View source for Riverside Line

{{Short description|Commuter rail line in Southern California}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{For|the light rail line connecting Boston and Riverside, Massachusetts|Green Line D branch}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 330px
| color                           = {{rcr|Metrolink (California)|Riverside}}
| name                            = Riverside Line
| image                           = Pomona Station.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = View from the tracks at the Pomona-Downtown station
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]
| status                          = <!-- Only use when line is not operating normally -->
| locale                          = [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] and [[Inland Empire (California)|Inland Empire]]
| start                           = {{scax|L.A. Union Station}}
| end                             = {{scax|Riverside–Downtown}}
| stations                        = 7
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 1,194 (weekdays, Q3 2025)<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2025 |title=Quarterly Fact Sheet Q3 January 2025-March 2025 |url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/about/agency/facts-and-numbers/fact_sheet_q1-fy25.pdf |access-date=July 22, 2025 |website=[[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]}}</ref>
| open                            = June 1993<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-27-me-50229-story.html|title=Rail System Ends 1st Year on Upswing|last=Curtiss|first=Aaron|date=27 October 1993|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>
| close                           = 
| owner                           = 
| operator                        = [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]
| character                       = Elevated and surface-level
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = {{convert|59.1|mi}}{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
| tracklength                     = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = 
| speed                           = {{convert|41|mph}} (average)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Facts&Numbers/Fact_Sheets/Fact_Sheet_June_2012_Q4.pdf|title=Metrolink Fact Sheet for June 2012|work=Metrolink|access-date=26 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164705/http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Facts%26Numbers/Fact_Sheets/Fact_Sheet_June_2012_Q4.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2015}}</ref>
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Riverside Line.map}} Riverside Line highlighted in purple <hr />
| Show interactive map
| {{Riverside Line|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}

[[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]'s '''Riverside Line''' is a [[commuter rail]] line running from {{scax|L.A. Union Station}} in [[Downtown Los Angeles]] to [[Riverside, California|Riverside]] along the [[Union Pacific Railroad]]. It runs weekday peak commuter hours only, with very little midday and [[reverse commute]] service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Timetables/Metrolink_All_Lines_timetable.pdf|title=Metrolink Timetable|date=June 6, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref> In 2024, the average weekday ridership was 1,269 passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts Sheets & Numbers|url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/about/agency/facts-and-numbers|access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=[[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]}}</ref>

==History==
The Riverside Line, the fourth line to be introduced, was added to the [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] system in June 1993.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=401 |magazine=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |title=Metrolink: The commuter railroad serving Los Angeles |first=Matt |last=Van Hattem |date=June 30, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095956/https://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=401 |archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> This line featured Saturday service from June 2000 until January 2002, when it was cancelled due to low ridership and is now the only line in the entire Metrolink system to not have weekend or holiday service. As of November 2021, the line has seven trains daily on weekdays only with reverse commute service temporarily eliminated in 2019, but revived with only one train per day as of 2021.

The Riverside Line can be used to get to [[Ontario International Airport]]; the [[East Ontario station]] has an airport shuttle served by Omnitrans Bus route 81 as of 2019, including discounted [[Lyft]] fares from the station.

As Metrolink trains along the Riverside Line share tracks with Union Pacific [[freight train]]s, delays of up to 90 minutes are not uncommon.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jan-13-me-11873-story.html|title=As O.C. Balks, Riverside Rail Proposal in Peril|last=Morin|first=Monte|date=13 January 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> In April 2005, morning westbound trains arrived on schedule 90% of the time, while those headed east during the evening arrived on schedule only 72% of the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-15-me-delay15-story.html|title=Freight vs. Folks on Lone Rail Line|last=Weikel|first=Dan|date=15 May 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

===Present decline===
[[File:Metrolink Riverside Line 2019.jpg|thumb|right|A train stopping at Pomona {{circa|2019}}]]
Ridership for the Riverside Line has gradually declined following the opening of the [[91/Perris Valley Line]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/about/agency/facts-and-numbers/metrolink-2018-od-study.pdf|title=Consulting Services for Metrolink Origin Studies 2018}}</ref> Much of the decline in service has been a direct result of competition with the 91/Perris Valley Line or San Bernardino Line, or track right-of-way disputes with [[Union Pacific]]. Planning of the line's route has also come into question later in its lifetime, as the line was not redirected to the north half of the Monte Vista Subdivision to possibly construct a station to directly serve Ontario International Airport, which was heavily renovated in 1998. As a result, many riders believe Metrolink has not made the line as much of a priority for frequent usage, which has shown in the decline of trains per day in recent schedule updates. As of 2025, the Riverside Line operates five trains on weekdays only. <ref>{{cite web|date = January 27, 2025|url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/schedules/optimized-schedule/alllines_timetable_jan2025.pdf|title=Metrolink All Lines Timetable}}</ref>

==Stations==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Station
! Connections
! colspan="2" | Location
<!-- Do not add addresses, they are listed on station pages -->
|-
| {{scax|L.A. Union Station}}
| {{rint|losangeles|metrolink}} [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]: {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|91/Perris Valley|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Antelope Valley|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Orange County|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|San Bernardino|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Ventura County|inline=route}}<br />{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'', ''[[Southwest Chief]]'', ''[[Sunset Limited]]'', ''[[Texas Eagle]]''<br />{{rint|losangeles|lacmta}} [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metro]]: {{LACMTA icon|A|showtext=yes}} {{LACMTA icon|B|showtext=yes}} {{LACMTA icon|D|showtext=yes}} {{LACMTA icon|J|showtext=yes}}<br />{{rint|air|link=FlyAway (bus)}} [[FlyAway (bus)|FlyAway]] to [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]]
| [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
| rowspan="4" bgcolor = #f8f8f8| [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]
|-
| {{scax|Montebello/Commerce}}
|
| [[Montebello, California|Montebello]]
|-
| {{scax|Industry}}
|
| [[Industry, California|City of Industry]]
|-
| {{scax|Pomona–Downtown}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Sunset Limited]]'', ''[[Texas Eagle]]''
| [[Pomona, California|Pomona]]
|-
| {{scax|Ontario–East}}
|
| [[Ontario, California|Ontario]]
| bgcolor = #f8f8f8| [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino County]]
|-
| {{scax|Jurupa Valley/Pedley}}
|
| [[Jurupa Valley, California|Jurupa Valley]]
| rowspan="2" = bgcolor = #f8f8f8| [[Riverside County, California|Riverside County]]
|-
| {{scax|Riverside–Downtown}}
| {{rint|losangeles|metrolink}} [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]: {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|91/Perris Valley|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Inland|inline=route}}<br />{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Southwest Chief]]''
| [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]
|}

==Demographics==
In 2011, the average weekday ridership was 5,161 passengers, with 46 percent male and 54 percent female.<ref name="demo">{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Facts&Numbers/Fact_Sheets/RL_Demographics_Fact_Sheet_2011.pdf|title=Riverside Line 2011 Demographics Fact Sheet|year=2011|work=Metrolink|access-date=26 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630064707/http://www.metrolinktrains.com/pdfs/Facts%26Numbers/Fact_Sheets/RL_Demographics_Fact_Sheet_2011.pdf|archive-date=30 June 2012}}</ref> Eighty-nine percent of riders used the line for work commutes.<ref name="demo"/> The median household income for riders was {{USD|86,028}}.<ref name="demo"/>

Ridership by ethnicity was evenly split:<ref name="demo"/>
* 27% [[Hispanic]]
* 27% [[Caucasian race|Caucasian]]
* 21% [[Asian-Pacific Islander|Asian/Pacific Islander]]
* 19% [[African Americans|African American]]
* 5% other

==Accidents and Fatalities==
[[File:Pomonaplatform2.jpg|thumb|An abandoned platform at Downtown Pomona]]
Numerous accidents and deaths have occurred on the Riverside Line since its inception. 

* On December 30, 1993, around 6:15 pm, a pedestrian was killed in a collision with a Metrolink train near Bon View Avenue and Mission Boulevard (adjacent to [[Ontario International Airport]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-31-me-7246-story.html|title=Pedestrian Killed by Train Near Ontario Airport|date=31 December 1993|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

* On August 25, 1994, at 6:39&nbsp;a.m., a Metrolink train struck a car containing three adults and an infant girl in Riverside, all occupants were killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-08-25-mn-31063-story.html#:~:text=Three-adult-and-a-baby,Metrolink-commuter-train-authorities-said.|title=Metrolink Train hits Car, 4 Killed}}</ref>

* On September 27, 1994, a man was struck and killed by a Metrolink train in near the [[Montebello/Commerce station|Montebello Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-27-me-43532-story.html|title=2 Men Killed by Metrolink Trains in Separate Incidents}}</ref>

* On October 26, 1997, at 5:33&nbsp;a.m., a 95-year-old, hearing-impaired man was hit and killed by a Riverside line train.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-26-me-46935-story.html|title=Girls' Deaths Renew Rail Safety Debate|last=Simon|first=Richard|date=26 October 1997|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>  

* On January 30, 2003, at 5:33 am, a clinically depressed 37-year-old man was killed by a Metrolink train when it collided with his car after being parked on a City of Industry [[Level crossing|rail crossing]]. The death was reported to be a suicide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-31-me-sfbriefs31.1-story.html|title=2 Metrolink Deaths Believed to Be Suicides|date=31 January 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-06-me-covina6-story.html|title=Teen Killed by Metrolink Train|last=Becerra|first=Hector|date=6 February 2003|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

* On March 9, 2005, a [[Union Pacific]] train crashed near Fullerton Road and Railroad Street in the City of Industry, derailing 21 rail cars and disrupting Metrolink service on the Riverside Line.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-09-me-train9-story.html|title=21 Freight-Train Cars Derail|last=Thermos|first=Wendy|date=9 March 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> The crash was caused by a broken track.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-mar-10-me-rail10-story.html|title=Broken Track Blamed in Freight Train Derailment|last=Thermos|first=Wendy|date=10 March 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

* On December 13, 2006, at 4:40&nbsp;p.m., a Metrolink train struck a man standing on the tracks near the [[Pomona Freeway]] and 7th Avenue, between Metrolink's [[Montebello/Commerce (Metrolink station)|Montebello/Commerce]] and [[Industry (Metrolink station)|Industry stations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-dec-14-me-train14-story.html|title=Man killed by Metrolink train|last=Silverstein|first=Stuart|date=14 December 2006|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

* On November 9, 2008, at 2:25&nbsp;p.m., a 44-year old man was struck and killed by a train in [[Jurupa Valley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/riverside-man-struck-by-metrolink-train-dies/|title=Riverside Man Struck By Metrolink Train Dies}}</ref>

* On September 5, 2013, at 9:21&nbsp;a.m., a man was struck and killed by westbound train #409 at the Hamilton Boulevard grade crossing, about a half-mile west of the downtown Pomona station.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/california/claremont-laverne/pedestrian-hit-killed-by-metrolink-train-in-pomona|title=Pedestrian Hit, Killed by Metrolink Train in Central Pomona}}</ref>

* On April 5, 2016, at around 6:20&nbsp;a.m., man was struck and killed by a Union Pacific train in [[Montclair, California|Montclair]], delaying Metrolink service for up to 3 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ktla.com/news/local-news/metrolink-riverside-line-delayed-following-fatal-train-crash/|title=Metrolink’s Riverside Line Delayed Following Fatal Train Crash}}</ref>

* On September 9, 2016, at around 4:30&nbsp;a.m., a woman was struck and killed by a train near the Montebello station in what was believed to be a suicide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/montebello-woman-killed-by-train/|title=Montebello Woman Killed by Train}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2016/09/09/train-kills-woman-in-montebello-streets-closed/|title=Train Kills Woman in Montebello, Streets Closed}}</ref>

* On July 24, 2017, at 2:45&nbsp;p.m., a man identified as 40 year old Frederico Duran of Long Beach was struck and killed off of the Archibald Ave crossing in Ontario, the death was later determined to be a suicide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressenterprise.com/2017/07/27/man-struck-by-metrolink-train-in-ontario-is-identified/|title=Man struck by Metrolink train in Ontario is identified}}</ref>

* On March 29, 2018, at 2:19&nbsp;p.m., a Woman was struck and killed by eastbound Metrolink train 402 at the Campus Ave crossing in Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/03/29/woman-fatally-struck-by-metrolink-train-was-from-ontario/|title=Woman Fatally Struck by Metrolink was from Ontario}}</ref>

* On June 12, 2018, a woman was killed after her car was struck by a train at the Archibald Ave Crossing in Ontario.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.dailybulletin.com/2018/06/12/woman-dead-after-metrolink-train-hits-car-in-ontario/|title= Woman dead after Metrolink train hits car in Ontario|date= 12 June 2018}}</ref>

* On August 16, 2018, at 4:30 am, Pomona police officers responded to a call after the bodies of two homeless men were found at the Downtown-Pomona station. The bodies were later identified as 37-year old Robert Salinas Jr and 31-year old Jeremy Alexander Henness. Both men were found to have received multiple gunshot wounds on the South platform of the Pomona station. Ontario police officers later apprehended Amtrak engineer Christopher Matthew Peterson as the sole suspect in the murders. He was later charged in connection with the shootings and is currently awaiting sentencing.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-homeless-killings-amtrak-20180816-story.html|title=Amtrak Engineer found Guilty in murder of Homeless men}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://ktla.com/news/local-news/amtrak-engineer-pleads-not-guilty-to-fatally-shooting-2-homeless-men-at-pomona-train-station/amp/|title=Amtrak Engineer pleads not guilty to fatally shooting 2 homeless men at Pomona Train Station}}</ref>

* On October 5, 2018, at 1:45pm, the body of an unidentified homeless woman was found near the tracks under the Temple Ave overpass in Diamond Bar.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://patch.com/california/diamondbar-walnut/body-homeless-woman-found-near-train-tracks|title=Body of Homeless Woman found on Metrolink Tracks}}</ref>

* On May 31, 2019, at around 2:00&nbsp;p.m., a 22 year old woman later identified as Evelyn Gamarro was killed by an oncoming Metrolink train traveling at approximately 60 mph near Buena Vista Avenue in Pomona. Local authorities later determined the death to be a suicide based on witness reports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2019/05/31/22-year-old-pomona-woman-killed-by-metrolink-train-in-apparent-suicide/|title=22-year-old Pomona woman killed by Metrolink train in apparent suicide}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mydeathspace.com/article/2019/06/16/Evelyn_Gamarro_(22)_stepped_in_front_of_a_train_that_was_moving_at_60_mph|title=Evelyn Gamarro (22) stepped in front of a train that was moving at 60 mph}}</ref>

* On December 21, 2022, at 9:03&nbsp;a.m., a man was struck and killed by a westbound [[Sunset Limited|Amtrak]] train in Pomona, cancelling all westbound Metrolink trains, resulting in Metro offering reimbursements to multiple passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxla.com/news/metrolink-shuts-down-tracks-after-train-hits-person|title=Metrolink shuts down tracks after Amtrak train hits person}}</ref>

* On May 14, 2023 at 5:30 a.m., an unidentified pedestrian was struck and killed by a freight train in Pomona, delaying Metrolink service up to 3 hours due to the ongoing investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2urbangirls.com/2023/05/pedestrian-found-dead-under-freight-train-in-pomona/|title=Pedestrian found dead under freight train in Pomona}}</ref>

* On May 17, 2023, 37-year old Jaqueline Sweet was struck and killed by an inbound Riverside Line train near Commerce and 3rd Street in Downtown Riverside.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patch.com/california/lakeelsinore-wildomar/woman-struck-killed-metrolink-train-was-riverside-resident|title=Woman Struck, Killed By Metrolink Train Was Riverside Resident}}</ref>

* On June 5, 2023, at 5:20&nbsp;p.m., a 22-year old man was hit by an inbound train in Riverside adjacent to the Iowa Avenue crossing. The man was later identified as Samuel Lissy of Riverside.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nbcpalmsprings.com/2023/06/07/investigation-underway-into-death-of-man-struck-by-metrolink-train/|title=Investigation Underway into Death of Man Struck by Metrolink Train}}</ref>

* On June 23, 2023, at 10:28p.m., an unidentified homeless individual was struck and killed by a Union Pacific freight train adjacent to the Temple Ave crossing in Diamond Bar. Amtrak service was affected as outbound trains were delayed up to 4 hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEvQU5Vekm8|title=Pomona, CA: Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Train in Pomona}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Los Angeles Metro Bus|Metro Local (Los Angeles County)]] – local transfer bus routes
* [[Riverside Transit Agency]] – local transfer bus routes

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
* [http://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/ Metrolink Schedules]

{{Metrolink Riverside Line navbox}}
{{Metrolink (California)}}

[[Category:Metrolink (California) lines]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Riverside County, California]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1993]]
[[Category:Transportation in Riverside, California]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Jurupa Valley, California]]