Metrolink is raising prices on certain tickets beginning next month.
The Southern California passenger railroad said it would be increasing fares on select tickets and passes for the first time in 13 years.
Metrolink says it will raise the price of one-way tickets and its SoCal Day Pass with the new prices going into effect on Oct. 5, 2026. The price increase was approved by the Metrolink board back in June.
The cost of a one-way ticket will increase by an average of 14%, officials said. The SoCal Day Pass, which is currently $15 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays, will increase to $19 and $12, respectively.
Metrolink says “nearly 80%” of one-way ticket purchases will see an increase of up to $1, while less than 1% of ticket prices will rise by more than $2.
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The price increase comes at a time of major uncertainty for Southern California’s commuter rail system.
The passenger and commuter railroad is facing significant budget challenges totalling more than $30 million in deficits. In addition to underperforming ridership since the COVID-19 pandemic, Metrolink is facing the possible loss of millions in contributory funding from partner agencies LA Metro and the Orange County Transportation Authority, as well as a loss of funding from the state and federal government.
Metrolink is also dealing with a significant backlog of maintenance, repairs and equipment shortages, which prompted the agency earlier this year to slash its daily operating schedule for the foreseeable future.
CEO Darren Kettle said Metrolink has worked hard to keep fares affordable while staring down the barrel of a growing budgetary crisis.
“These pricing adjustments are one step in a broader effort we are taking to responsibly address those pressures and support Metrolink’s long-term financial sustainability, while preserving a simpler fare structure and the valuable discounts that make our service more accessible to riders across Southern California,” Kettle said in a release.
In addition to one-way tickets and the SoCal Day Pass, some other passes that are currently priced based on distance will see adjustments, including the 5-Day Flex Pass and Monthly Passes.
“Some customers may see prices decrease while others will see a small increase,” officials said. Some passholders will see no change at all.
The LA Zone Day Pass, which was created last summer in an attempt to simplify Metrolink’s pricing structure, will remain $5.
Additionally, existing discounts for students, seniors, minors, riders with disabilities, Medicare recipients, low-income customers, and current and former military members will still be available.
Those “everyday discounts” can be as significant as 50% off, depending on category.
What is Metrolink and where does it travel?
Metrolink is the nation’s third-largest commuter rail system, spanning more than 545 total service line miles.
The system includes eight unique lines, connecting six different counties across Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and San Diego.
In addition to its long-distance routes, Metrolink also operates Arrow, a nine-mile hybrid-rail system in San Bernardino County that connects downtown San Bernardino to the University of Redlands.
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According to Metrolink’s latest quarterly fact sheet, from October 2025 to December 2025, average weekday ridership across the entire system was nearly 24,000 per day. Ridership figures were down across the board compared to the same timeframe from the previous year, and those figures do not include the reduced schedule which went into effect in March 2026.
For full details of Metrolink’s planned price increases, click here.
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