Metro A Line (Los Angeles)

Metro A Line (Los Angeles) is a light rail line in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It is the longest light rail line in the world, running approximately 48.5 miles from Downtown Long Beach to Azusa, serving 44 stations. The line traverses diverse communities across Los Angeles County, connecting major employment, educational, and cultural centers.

History

The line originated as the Blue Line, which opened in 1990 between 7th Street/Metro Center in Downtown Los Angeles and Downtown Long Beach station. This initial segment was constructed largely along the historic right-of-way of the Pacific Electric Railway's Long Beach Line. A major northern extension, originally designated the Gold Line, opened in two phases: the initial segment to Sierra Madre Villa station in 2003, and a further extension to APU/Citrus College station in Azusa in 2016. In 2020, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority unified these services, rebranding the combined route as the A Line to simplify its system map.

Route and stations

The 48.5-mile route begins at APU/Citrus College station in the San Gabriel Valley, traveling southwest through cities including Irwindale, Duarte, and Monrovia. It shares track with the E Line between Little Tokyo/Arts District station and Pico station in Downtown Los Angeles. South of the Washington station, the line turns south, running through South Los Angeles, Compton, and Carson before terminating at Downtown Long Beach station. Key transfer points include Union Station for Amtrak and Metrolink, and 7th Street/Metro Center station for connections to the B and D lines.

Service and operations

Trains operate approximately 20 hours daily, from around 4:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., with frequencies of every 10 minutes during peak periods and every 12-20 minutes at other times. The end-to-end travel time is about 100 minutes. The line is a critical component of the regional transit network, providing connections to the J Line bus rapid transit at several stations and serving major destinations such as the University of Southern California, the California State University, Long Beach, and the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. Operations are monitored and controlled from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Rail Operations Control Center.

Rolling stock

The line is served exclusively by a fleet of Siemens P2000 light rail vehicles. These vehicles are 88 feet long, can operate in two- or four-car consists, and have a top speed of 55 mph. The fleet was originally acquired for the opening of the Gold Line and has since been expanded to serve the unified A Line. Maintenance for these vehicles is performed at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Division 21 yard in Monrovia and the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks station yard.

Future plans

A northern extension, known as the L Line project, is planned to continue the route from APU/Citrus College station to Pomona–North station in Pomona, with a projected opening after 2035. Other planned improvements include signal priority upgrades to reduce travel times, station enhancements for better accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and potential integration with the broader Link Union Station project to improve connectivity at Union Station. These projects are part of the long-range vision outlined in the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Vision 2028 strategic plan.

Category:Los Angeles Metro Rail lines Category:Light rail in California Category:Railway lines opened in 1990 Category:Transportation in Los Angeles County, California