It seems the Rialto Station is a Flurry of people to get on the Metro link and head out for the beach. I might be one of them really soon here. In fact reading this article and realizing now that it will be going year round I am thinking about riding the rail as much as I can. Unless I can get to my destination faster by my own car!! I will be in my own car.
On the side of Gas Reduction I do drive a whole lot less, in fact hardy ever. Especailly in this heat. It is to dangerous to be caught out in the heat.
BSRanch
On the side of Gas Reduction I do drive a whole lot less, in fact hardy ever. Especailly in this heat. It is to dangerous to be caught out in the heat.
BSRanch
An Endless Summer for Metrolink Riders
Weekend trains between San Bernardino, Riverside counties and the beach cities will be extended year round. Riders leave costly fill-ups, freeway traffic and the heat behind.
With temperatures hitting triple digits, John Toler of Moreno Valley did what thousands of inlanders do on a scorching weekend: He headed for the beach.
But instead of driving one recent weekend, Toler, his wife, Desiree, and their two children hopped aboard a Metrolink train at the Riverside station. During the 1 1/2 -hour ride — about the same time it would take to travel the congested highways in Toler's pickup — he pointed out Prado Dam, the Santa Ana River and other landmarks to son Spencer, 8, and daughter Abbey, 5.
The best part of their ride came as the train rounded a bend near the San Clemente Pier and the Pacific came into view. "Look. Look, there's the water," Toler said, as both children whooped excitedly.
"You know," Toler said, comfortably stretching out his lanky frame and taking it all in, "this is really relaxing. I'm loving it."
It was the family's first time aboard Metrolink, which is best known for shuttling weekday commuters to and from work.
But, for 10 years, Metrolink has run a weekend beach train from San Bernardino and Riverside counties to beach cities.
Instead of operating beach-bound service only during summer months, Metrolink extended those runs as part of a plan to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home. Trains will operate on weekends year-round, and, through this year, those passengers can ride for half fare.
Although some passengers encountered problems, more than 2,650 rode Metrolink trains last Saturday and Sunday combined.
The new extended service is on the Orange County Line between Los Angeles' Union Station and Oceanside, and the route from San Bernardino to Oceanside.
The greater weekend service is part of a regional effort to encourage ridership and help demystify Metrolink schedules, said Greg T. Winterbottom, an Orange County Transportation Authority board member.
"Look at the advantages," he said. "No parking worries, no insurance or gas costs, and it's so user-friendly that once drivers get on for a trip, they'll be hooked."
The agency plans to spend $434 million to improve Metrolink service with new stations and more weekend trains over the next three years.
Toler said he paid about $32 for his family of four for a round trip from Riverside, "about what it takes to fill a quarter of a tank on my truck," he said jokingly. "And I don't have to drive in traffic on the 91 Freeway."
In addition to discounted fares, as many as three children 5 or younger can ride free with each paying adult, said Denise Tyrrell, a Metrolink spokeswoman.
"We already have a lot of nine-to-fivers taking trains Monday to Friday," she said. "But we're trying to scoop up weekend riders by hoping that by the time the hot weather goes away, the attractiveness of this commute continues."
For Brendan McCarty, 41, an Irvine contractor, it's not only about convenience. He paid $6 to ride Metrolink from Irvine to Riverside to visit his girlfriend. "The toll road alone would eat that up," he said. "I'm probably saving a $30 trip today. And that alone makes it a good way to go."
Near-record gasoline prices have prompted a greater number of commuters to use buses and trains, transportation officials said.
From January through March, ridership rose more than 11% on Metrolink trains and 7% on buses over the same period last year, said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles. There have been similar increases throughout the region.
Phyllis Mitchell, 74, of Corona said the only way to escape inland heat and avoid the hassle of freeway driving — especially on the Riverside Freeway — was using Metrolink.
"We almost feel trapped living in Corona these days because of traffic," said Mitchell, who rode Metrolink last weekend with husband Ed, a retired airline pilot. Their agenda included lunch in San Clemente and a walk on the pier before the ride back.
As much as riders enjoyed the trip last weekend, many had difficulty making ticket selections on machines at the stations.
On one train, the conductor forgot to announce a stop, then misidentified another station. On another, four riders boarded at Irvine, then retreated to the platform after realizing they were on the wrong train, leaving one companion aboard. With the doors shut and the train moving, their friend was left to shout until a conductor heard him and ordered the train to stop.
Toler's wife, Desiree, said she had trouble deciphering Metrolink's website. "I ended up calling because the website had columns that were shaded differently but with no explanation."
Kevin Carter, 39, an Upland lawyer, didn't know about the half-off weekend fare and paid the regular fare. "I overheard another rider saying they paid less because they punched a button at the ticket machine that said 'special fare.' "
Riders who believe they overpaid can call Metrolink toll free for a refund, Tyrrell said. Metrolink will try to address the other problems, she said.
Nancy Rojo, 30, of Corona said riding Metrolink was something she had wanted to do with her children for months. The mother of three, an administrative clerk at Kaiser Permanente in Orange, rides Metrolink daily.
After the Metrolink train stopped at the San Clemente Pier, Rojo unfolded a stroller for her daughter, gathered her two boys and joined hundreds of other riders who got off lugging beach towels and umbrellas.
Within minutes, Joel Rojo, 8, had his shoes off and was racing to the water's edge, pleading to his mother, "Come on, Mom, let's go in. Can I? Huh, can I?"
Rojo's face broke into a smile as she kicked off her sandals and waded in. "Boy, it's so much cooler down here at the beach. This is great."
But instead of driving one recent weekend, Toler, his wife, Desiree, and their two children hopped aboard a Metrolink train at the Riverside station. During the 1 1/2 -hour ride — about the same time it would take to travel the congested highways in Toler's pickup — he pointed out Prado Dam, the Santa Ana River and other landmarks to son Spencer, 8, and daughter Abbey, 5.
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"You know," Toler said, comfortably stretching out his lanky frame and taking it all in, "this is really relaxing. I'm loving it."
It was the family's first time aboard Metrolink, which is best known for shuttling weekday commuters to and from work.
But, for 10 years, Metrolink has run a weekend beach train from San Bernardino and Riverside counties to beach cities.
Instead of operating beach-bound service only during summer months, Metrolink extended those runs as part of a plan to encourage drivers to leave their cars at home. Trains will operate on weekends year-round, and, through this year, those passengers can ride for half fare.
Although some passengers encountered problems, more than 2,650 rode Metrolink trains last Saturday and Sunday combined.
The new extended service is on the Orange County Line between Los Angeles' Union Station and Oceanside, and the route from San Bernardino to Oceanside.
The greater weekend service is part of a regional effort to encourage ridership and help demystify Metrolink schedules, said Greg T. Winterbottom, an Orange County Transportation Authority board member.
"Look at the advantages," he said. "No parking worries, no insurance or gas costs, and it's so user-friendly that once drivers get on for a trip, they'll be hooked."
The agency plans to spend $434 million to improve Metrolink service with new stations and more weekend trains over the next three years.
Toler said he paid about $32 for his family of four for a round trip from Riverside, "about what it takes to fill a quarter of a tank on my truck," he said jokingly. "And I don't have to drive in traffic on the 91 Freeway."
In addition to discounted fares, as many as three children 5 or younger can ride free with each paying adult, said Denise Tyrrell, a Metrolink spokeswoman.
"We already have a lot of nine-to-fivers taking trains Monday to Friday," she said. "But we're trying to scoop up weekend riders by hoping that by the time the hot weather goes away, the attractiveness of this commute continues."
For Brendan McCarty, 41, an Irvine contractor, it's not only about convenience. He paid $6 to ride Metrolink from Irvine to Riverside to visit his girlfriend. "The toll road alone would eat that up," he said. "I'm probably saving a $30 trip today. And that alone makes it a good way to go."
Near-record gasoline prices have prompted a greater number of commuters to use buses and trains, transportation officials said.
From January through March, ridership rose more than 11% on Metrolink trains and 7% on buses over the same period last year, said the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in Los Angeles. There have been similar increases throughout the region.
Phyllis Mitchell, 74, of Corona said the only way to escape inland heat and avoid the hassle of freeway driving — especially on the Riverside Freeway — was using Metrolink.
"We almost feel trapped living in Corona these days because of traffic," said Mitchell, who rode Metrolink last weekend with husband Ed, a retired airline pilot. Their agenda included lunch in San Clemente and a walk on the pier before the ride back.
As much as riders enjoyed the trip last weekend, many had difficulty making ticket selections on machines at the stations.
On one train, the conductor forgot to announce a stop, then misidentified another station. On another, four riders boarded at Irvine, then retreated to the platform after realizing they were on the wrong train, leaving one companion aboard. With the doors shut and the train moving, their friend was left to shout until a conductor heard him and ordered the train to stop.
Toler's wife, Desiree, said she had trouble deciphering Metrolink's website. "I ended up calling because the website had columns that were shaded differently but with no explanation."
Kevin Carter, 39, an Upland lawyer, didn't know about the half-off weekend fare and paid the regular fare. "I overheard another rider saying they paid less because they punched a button at the ticket machine that said 'special fare.' "
Riders who believe they overpaid can call Metrolink toll free for a refund, Tyrrell said. Metrolink will try to address the other problems, she said.
Nancy Rojo, 30, of Corona said riding Metrolink was something she had wanted to do with her children for months. The mother of three, an administrative clerk at Kaiser Permanente in Orange, rides Metrolink daily.
After the Metrolink train stopped at the San Clemente Pier, Rojo unfolded a stroller for her daughter, gathered her two boys and joined hundreds of other riders who got off lugging beach towels and umbrellas.
Within minutes, Joel Rojo, 8, had his shoes off and was racing to the water's edge, pleading to his mother, "Come on, Mom, let's go in. Can I? Huh, can I?"
Rojo's face broke into a smile as she kicked off her sandals and waded in. "Boy, it's so much cooler down here at the beach. This is great."
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