency the Southern California Regional Rail Authority constructed an emergency extension of the line to Lancaster to help relieve the traffic bottleneck. The U.S. Navy Seabees construction battalion and crews from the L.A. County Public Works Department were able to construct the stations in just a few days, compared to the normal three to six months. Emergency stations in Lancaster and Palmdale were both built in just three days and Metrolink started operating trains one week after the earthquake struck. Over the next five weeks additional emergency stations were added in Sylmar/San Fernando, Vincent Grade/Acton and Santa Clarita (Via Princessa).{{cite news |last1=Moeser |first1=Sharon |title=Metrolink site on Via Princessa will open Monday. It is the latest addition in two weeks since emergency service was extended northward. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-05-me-19471-story.html |access-date=3 February 2021 |date=5 February 1994}} While most of the emergency stations have since been replaced with permanent stations, the Via Princessa station still uses the same platform built after the earthquake.

Saturday service on the Antelope Valley Line has been operating since 1999,{{cite web|title=Metrolink Saturday Service Timetable|date=17 May 1999 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/trainman/3336603854|access-date=16 August 2013}} Sunday service was added in September 2007.{{cite web|last=Koren|first=James Rufus|title=Metrolink adding Sunday trains on AV line|url=http://www.thetransitcoalition.us/newspdf/avp20070909a.pdf|publisher=Antelope Valley Press|access-date=16 August 2013|date=September 9, 2007}} As of August 2013, weekend service has expanded to 6 trains on Saturdays and Sundays.{{cite web|title=Metrolink to double Antelope Valley Line Sunday service|url=http://metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/861|publisher=Metrolink|access-date=16 August 2013}} Arrivals at LA Union Station are timed to allow passengers to connect with Amtrak trains and trains on Metrolink's Orange County and San Bernardino lines.

Express service was added to the line in May 2011.{{cite web|url=https://abc7.com/archive/8120068/|title=Metrolink riders now have faster commutes|publisher=KABC-TV|date=May 9, 2011|access-date=October 30, 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710143957/http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8120068|archive-date=July 10, 2012|url-status=live}} Two express trains operated in the peak commute direction between Palmdale and Los Angeles (one southbound train in the morning, one northbound train in the evening). Express trains were about 18 minutes faster than trains that stop at all stations. Express service was later removed.

On April 30, 2015, Metrolink announced it will be offering discounted fares to riders on the Antelope Valley Line beginning July 1, 2015 as part of a pilot program. The fare pilot program, which will be in place for six months following the program's launch, will include several new ticket pricing options for riders on the Antelope Valley Line. There will be a 25 percent reduction in fares on all ticket types for trips along the corridor from Los Angeles to Lancaster, with the exception of the Weekend Day Pass, which will remain at its current $10 fare. In addition, a new "station-to-station" fare will be introduced in which riders traveling during off-peak hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) will be able to purchase a one-way ticket to travel between stations for $2 per station. This fare is designed to encourage local trips using Metrolink as an additional mobility option complementing local bus service.{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/972.html|title=Metrolink to offer fare reductions on Antelope Valley Line|publisher=Metrolink|date=April 30, 2015|access-date=April 30, 2015}}

A new Burbank Airport–North station opened in 2018 to serve Antelope Valley Line passengers traveling to Hollywood Burbank Airport. The station is located near the intersection of San Fernando Boulevard and Hollywood Way, with a free shuttle bus for passengers to the airport terminal located approximately one mile away from the station site. Metrolink tickets holders may also make a free Metro bus connection with Metrolink ticket.{{cite web|title=Metrolink, Metro and the Bob Hope Airport hold groundbreaking event for the Bob Hope Airport-Hollywood Way Metrolink Station|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/857.html|access-date=2013-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705040655/http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/news_item/news_id/857.html|archive-date=2013-07-05|url-status=dead}}

In July 2019, additional late evening train service and bi-directional service were being considered.{{Cite web|url=https://signalscv.com/2019/07/l-a-metro-board-approves-motion-to-improve-antelope-valley-line-service/|title=L.A. Metro board approves motion to improve Antelope Valley Line service|last=Murga|first=Tammy|date=2019-07-29|website=Santa Clarita Valley Signal|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-31}} An additional infill station at {{scax|Vista Canyon}} in Santa Clarita began construction in 2020.{{cite news |last1=Stewert |first1=Raychel |title=City Council holds ribbon cutting for new structure and Metrolink station |url=https://signalscv.com/2020/10/city-council-holds-ribbon-cutting-for-new-structure-and-metrolink-station/ |access-date=28 October 2020 |date=27 October 2020}} In September 2023, the Metro Board of Directors approved $1.6 million in funding to add more midday and evening round trips starting October 23, 2023.{{cite news |title=Metro adds $1.6M and a new schedule for Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2023/09/28/metro-adds-1-6m-and-a-new-schedule-for-metrolinks-antelope-valley-line/ |access-date=29 September 2023 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |publisher=MediaNews Group |date=28 September 2023}} The Vista Canyon station opened the same day the expanded timetable went into service, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 20, 2023.{{cite news |last1=Quezada |first1=Katherine |title=Connecting communities through the rails |url=https://signalscv.com/2023/10/connecting-communities-through-the-rails/ |access-date=October 23, 2023 |work=The Santa Clarita Valley Signal |publisher=Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. |date=October 20, 2023}}

On January 9, 2022, a private Cessna 172 crashed onto the tracks of the Antelope Valley Line at Osborne Street in Pacoima after taking off from nearby Whiteman Airport and was then struck by a Metrolink train. The Cessna's pilot was injured in the initial crash, but Los Angeles Police Department officers on the scene were able to help him out of the wreckage before it was hit by the train. No one aboard the train was injured.{{Cite web|title=Officers rescue pilot seconds before train hits crashed airplane on railroad tracks|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/officers-rescue-pilot-seconds-before-train-hits-crashed-airplane-on-railroad-tracks/ar-AASCJc3|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.msn.com}}{{Cite news|date=2022-01-10|title=Plane hit by train after crashing on train tracks in California|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/plane-hit-by-train-after-crashing-train-tracks-california-2022-01-10/|access-date=2022-01-11}}

File:Santa Clarita Metro Station (2).jpg ]]

{{As of|2023|10|23|df=US}}, the Antelope Valley Line is served by 30 Metrolink trains (15 in each direction) each weekday, evenly spaced throughout the day. Of those trains, 22 travel the entire length of the line from Los Angeles to Lancaster and eight trains short turn, traveling only between Los Angeles and the Vista Canyon station in Santa Clarita.{{Cite web |title=October 2024 Schedule Change {{!}} Metrolink |url=https://metrolinktrains.com/schedules/scheduleupdate/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=metrolinktrains.com |language=en}} Four of the short turn trains (2 in each direction) are met by Antelope Valley Transit Authority route 790, the North County TRANSporter, a bus route that allows passengers on these trains to travel to the Palmdale station.{{Cite web |title=790 TRANSporter Schedule |url=https://www.avta.com/790-transporter-schedule.php |access-date=July 10, 2023 |website=Antelope Valley Transit Authority}}

On weekends, the Antelope Valley Line is served by 24 Metrolink trains (12 in each direction), evenly spaced throughout the day. Of those trains, 12 travel the entire length of the line from Los Angeles to Lancaster and 12 trains travel only between Los Angeles and the Via Princessa station.{{cite web |date=October 23, 2023 |title=Metrolink Timetable |url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/schedules/web_noads_alllines_23_10_23_230929.pdf |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Metrolink}}

All stations are located in Los Angeles County.

Metrolink was awarded $107 million in 2020 Intercity Rail Capital Program funds to begin a suite of upgrades to the line that would allow increasing frequencies to half-hourly between Santa Clarita and hourly to Lancaster. The improvements could add two infill stations between Burbank and Union Station,{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=Steven |title=Metro Staff Recommend $175M Upgrade to Rail Service Between Burbank and DTLA |url=https://urbanize.la/post/metro-staff-recommend-175m-upgrade-rail-service-between-burbank-and-dtla |access-date=23 August 2020 |date=17 July 2020}} but staff recommend against utilizing multiple units.{{cite web |title=Transit and Intercity Rail Capital ProgramFourth Round Selected Projects – Project Detail Summary |url=https://calsta.ca.gov/-/media/calsta-media/documents/2020-tircp-detailed-project-award-summary.pdf |website=CalSTA |publisher=California State Transportation Agency |access-date=22 April 2020|pages=9, 10}} Metro announced in October 2020 that an environmental impact report is being prepared for a project which would add new double track between the Sylmar/San Fernando and Newhall stations and a second station platform at Santa Clarita Station. Lancaster would get a new center platform and storage tracks with this project.{{Cite news|last=Sharp|first=Steven|date=2020-10-06|title=Environmental Review Starts for $220M Antelope Valley Line Upgrade|url=https://urbanize.la/post/environmental-review-starts-220m-antelope-valley-line-upgrade|access-date=2020-10-22|work=Urbanize LA|language=en}}

An expansion to Kern County has been discussed in a 2012 Kern County Council of Governments report. Trains would stop in Rosamond and Mojave.{{cite web |url= http://www.kerncog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/KernCOG_Commuter_Rail_Draft_Report_20120720.pdf|title=Feasibility study |website=www.kerncog.org}}

• Lang Southern Pacific Station a California Historic Landmark

{{Reflist}}

{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}

{{Commons category|Antelope Valley Line|position=right}}

• [http://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/ Metrolink Schedules]
• http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=1172222 – Route on OpenStreetMap

{{Metrolink Antelope Valley Line navbox}}

{{Metrolink (California)}}

Line

Antelope Valley

Category:Mojave Desert

Category:Public transportation in Los Angeles County, California

Category:Public transportation in the San Fernando Valley

Category:Railway lines opened in 1992

Category:Transportation in Palmdale, California

Category:Transportation in Lancaster, California

Category:1992 establishments in California