L.A. earthquake: how to get to San Diego (Metrolink, Amtrak, ride shares?)
I was going to take the Metrolink down to Oceanside this afternoon, but the 5.4 earthquake in L.A has disrupted service temporarily. The Metrolink website was quick to get information out about their lines. Here is an update on Metrolink, Amtrak and my search for alternative ways to get to San Diego tonight.
Metrolink: The Inland Empire, Orange, Ventura and 91 lines are all shut down. They will not reopen until they’ve had a complete inspection. [Update 3:30 p.m.: Metrolink phone customer service advises all lines are running again, all with delays. Call 800-371-5465 until 8 p.m. tonight for updates.]
Amtrak: No lines have been shut down. However, there are speed restrictions between Orange County and Moorpark, due to customary track inspection. Twenty-four minutes is the longest delay so far, according to Vernae Graham, Amtrak spokesperson.
Ride share? I’ve taken Craigslist ride shares before so turned to that community board to see if any were being offered. I opted to put up a post asking for a ride to quicken my chances of finding a ride and am now awaiting a reply.
How was your transport diverted? Did you come up with any creative alternative solutions for getting home?
— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal blogger
17 Comments on “L.A. earthquake: how to get to San Diego (Metrolink, Amtrak, ride shares?)”
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
The one Orange County person in our office who has access to a car sent out an email to her usual train travelers to get a carpool together. Still, they’re all planning on leaving early to beat traffic.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Our LA Now blog has a nice roundup of the current SoCal traffic and transit situation: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/07/traffic-stuff-f.html
July 29th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Metrolink’s website is very slow: http://www.metrolinktrains.com/
Here’s an alternate, more responsive link to the OC Transit Authority (OCTA), but it doesn’t seem to have any earthquake updates:
http://www.octa.net/metrolink_rail.aspx - tel 714.636.RIDE (7433), push 1 for “Riders Alert Hotline” or to speak to a customer service representative.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Finally got http://www.metrolinktrains.com/ to load, no updates since this one from 12:51 pm:
“An earthquake measuring 5.8 with epicenter near Chino Hills occurred at 11:42 a.m. today. Due to the magnitude of this event, Metrolink service is suspended at this time pending an inspection of our tracks within a 50 mile radius of the earthquake epicenter. At this time, trains on our system are operating at 20 mph. Trains that operate on the Inland Empire - Orange County, Orange County, Ventura County, Riverside and 91 Lines operate on routes owned by the Burlington Northern - Santa Fe Railway and/or Union Pacific Railroad and will not operate until those rail operators complete the same inspections.”
July 29th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I called Metrolink and was told that my line (Orange County) as well as many others were not actually cancelled, but are experiencing 15-30 minute delays (because the trains are running more slowly than usual). I will be calling again before I leave work to make sure the information I got is accurate. Here is the number: (800) 371-LINK (5465) — dial 0 to get to a customer service rep.
July 29th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Can’t load Metrolink at all. Any word on the Ventura line yet? The afternoon Amtrak (via the web) says it’s running north, but can’t get anyone at Metrolink. Anybody have better luck?
July 29th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Metrolink’s 800-371-5465 has no recorded updates, waiting on hold right now (5 min so far) to ask about O.C. delays, etc. Nice soothing hold music. After 10-minute hold they report that all lines are running with delays. O.C. line is experiencing 30-60 minute delays from Union Station. Customer service reps will be working the phone lines until 8 p.m. this evening.
July 29th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I got one response from a Craigslist rideshare for a ride that leaves tomorrow. I decided to try the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner that leaves Burbank Airport at 4:25 pm and arrives Oceanside at at 6:57pm.
I’ll let you know tonight whether it was on time or if there was a delay.
— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal blogger
July 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
I saw a Metrolink train leave from Burbank as I was approaching to catch Amtrak. at the Bob Hope Airport Terminal.
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal blogger
July 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Metrolink strangely silent – Again!
I had to laugh……
After the quake, I went to Metrolink’s web site and it was not working. I wanted to find out if my train was going to run.
The site had a simple message—try again later.
So I attempted to call them on their toll free number. After working the menus, I was transferred to an operator, well, sort of.
The transfer was successful, but all I got was elevator music for over an hour, as no one picked up the line.
After one hour, I gave up.
Metrolink spent an estimated $20,000 in legal fees (with your money) in an attempt to take away my web site name, http://www.Metrolinkrider.com. (See http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/metrolink-tries-to-censor-bloggers/18960/) Oddly enough, I offered them moderator access on the web site but they were not interested.
It sure would have been nice, considering that their web site was down, if they had posted the information on my web site, so that passengers could get some basic information on how to get home today.
But that would have required some creative thinking on Metrolink’s part. LAPassenger.com did send a couple of alerts and I thank them for that. By the way, LAPassenger.com used to be Emetrolink.com until the lawyers at Metrolink threatened to sue them for trademark infringement.
So goes the state of Metrolink’s communications with their customer base. Even an earthquake won’t shake up Metrolink’s “Customer be dammed” attitude.
Bob Arkow
Webmaster
http://www.metrolinkrider.com
July 30th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Arkow, for the love of God, why do you continue to ride Metrolink? Santa Clarita Transit offers commuter bus service. Perhaps they will be better able to please you.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:24 am
Yesterday’s Amtrak experience was seamless and on time.
— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel Deal blogger
July 30th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Here’s Metrolink’s website update from this morning:
“Wednesday July 30, 2008 - 8:00 a.m.
Inspections of Metrolink tracks, structures and signals have been been completed and no damage from yesterday’s earthquake has been reported. ALL METROLINK SERVICE IS OPERATING ON SCHEDULE ON WEDNESDAY JULY 30, 2008″
How was your commute this morning? My 10-15 minute drive was even smoother than usual.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
This message is for Spokker.
Sir, my complaint is not with the Metrolink trains, but rather with the Metrolink management.
The conductors (with the exception of one) are great, and they hate Metrolink’s ridiculous policies as much as I do.
When I put up the web site and offered Metrolink a moderator position on the board, Metrolink refused.
But the conductors do post to the board sometimes, and Metrolink wants to know who they really are. I refuse to tell them, because I respect their privacy.
Do you think Metrolink spent an estimated $20,000 in legal fees to take away the web site name, http://www.metrolinkrider.com? I don’t think so; it was much deeper than that. They don’t want any public comment—PERIOD.
Get a grip, Mr. Spokker, and thanks for posting to Metrolinkrider.com.
Bob Arkow
Webmaster
http://www.metrolinkrider.com
July 31st, 2008 at 3:01 am
Who posts on your board? The last message posted was on July 1st, by you. Judging from the amazing activity on the forums, you must not get much traffic, even after the LA Weekly article. No one cares.
I noticed that the guy who runs Metrolinktrainriders.com hasn’t updated since mid-June. Guess he has nothing to say now that Metrolink ridership is way up, even on those “empty” weekend trains.
I wonder when he’s going to throw a fit about Metrolink starting up 30-minute service in Orange County. Brats, the both of you.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:35 am
“Sir, my complaint is not with the Metrolink trains, but rather with the Metrolink management.”
But why would you continue to ride them when they can’t perform simple tasks such as handling emergencies and informing their riders of delays? I mean, I’m not disagreeing with you here. It’s a big problem.
But you continue to ride and portray yourself as some kind of freedom fighter. You want Metrolink to fail because it’s what gives you a bit of notoriety on the Internet.
Why else would you continue to bring up the trademark case (which Metrolink never should have gone ahead with by the way) in a discussion that has nothing to do with it? You continue to show up on web sites and spam your own. You never forgot to post that link!
If you really cared about your quality of life you would discontinue using the service and advocate change from a distance, and without ’spergin out all the time.
But the only message I get from your continued patronage of Metrolink is that it’s still a hell of a lot better than Santa Clarita Transit or driving :)
October 18th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Union Official Robert Arkow has been found guilty of assualting a union railroad conductor. I wouldn’t trust a single thing that Arkow says.