Octa's transportation blog

Helping Metrolink Reach the Highest Annual Ridership in Its History

From Ventura to San Diego, Metrolink passenger trains are the car-free alternative of choice for millions of weekday commuters and weekend adventurers.

Recently, Metrolink announced that it has achieved the highest annual ridership in its almost 27-year history with 11,935,356 boardings in FY 2018-2019. The new record is an increase of 247,000 from the prior year and eclipses the previous record of 11,796,086 set in FY 2008-2009.

This milestone marks five years in a row of ridership increases on the Metrolink system. The rise in ridership is in contrast to a trend of declining or flat ridership in public transportation nationwide.

Metrolink member agencies include the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro), the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC).

For more than a decade, OCTA has encouraged Orange County residents to hop on a convenient train and enjoy a weekend exploring wonderful Metrolink destinations such as the beaches of San Clemente and Oceanside, the history and family fun of San Juan Capistrano, and the excitement of Los Angeles. During the year, events as local stations introduce residents to the ease of leaving their cars home and taking the train to events such as LA’s annual Golden Dragon Parade. This annual celebration of Chinese New Year at the Irvine station usually attracts approximately 500 people. In FY 2018-2019, more than 227,000 people took a weekend ride on the Metrolink Orange County Line, up 2.2 percent from the year before thanks in part thanks to promotions such as this.

OCTA continues to champion Metrolink Weekend travel with Daycations, a site rich with itineraries, special offers, and ideas for those who want all the vacation fun without the jet lag. Learn more here.