Financial Pressures Force Metrolink to Extend 20% Weekday Service Cuts Indefinitely

Metrolink weekday service cuts are no longer a short temporary measure. The lower service levels began on March 23. They will remain in place indefinitely, the commuter rail operator said Monday. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

As Progressive Railroading reported, the reductions apply to six of Metrolink’s seven lines. Also, they affect riders across all six counties served by the California commuter railroad.

Metrolink service reductions affect six lines

As Railway Age noted, Metrolink had cut weekday service by 20%. The reduction addressed reliability problems linked to mechanical issues and supply-chain delays. The revised timetable began in late March. In addition, weekday ridership has fallen by about 4% since then. Officials gave that figure in the announcement.

The railroad said it has made notable progress on mechanical problems and its repair backlog. Still, those issues have not been fully resolved. Separately, officials cited financial pressures affecting the service levels riders had been used to.

“Originally, these changes were anticipated to remain in place for seven weeks, but will now continue for the foreseeable future,” they said. “Keeping the current schedule in place will prevent repeated short-term changes that could create more uncertainty and frustration for customers.”

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