Burbank Airport–North (Metrolink station)

Burbank Airport–North (Metrolink station)
Name	Burbank Airport–North (Metrolink station)
Type	Commuter rail
Lines	Antelope Valley Line
Other	Burbank Airport–South (Metrolink station)
Platform	1 island
Opened	1983 (as Burbank)
Rebuilt	2018–2019
Owned	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Connections	Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses, Metrolink shuttle
Parking	Park-and-ride

Contents

Burbank Airport–North (Metrolink station) is a commuter rail station in Burbank, California serving the Antelope Valley Line of Metrolink (California). Located adjacent to Hollywood Burbank Airport and near Bob Hope Airport, the station provides multimodal transfers between regional rail, local bus networks, and airport shuttles. It functions as an intermodal node within the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority network and the broader Southern California transit system.

Overview

The station sits on the Antelope Valley Line corridor that links Lancaster, California and Union Station (Los Angeles), integrating with services by Metrolink (California), Amtrak corridor discussions, and local transit agencies like Los Angeles Metro Bus and Burbank Bus. Its proximity to Hollywood Burbank Airport positions it near aviation infrastructure used by carriers including Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines at a gateway serving San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley commuters. The site is part of transportation planning involving agencies such as the Southern California Association of Governments and the Federal Transit Administration.

Originally opened in the early 1980s during the resurgence of regional rail with involvement from the Southern Pacific Railroad corridor, the stop evolved alongside the growth of Burbank, California and air travel at Hollywood Burbank Airport. In the 1990s and 2000s, planning efforts by Metrolink (California) and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority addressed increasing demand from commuters employed by studios like Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios, and Nickelodeon in nearby Studio City and North Hollywood. Post-2000s capital projects, influenced by federal programs such as grants from the Federal Transit Administration and regional funding from the California Transportation Commission, led to station upgrades. The 2010s modernization coincided with airport renovation programs and transit-oriented development initiatives championed by the City of Burbank and developers linked to Metro (Los Angeles County) planning studies.

The station features an island platform serving two mainline tracks owned by entities tied to historical freight corridors like Union Pacific Railroad. Passenger facilities include sheltered waiting areas, ticket vending machines operated by Metrolink (California), real-time arrival displays integrated with systems from Amtrak and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and accessible ramps compliant with standards promoted by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Adjacent infrastructure includes park-and-ride lots, bicycle racks, and pedestrian links toward the airport terminal areas which coordinate with shuttle services operated in partnership with Hollywood Burbank Airport and local operators such as MV Transportation and Transdev contractors. Security and operations incorporate protocols from agencies including the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and airport policing units.

Regular service on the Antelope Valley Line connects passengers to Union Station (Los Angeles), with onward links to systems such as the Los Angeles Metro Rail Blue Line, Red Line, and Orange Line via transfer points at major hubs. Local bus connections include routes managed by Los Angeles Metro, Burbank Bus, and regional shuttles facilitating transfers to Hollywood Burbank Airport terminals. Integration with regional rail timetables allows commuter access to employment centers in Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Santa Clarita, and links to long-distance rail planning conversations with Amtrak California and freight operators like BNSF Railway. Mobility partnerships involve ride-hailing coordination with companies such as Uber and Lyft at designated curbside zones.

Ridership patterns reflect commuter flows tied to employment clusters encompassing entertainment studios (Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures area workers]), airport employees, and residential populations in cities like Glendale, California, North Hollywood, and Sherman Oaks. Operational management is handled by Metrolink (California) in coordination with infrastructure owners and regional planners from the Southern California Association of Governments. Peak-hour service adjustments and schedule coordination are influenced by trends tracked by agencies including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and data considerations from the California Department of Transportation. Special event services have been implemented historically for entertainment industry events and concerts at venues such as the nearby Hollywood Bowl and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Planning discussions include potential capacity improvements tied to regional initiatives championed by the Southern California Association of Governments and funding mechanisms overseen by the California State Transportation Agency and Federal Transit Administration. Proposals have contemplated enhanced pedestrian and shuttle connectivity to Hollywood Burbank Airport terminals, increased parking management strategies similar to pilot programs run by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and transit-oriented development consistent with zoning overseen by the City of Burbank. Coordination with network upgrades such as potential service extensions on the Antelope Valley Line and systemwide capital programs by Metrolink (California) and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority could alter stop frequencies and platform enhancements to meet projected demand influenced by population growth in Los Angeles County and adjacent counties.

Category:Metrolink stations Category:Railway stations in Los Angeles County, California