Los Angeles Metro Rail

Los Angeles Metro Rail
Name	Los Angeles Metro Rail
Locale	Los Angeles County, California
Transit type	Rapid transit / Light rail
Began operation	July 14, 1990
Stations	101
Ridership	229,900 (weekday average, Q4 2023)
Operator	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Vehicles	Kinki Sharyo P3010, AnsaldoBreda A650, Siemens P2000, CRRC HR4000
System length	105.5 mi
Track gauge	sg
El	Overhead catenary (Third rail on B Line)

Los Angeles Metro Rail is the rapid transit and light rail system serving Los Angeles County, California, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The system, which began operation in 1990, consists of six lines—two heavy rail subway lines and four light rail lines—connecting major centers like Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach, and Santa Monica. It represents a significant component of the region's efforts to expand public transportation and reduce traffic congestion.

History

The modern system's origins trace to the 1980s, following the dissolution of the Pacific Electric Railway's vast streetcar network. The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission initiated planning, leading to the 1980 passage of Proposition A, which provided a half-cent sales tax for transit. The first segment, the Blue Line from 7th Street/Metro Center to Long Beach, opened in 1990. Subsequent decades saw major expansions, including the Red Line subway to North Hollywood in 2000, the Gold Line to Pasadena in 2003, and the Expo Line to Santa Monica in 2016. The system was rebranded with letter designations in 2020.

System overview

The network spans approximately 105.5 miles, utilizing a mix of subway tunnels, at-grade alignments, and elevated railway structures. The heavy rail B and D Lines operate entirely underground in Downtown Los Angeles and beneath Wilshire Boulevard. The light rail lines, including the A, C, E, and K Lines, primarily run at-grade or elevated, often using former Pacific Electric and Southern Pacific Railroad rights-of-way. Key transfer hubs include Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Center, and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station.

Lines and services

The six lines are identified by letters and colors. The **B Line** (Red) runs between North Hollywood and Union Station via Hollywood. The **D Line** (Purple) shares tracks with the B Line downtown before terminating at Wilshire/Western station. The **A Line** (Blue) is the system's longest, connecting Azusa to Long Beach via Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles. The **C Line** (Green) runs between Redondo Beach and Norwalk. The **E Line** (Expo) travels from Downtown Santa Monica to East Los Angeles College. The **K Line** (Crenshaw/LAX) connects Expo/Crenshaw station to Westchester/Veterans station, with a future link to Los Angeles International Airport.

Rolling stock

The fleet consists of several generations of railcars. The heavy rail lines use Kinki Sharyo P3010 and AnsaldoBreda A650 cars, which operate on third rail power in the subway. The light rail lines utilize Siemens P2000 and newer CRRC HR4000 series vehicles, powered by overhead lines. All trains are operated as single units or in two-to-four-car consists. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority maintains major rail yards at divisions including Division 20 and Division 24.

Future expansion

Major projects are underway through the Measure M sales tax initiative. The **D Line Extension** is being built westward along Wilshire Boulevard to Westwood and the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital. The **East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project** will extend the **G Line** busway into a light rail line. The **Airport Metro Connector** project will link the **C** and **K Lines** to Los Angeles International Airport via an automated people mover. Other planned projects include the West Santa Ana Branch corridor and the Southeast Gateway Line to Artesia.

Operations and ridership

The system operates from approximately 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. daily, with 24-hour service on select nights like New Year's Eve. Fares are integrated with the TAP card system across Metro Bus and other municipal carriers like Culver CityBus. Pre-pandemic weekday ridership exceeded 350,000; as of late 2023, average weekday boardings were approximately 229,900. Security and patrols are provided by the Metro Transit Security and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Major stations, such as Union Station, also serve Amtrak, Metrolink, and local bus services.

Category:Rapid transit in the United States Category:Transportation in Los Angeles County, California Category:1990 establishments in California