Portal:Trains/Selected article/Week 21, 2010

Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California, United States. Established in 1991 as the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), it began service the following year. The rail system operates lines in Ventura County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Orange County and San Diego County. It connects with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Rail lines at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and with the San Diego Coaster and Sprinter lines at Oceanside. It also connects with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, and Sunset Limited trains. As of December 2009, it served 55 stations on 388 miles (624 km) of track (excluding shared miles) throughout Southern California. Average weekday ridership for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 38,400. Ridership increases almost every year; in July 2008 ridership saw a record 16% increase over the previous year. For 2010, Metrolink was allotted an operating budget of $168.1 million. It is headquartered in the MCI Center in Los Angeles.