New Surfliner Schedule Leaves Riders Waiting at the Station

The proposed January 8, 2012 Pacific Surfliner schedules create a nearly 3 hour gap in southbound service from Los Angeles from 7:30 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. daily. The new 7:30 p.m. southbound departure would also drop the stop at Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs, leaving riders in Southeast L.A. County without evening service. The last Metrolink is at 6:30 p.m. There is also a new southbound gap leaving L.A. between 12:30 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. on weekends.  

Why can't the new through train operate 30 min. later out of San Luis Obispo at 2:30 p.m. so that it may keep the 8:30 p.m. slot out of Los Angeles ? Wouldn't there be less opposing traffic later than earlier, as proposed. The stop at Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs should also be retained as long as Orange and Laguna Niguel get to keep their stops on selected Amtrak trains.

The proposed Northbound schedule from San Diego may be a disaster on weekends, especially during summer. Currently there are four weekend evening departues northbound from San Diego at 5:20 p.m., 6:20 p.m., 8:20 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The new schedule has two weekend evening departues from San Diego to L.A. at 6:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., a three hour gap in service at a very busy time! The Phantom predicts those two trains are going to be extremely crowded.

You call this "Coordination" ?

No More Rail 2 Rail ?

Amtrak California may end the popular "Rail 2 Rail" program that allows Metrolink monthly passholders to ride Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains within the zone of their pass. If Rail 2 Rail is eliminated, Metrolink Orange County and Ventura County Line riders will lose weekday midday, evening and weekend service. That's no way to run a railroad !

The Phantom Rides ...

The Phantom Commuter

The Phantom rides the buses and rails, reporting on what's right and what's wrong with L.A.'s transit system