Metrolink, the rail commuter operator in the Southern California, awarded Amtrak a four-and-a-half-year contract for commuter train operations services that will begin on January 1, 2021 and expire on June 30, 2025.
As part of the contract, Amtrak will provide and manage engineers and conductors to operate Metrolink trains, playing a significant role in safety and customer service.
Five companies submitted their proposals, but Amtrak’s was the preferred offer.
“We are honored to continue serving Metrolink and the communities and residents of Southern California. We look forward to building upon our many years of partnership and helping the agency achieve its bold vision of growth and improvement,” Amtrak President, Stephen Gardner said.
The two companies signed service and maintenance agreement that expired in June 2020 under which the services of Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) are provided by national rail passenger operator – Amtrak. The agreement expires this year.
The Metrolink commuter rail system’s six-county service area encompasses approximately 2,300 square miles, with a population of over 20 million, and provides service over 538 route miles. Each year, Metrolink trains travel 2.8 million miles, and 60% of Metrolink riders travel across county lines.
Metrolink is an easy and accessible way for families, couples, and individuals to travel, with its spacious double-decker trains and sizeable windows which offer views of the beautiful SoCal scenery, including mountains, ocean, and city views that travelers can often miss while sitting in freeway traffic.
Metrolink owns Tier 4 locomotives reduce emissions between 65% and 85% compared to legacy Tier 2 and Tier 0 locomotives in Metrolink’s fleet. Tier 4 locomotives began phasing into service in fall 2017. Starting 2010, the company introduced next generation of passenger cars and has 117 new cars that incorporate the latest in crash energy management technology.
Locomotives are specialised train cars that house powerful engines, generating the power behind your ride. Metrolink’s bilevel passenger cars carry our most important asset, our riders, and come equipped with comfortable seating, bicycle storage, tables and restrooms. Cab cars are special passenger cars that have control cabs, where our engineers operate our trains when in the push configuration.
Metrolink – combined with other mobility options – is the lifestyle choice for Southern Californians interested in improving the region’s air quality and reducing traffic congestion.
In the 2019 financial year, 11.9 million passengers selected Metrolink transport services. 81% of the weekday trips are work-related and 85% of Metrolink weekday riders own one individual car but choose Metrolink services. This contribute to company’s environment commitment and removes 130,000 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each year.
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority implements projects to provide better services to its passengers and to improve its infrastructure. In June 2019, SCRRA was awarded a USD 30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve rail safety and reduce delays on a portion of the USD 130 million Fullerton Junction Interlocking Project (FJIP), which is one of the busiest rail corridors in Southern California. The funding come from the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Programme, which is designed to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail systems.
In 2019, Metrolink was the first commuter operator across the UE to complete implementation of the Positive Train Control and the first to achieve interoperability with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF), Union Pacific Railroad (UP), National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), and North County Transit District (NCTD).
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