Metrolink hikes fares as riders fume at sticker shock

Riders traveling on Metrolink trains will have to shell out more money for tickets starting Monday.The commuter rail service increased its fare prices for the first time in 13 years because of “rising operating and maintenance costs, reduced post-pandemic ridership, and declining state and federal funding support,” according to Metrolink.Starting Oct.5, the prices for one-way tickets will increase by an average of 14%.

The SoCal Day Pass, which provides unlimited travel across all Metrolink lines in Southern California and costs $15, will now be $19 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and holidays, according to the agency.The biggest news, opinion and culture shaping California right now.

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Never miss a story “Everyone is struggling.For day-to-day commuters, this is another thing they have to worry about.

One-way tickets all the way up to the weekend tickets? That will affect a lot of people,” 38-year-old Gabriel Frias, who has taken a Metrolink train everyday for the past two decades, told the LA Times.Tonia Jones, 61, who has taken a train regularly for the last seven years, told the news outlet, “We can’t afford that! How ridiculous.I don’t know what to do — just get out of California when I can.”The price of nearly 80% of one-way tickets will increase by no more than $1, while fewer than 1% will increase by more than $2, the agency said.“Metrolink has worked hard to keep fares affordable while the cost of operating and maintaining our regional rail system has continued to rise,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said last month.The price of the 5-Day Flex Pass and monthly passes will also change based on Metrolink’s pricing model, which factors one-way trips into its cost formula.

Some customers may see their pass prices decrease while others may see a small increase.“These pricing adjustments...