Metro to run all trains and Orange Line busway until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights!!!

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In the nearly three years that I’ve been running this blog, I’m pretty sure the most requested service change from readers has been for more late night rail service, particularly on the weekends.

Metro CEO Art Leahy has decided to do just that. The specifics:

•All Metro Rail lines will run until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. That includes the Red/Purple Line subway, the Blue Line, Expo Line, Green Line and Gold Line.

•Trains will run every 20 minutes between midnight and 2 a.m.

•The Orange Line will run until 2:40 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights in order to meet the last trains at the North Hollywood Red Line station. The Orange Line will also run every 20 minutes between midnight and 2:40 a.m.

•The plan at this moment is to begin late-night service on the weekend of July 27-28 but Metro is also working to determine if late night service is needed on the Silver Line, as well as working with Metrolink on the possibility of extending their service to connect with Metro’s.

Metro will provide more details on scheduling later in the month and there will be a considerable p.r. push to let everyone know about the new service. Suffice it to say, this is good news for workers and those going out on weekend nights, whether it’s to restaurants, bars or the many events in the region.

Here’s a statement on the new service from Los Angeles Councilman and Metro Board Member Jose Huizar:

“I’m very pleased that Metro is extending late-night, weekend train service hours to 2 a.m.
In 2008, my office launched a similar, public/private partnership extending Red Line service hours during the winter holidays. Following the popularity of that program, I’ve heard from many people for the need to permanently extend Metro train service hours. In Downtown Los Angeles, Metro’s extended Friday, Saturday evening hours will allow more customers to enjoy the many exciting late-night venues we offer, as well encourage more people to use public transportation.”

Categories: Go Metro, Go Metro Weekends, Metro Lifestyle, Policy & Funding

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74 replies ›

  1. I honestly think the light rails should run 24/7. I work at lax and start at 4:30am and there’s no green line train that runs early enough from Norwalk to LAX to get me there on time. An invaluable tool is commuting and its useless to the almost 3,000 employees that work the early morning hours.

  2. I have missed going into LA on the weekend. Too risky and dangerous to drive after a few cocktails. It never seemed helpful to stop trains at 9am.

  3. Really, It should extend until 3am. Bar closes at 2am, you close out your tab, you go outside for a bacon wrapped hotdog, you say bye to your friends, by the time you’ve walked to the station, its 3am. But still, this is great news!

  4. When is Metrolink going to run after 9 p.m. ? It is the “Missing Link” in the regional system. Useless for anything other than 9-5 commuting. If you look at other commuter railroads around North America, nearly all operate at least every hour until 1 a.m., seven days a week !

  7. I agree with others that this is great news! I also support the idea of all Metro Rail lines becoming owl service with (a minimum of) hourly service after 2am. 🙂

    And as someone who lives less than 100 feet from the Gold Line, I can tell you that any noise from the trains is minimal compared with auto, truck, and bus traffic. Ride on!

  8. Expansion of service hours is critical here in the Los Angeles Area. Metro should allow pasengers to transfer between Metro buses and rail service instead of having passengers buy an all day pass or worse yet pay again. this would help with ridership. Also some stations need more patrol.

  9. 10 thumbs up! (Converted my fingers into thumbs just for this post!)

    This is fantastic…now people will be able to take the subway after barhopping, clubbing, etc. The Hollywood stations may need an increased police presence, BTW.

  11. This is great news. Unfortunately I doubt we’ll get 24 hour service due to lack of passing tracks and the need to do maintenance for the next operating day.

  13. Looks like metro is getting close to the holy of rail transit(24 hour service like new york). Plus i can tell mlate night trains DO reduce DUi since ive ridden them in New York and once i was the only noninebriated passenger on the whole train.

  15. Great news! Would also like to see one train an hour from midnight til morning weekdays, 2am to morning on weekends, but this is a welcome start.

  16. This is great news. My friend and I have had many conversations revolving around this while coming home from Hollywood at 11PM. Now we can have this conversation at 1:40AM.

  17. Finally. Late night trains are important. How about one every hour from 2AM until morning?

  19. YES! THANK YOU, METRO!

    Two words: Midnight Movies

    This is fantastic news!

  21. Metro does have a great owl BUS network that serves most destinations off the Red, Purple, Green, Gold, and Blue lines (if you ride the Green Line, you’re out of luck). Once an hour but it beats walking.