Southern California commuters, your train ride is going to cost a little more this week.
Metrolink has officially implemented its first fare increase in 13 years, with the new pricing having taken effect on Monday, October 5.
What to expect at the ticket machine
If you are riding the rails across the region, here is exactly how the new fare structure breaks down:
- One-way tickets are seeing an average increase of 14%. Thankfully, nearly 80% of one-way purchases will go up by $1 or less, according to officials. Less than 1% of tickets will increase by more than $2.
- The Weekday SoCal Day Pass has increased to $19.
- The Weekend and Holiday SoCal Day Pass has increased to $12.
- Prices for the 5-Day Flex Pass and Monthly Passes will also see slight adjustments based on distance. Because these are calculated using one-way fares, some riders might actually see their prices stay the same or drop.
Why the sudden price jump?
The Metrolink Board of Directors approved these adjustments back in June.
Agency officials pointed to rising operating and maintenance costs, declining state and federal funding, and reduced ridership following the pandemic.
“Metrolink has worked hard to keep fares affordable while the cost of operating and maintaining our regional rail system has continued to rise,” said Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle.
He emphasized that these changes are a necessary step to support the transit system’s long-term financial sustainability.
Discounts and deals are sticking around
There is still some good news for your wallet. The simplified fare structure introduced back in July 2025 is mostly intact.
The highly popular $5 LA Zone Day Pass remains completely unchanged regardless of distance.
Plus, all of Metrolink’s Everyday Discount programs—including the massive 50% student and youth discount—are staying exactly the same, making the service as accessible as possible.
