Ventura County Line

Commuter rail line in Southern California

Ventura County Line

Ventura County Line at Chatsworth bound for LA Union Station.

Overview
Locale| Greater Los Angeles Area and Ventura County
Termini|

* Ventura–East
* L.A. Union Station

Stations| 12
Service
Type| Commuter rail
System| Metrolink
Operator(s)| Metrolink
Daily ridership| 2,570 (weekdays, Q3 2025)[1]
Technical
Line length| 70.9 miles (114.1 km)
Character| Elevated and surface-level
Track gauge| 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed| 39 mph (63 km/h) (avg.)

Route map

Ventura County Line highlighted in yellow

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Show interactive map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |

| Coast Starlight

to Seattle
Pacific Surfliner

to San Luis Obispo

|  |

|  | Ventura–East
|  |

|  | Oxnard
|  |

|  | Camarillo
|  |

|  | Moorpark
|  |

|  | Simi Valley
|  |

|  |

Santa Susana Tunnel

|  |

|  | Chatsworth
|  |

|  | Northridge
|  |

|  | Van Nuys ( 2031)
|  |

|  | Burbank Airport–South
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|  |  AV to Lancaster
|  |

|  | Downtown Burbank
|  |

|  | Glendale
|  |

|  |

Central Maintenance Facility

|  |

|  | L.A. Union Station
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|  |

|  RIV to Riverside–Downtown

SB to San Bernardino–Downtown

|  |

|  |

|  OC to Oceanside

91/PV to Perris–South

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|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |
|  |  |

|  |

Other line sharing track

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|

|  |

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Multiple lines sharing track

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Stations with Amtrak service

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All stations are accessible
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This diagram:

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Show route diagram

View of the Ventura County Line railway on Tampa Avenue heading to Chatsworth station

The Metrolink Ventura County Line is a commuter rail line serving Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, in the Southern California system.[2] The line is the successor of the short lived CalTrain commuter rail line.

## Schedules

[edit]

As of October 23, 2023[update], the Ventura County Line is served by 20 Metrolink trains (ten in each direction) each weekday, running primarily at peak hours in the peak direction of travel.[3]

However, of those trains, only six trains (three in each direction) travel the entire length of the line between Los Angeles and Ventura–East station. Sixteen trains (eight in each direction) short turn, traveling only between Los Angeles and Moorpark station, while 20 trains (ten in each direction) travel between Los Angeles and Chatsworth station.[3]

Two round trips operate on weekends over the entire length of the line. Metrolink passengers (except those at Ventura–East station) also have access to four Pacific Surfliner trains (two in each direction) each day through a codeshare agreement.[3]

## Tracks

[edit]

The line operates between Moorpark and Los Angeles Union Station on tracks owned by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority – the Ventura Subdivision from Moorpark to Burbank Airport and the Valley Subdivision, the Valley Subdivision from Burbank to Glendale, becoming the River Subdivision into Los Angeles Union Station. It uses the Coast Line of the Union Pacific Railroad between Moorpark and Oxnard and into Ventura where the Santa Paula Branch splits from the rest of the Coast Line. Ventura–East station and layover facility are on the Santa Paula Branch Line.[4]

## History

[edit]

See also: CalTrain (Los Angeles)

Map of the Southern Pacific Railroad's different routes into Los Angeles from the north

The railway was originally constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as their Coast Line, connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco. The Montalvo Cutoff between Burbank and Ventura via the Simi Valley was built in 1904, bypassing the old line further to the north. Caltrans ran commuter rail service over the line very briefly in 1982 and 1983, but CalTrain was unsustainable due to a number of factors.

In 1990 the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, predecessor of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, acquired a portion of the right-of-way between Los Angeles and Moorpark from Southern Pacific and transferred it to the newly formed Southern California Regional Rail Authority for commuter service.[5]

The line began operations in 1992 as one of Metrolink's original three routes, with service from Moorpark to Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. Service was extended to Camarillo and Oxnard in 1994 after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, then to Ventura in 2002.

Because Amtrak trains operate on the same corridor all day, every day, Metrolink did not operate weekend service on the line. As part of a six-month trial program to determine demand, Metrolink added Saturday service on April 6, 2020.[6] Permanent Saturday service started on May 29, 2021, with one round trip between LA Union Station and Moorpark.[7] Service was extended to Ventura–East on August 9, 2021.[8]

Metrolink established a code sharing agreement with Amtrak, allowing all Metrolink passengers to ride select Pacific Surfliner trains with any ticket or pass, starting April 4, 2022. The code sharing agreement adds one more morning and early afternoon trip to Ventura, expanding midday and Saturday service, and establishing de facto Sunday service on the line.[9]

### Accidents

[edit]

#### 2008 Chatsworth train collision

[edit]

Main article: 2008 Chatsworth train collision

At 4:23 p.m. on September 12, 2008, 25 people were killed in a collision between Metrolink commuter train 111 and a freight train. At least 130 people were injured, with at least one dying later at a hospital. The crash occurred on the Ventura County Line near Heather Lee Lane, south of the Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) and east of Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Both locomotives, the leading car of the commuter train, and seven cars of the freight train were derailed.

#### 2015 Oxnard train derailment

[edit]

Main article: 2015 Oxnard train derailment

On February 24, 2015, according to Oxnard Police Sergeant Denise Shadinger, a Metrolink commuter train traveling from Ventura County to Los Angeles hit a road vehicle near Oxnard, California; she initially said there was an unspecified number of injuries. The incident was reported at 5:44 A.M. Three cars derailed, at least one vehicle was fully engulfed at some point, and the three derailed cars were on their sides; the locomotive was still upright. Little but scorched, mangled wreckage in an intersection and on the tracks was left of the truck; Oxnard Fire Department battalion chief Sergio Martinez said the driver fled the scene unhurt but was found and taken into custody. News helicopters and footage from ABC affiliate KABC showed footage of triage tarps lying in the 5th Street (SR 34) where on-scene firefighters were treating victims and monitoring the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in a tweet, acknowledged the incident and stated they were launching an investigation.[10][11][12][13][14][15] The train engineer died a week later and 29 others were injured. A week after the incident, an Amtrak train collided with a vehicle in the same area as the first crash.[16]

## Stations

[edit]

Station  | Connections  | Location

|
|

Ventura–East |  | Ventura | Ventura County
Oxnard |  Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner | Oxnard
Camarillo |  Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner | Camarillo
Moorpark |  Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner | Moorpark
Simi Valley |  Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner | Simi Valley
Chatsworth |  Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner
Metro:  G Line | Chatsworth | Los Angeles County
Northridge |  | Northridge
Van Nuys |  Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner | Van Nuys
Burbank Airport–South |  Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner
Walkway to Hollywood Burbank Airport | Burbank
Downtown Burbank |  Metrolink: Antelope Valley
Glendale |  Metrolink: Antelope Valley
Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner | Glendale
L.A. Union Station |  Metrolink: 91/Perris Valley Antelope Valley Orange County Riverside San Bernardino
Amtrak: Coast Starlight, Pacific Surfliner, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle
Metro: ‍‍‍
FlyAway to LAX | Los Angeles

## Future development

[edit]

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments is interested in expanding Metrolink service into the county. Following a meeting on May 8, 2024, the agency's board of directors directed its staff toward preparing a formal agreement with Ventura County. The proposed one-year pilot program would add an early-morning northbound train between Moorpark and Goleta with intermediate stops at Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara, as well a mid-morning southbound return train with the same intermediate stops but also continuing nonstop to L.A. Union Station.[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Quarterly Fact Sheet Q3 January 2025-March 2025" (PDF). Metrolink. March 31, 2025. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
2. ^ Hattem, Matt Van (June 30, 2006). "Metrolink, The commuter railroad serving Los Angeles". Trains Magazine. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
3. ^ a b c "Metrolink Timetable" (PDF). Metrolink. October 23, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
4. ^ SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation.
5. ^ 1991 California Rail Passenger Development Plan (PDF) (Report). Caltrans. July 1991. p. 175. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
6. ^ Harris, Mike. "Metrolink to add Saturday service on VC line in April in pilot program". Ventura County Star. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
7. ^ "Metrolink's Ventura County Line starts Saturday service to LA's Union Station". Los Angeles Daily News. May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
8. ^ "Metrolink expands Ventura County Line's Saturday service". Daily News. August 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
9. ^ "Metrolink Schedule Update". www.metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
10. ^ "Metrolink train hits a vehicle in Oxnard". vcstar.com. The E.W. Scripps Co. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
11. ^ "Alerts, Service Advisories and Planned Advisories | Metrolink". Metrolinktrains.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
12. ^ "Abandoned truck's driver arrested after commuter train crash". Msn.com. February 25, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
13. ^ Lah, Kyung (February 25, 2015). "Train technology prevented tragedy in California". CNN.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
14. ^ "Truck driver who caused California derailment arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run". Chicago Tribune. February 24, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
15. ^ "Truck driver arrested after train crash". Usatoday.com. February 25, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
16. ^ Nelson, Laura J. (March 1, 2015). "Amtrak train strikes car in Camarillo; no serious injuries reported". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
17. ^ "Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement for launch of Metrolink service". Trains. Kalmbach Media. May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 12, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

KML file (edit • help)

Template:Attached KML/Ventura County Line

KML is from Wikidata

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ventura County Line.

* Belmond, Sylvie (March 10, 2006). "Commuters praise trains, grade crossings improved". Simi Valley Acorn. Retrieved October 10, 2006.
* Metrolink Schedules
* Ventura County Line Route Map — on OpenStreetMap

* v
* t
* e

Metrolink Ventura County Line

Stations|

* L.A. Union Station
* Glendale
* Downtown Burbank
* Burbank Airport–South
* Van Nuys
* Northridge
* Chatsworth
* Simi Valley
* Moorpark
* Camarillo
* Oxnard
* Ventura–East

* Ventura County Transportation Commission
* Los Angeles Metro

* v
* t
* e

Metrolink

Lines|

* Antelope Valley Line
* Inland Empire–Orange County Line
* Orange County Line
* Riverside Line
* San Bernardino Line
* Ventura County Line
* 91/Perris Valley Line
* Arrow

Connecting rail|

* Amtrak
* Pacific Surfliner
* Coaster
* Metro Rail
* Sprinter
* OC Streetcar (2025)
* Brightline West (2028)
* California High-Speed Rail (2033)

Governing agencies|

* Los Angeles Metro
* Orange County Transportation Authority
* Riverside County Transportation Commission
* San Bernardino County Transportation Authority
* Ventura County Transportation Commission

Ex officio agencies|

* San Diego Association of Governments
* Southern California Association of Governments
* State of California

Other information|

* List of stations
* Metrolink rolling stock
* Transportation in Los Angeles
* Transportation in the Inland Empire
* Coast Line
* Surf Line

*[avg.]: average for trains that travel the full line length on Mon-Fri
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template