Riverside-L.A. Commute by Rail Cut to 90 Minutes

Rail commuters in Riverside County were greeted Monday with faster, more direct service to Fullerton and Los Angeles on Metrolink’s new 91 Line.

Previously, Inland Empire commuters stopped at the Orange station to switch trains to continue trips to Fullerton and Los Angeles. With delays for connections and an added stop, the Riverside-Los Angeles trip often took more than two hours each way. The new 91 Line will get riders from Riverside to Los Angeles in about 90 minutes.

“A lot of people have never tried [commuting by rail], perhaps because it wasn’t convenient,” said Metrolink spokeswoman Sharon Gavin. “Now this is an easier way to get in either direction.”

The 91 Line is Metrolink’s first since 1995, when it opened the Inland Empire-Orange County Line. The 91 Line will have 10 trains each weekday, from Riverside Downtown and Union Station.

Metrolink also announced that it is increasing service to Oceanside and to its new station in Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo. An afternoon train from Los Angeles that previously stopped in San Juan Capistrano will now go to Oceanside, and a morning Irvine-Union Station train will now begin in Oceanside.

Also, an evening train from Los Angeles will now continue to Laguna Niguel instead of ending service in Irvine, and Laguna Niguel will add an early-morning train to Los Angeles.