Metrolink Fare Hike Causes Discontent Among Commuters

Tonia Jones was surprised to hear about the increase in Metrolink fares. Having traveled frequently on the train for seven years, often accompanied by her 12-year-old dog, she relies on it for commuting between Montclair and downtown for work and family visits while saving for a car as fuel prices climb. Jones was unprepared for the fare hike and feels limited in alternatives.

Jones, 61, expressed frustration at Union Station, stating, “We can’t afford that! How ridiculous. I don’t know what to do — just get out of California when I can.” She and her dog, Taz, navigate Union Station, searching for their platform as the regional commuter rail network faces financial challenges and service reductions.

For the first time in 13 years, starting Monday, Metrolink is raising ticket prices up to 27%. At Union Station on Sunday, notices about the change were scarce. The ticket kiosk welcome screens referenced a “fare adjustment” with no detailed explanation, and no signs about the hike were visible near the main entrance or inside the station.

Regular users expressed discontent over the fare increases, impacting one-way tickets by 14%, daily passes by 27% (from $15 to $19), and weekend passes by 20% (from $10 to $12). Many were unaware of the specific costs they’d face.

Gabriel Frias, 38, has used Metrolink nearly daily for two decades to travel to his Van Nuys party rental job and occasionally to visit his children in Fontana. He was disappointed by the fare hike without benefits for the passengers, questioning its logic.

“Everyone is struggling. For day-to-day commuters, this is another thing they have to worry about. One-way tickets all the way up to the weekend tickets? That will affect a lot of people. … It’s more money to fork out for the same ride,” Frias commented.

Adriana Rizzo from Californians for Electric Rail, a supporter of overhead-electric rail systems, is a frequent transit user who has voiced concerns to the Metrolink board regarding recent service and fare decisions.

She noted to The Times, “These fare increases will not raise enough to fill Metrolink’s budget deficit. Instead, riders will face a one-two punch of fare increases and service cuts, making Metrolink harder to ride just as Southern Californians are facing record gas prices.”

Managed by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Metrolink consists of members from various transit authorities, including those from Los Angeles and Orange counties. Earlier this year, the agency cut back services, and additional reductions have been proposed in recent board discussions.

Metrolink Chief Executive Darren Kettle stated, “Metrolink has worked hard to keep fares affordable while the cost of operating and maintaining our regional rail system has continued to rise. These pricing adjustments are one step in a broader effort we are taking to responsibly address those pressures and support Metrolink’s long-term financial sustainability.”

Recently, the agency’s operator faced a lawsuit from a former executive, dismissed earlier for raising train safety concerns. The ex-executive claimed that Metrolink neglected proper maintenance of train components, resulting in mechanical failures that endangered travelers and staff.

Board members at Metro, a significant financial supporter of Metrolink, have criticized the agency and its management over service reductions. An audit of Metrolink was approved by Metro in response.