View source for Ventura County Line

{{Short description|Commuter rail line in Southern California}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width                       = 330px
| color                           = {{rcr|Metrolink (California)|Ventura County}}
| name                            = Ventura County Line
| image                           = Train Waiting at Chatsworth Station.jpg
| image_width                     = 300px
| caption                         = Ventura County Line at Chatsworth bound for LA Union Station.
| type                            = [[Commuter rail]]
| system                          = [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]
| status                          = <!-- Only use when line is not operating normally -->
| locale                          = [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] and [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]]
| start                           = {{scax|Ventura–East}}
| end                             = {{scax|L.A. Union Station}}
| stations                        = 12
| routes                          = 
| daily_ridership                 = 2,570 (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                            = 
| close                           = 
| owner                           = 
| operator                        = [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]
| character                       = Elevated and surface-level
| stock                           = 
| linelength                      = {{convert|70.9|mi}}
| tracklength                     = 
| gauge                           = {{RailGauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| electrification                 = 
| speed                           = {{convert|39|mph|abbr=on}} ({{Abbr|avg.|average for trains that travel the full line length on Mon-Fri}})
| elevation                       = 
| map                             = {{switcher
| {{maplink-road|from=Ventura County Line.map}} Ventura County Line highlighted in yellow <hr />
| Show interactive map
| {{Ventura County Line|inline=yes}}
| Show route diagram
}}
}}

[[File:Northridge Tampa Avenue Metrolink Track.jpg|thumb|View of the Ventura County Line railway on Tampa Avenue heading to [[Chatsworth station]]]]
The [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] '''Ventura County Line''' is a [[commuter rail]] line serving [[Ventura County]] and the [[San Fernando Valley]] in [[Los Angeles County]] and the [[Los Angeles, California|City of Los Angeles]], in the [[Southern California]] system.<ref>{{cite news |title= Metrolink, The commuter railroad serving Los Angeles |url= http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=401 |first= Matt Van |last= Hattem |date= June 30, 2006 |work= Trains Magazine |access-date= October 10, 2006 |archive-date= December 4, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081204061741/http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=401 |url-status= dead }}</ref> The line is the successor of the short lived [[CalTrain (Los_Angeles)|CalTrain]] commuter rail line.

== Schedules ==
{{As of|2023|10|23|df=US}}, 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.<ref name="Metrolink Timetable">{{cite web |title=Metrolink Timetable|url=https://metrolinktrains.com/globalassets/schedules/web_noads_alllines_23_10_23_230929.pdf |access-date=October 9, 2023 |date=October 23, 2023 |website=[[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="Metrolink Timetable" />

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]].<ref name="Metrolink Timetable" />

==Tracks==
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 (Union Pacific Railroad)|Coast Line]] of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] between Moorpark and [[Oxnard, California|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]].<ref>{{CA rail schematics}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|CalTrain (Los Angeles)}}
[[File:Southern Pacific LA access.png|thumb|Map of the Southern Pacific Railroad's different routes into Los Angeles from the north]]

The railway was originally constructed by the [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific Railroad]] as their [[Coast Line (Union Pacific Railroad)|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 [[Fillmore and Western Railway|old line]] further to the north. [[Caltrans]] ran commuter rail service over the line very briefly in 1982 and 1983, but [[CalTrain (Los_Angeles)|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 (transportation)|right-of-way]] between Los Angeles and Moorpark from Southern Pacific and transferred it to the newly formed [[Metrolink (California)|Southern California Regional Rail Authority]] for commuter service.<ref>{{cite report |title=1991 California Rail Passenger Development Plan |url=http://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/CalDOT/california-state-rail-plans/1991-california-rail-passenger-development-plan-1991-1996-fiscal-years.pdf |access-date=3 February 2021 |publisher=[[Caltrans]] |date=July 1991 |page=175}}</ref> 

The line began operations in 1992 as one of Metrolink's original three routes, with service from [[Moorpark station|Moorpark]] to [[Los Angeles Union Station]] in [[Downtown Los Angeles]]. Service was extended to [[Camarillo station|Camarillo]] and [[Oxnard Transit Center|Oxnard]] in 1994 after the [[1994 Northridge earthquake]], then to [[Ventura–East station|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Mike |title=Metrolink to add Saturday service on VC line in April in pilot program |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/moorpark/2020/01/17/metrolink-train-ventura-county-add-saturday-service-april/4458093002/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Permanent Saturday service started on May 29, 2021, with one round trip between LA Union Station and Moorpark.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 May 2021 |title=Metrolink's Ventura County Line starts Saturday service to LA's Union Station |agency=Los Angeles Daily News |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/29/metrolinks-ventura-county-line-starts-saturday-service-to-las-union-station/ |access-date=30 May 2021}}</ref> Service was extended to Ventura–East on August 9, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-09 |title=Metrolink expands Ventura County Line's Saturday service |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2021/08/09/metrolink-expands-ventura-county-lines-saturday-service |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> 

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Metrolink Schedule Update |url=https://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/scheduleupdate/ |access-date=2022-04-09 |website=www.metrolinktrains.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Accidents===

====2008 Chatsworth train collision====
{{main|2008 Chatsworth train collision}}
At 4:23&nbsp;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====
{{main|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 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KABC-TV|KABC]] showed footage of [[triage]] tarps lying in the 5th Street ([[California State Route 34|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/vehicle-hits-metrolink-train-in-oxnard|title=Metrolink train hits a vehicle in Oxnard|work=vcstar.com|publisher=The E.W. Scripps Co|date=February 24, 2015|access-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/alerts_and_advisories |title=Alerts, Service Advisories and Planned Advisories &#124; Metrolink |website=Metrolinktrains.com |access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/metrolink-train-strikes-truck-in-southern-california/ar-BBhUYOr |title=Abandoned truck's driver arrested after commuter train crash |website=Msn.com |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lah |first=Kyung |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/24/us/california-train-wreck/index.html |title=Train technology prevented tragedy in California |website=CNN.com |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-california-train-derailment-20150224-story.html |title=Truck driver who caused California derailment arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run |date=February 24, 2015 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/02/24/train-crash-california-injuries/23931025/ |title=Truck driver arrested after train crash |website=Usatoday.com |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=January 8, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-amtrak-collision-camarillo-20150301-story.html | title=Amtrak train strikes car in Camarillo; no serious injuries reported | date=March 1, 2015 | access-date=March 2, 2015 | last=Nelson | first=Laura J. | newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

==Future development==
The [[Santa Barbara County, California|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 {{scax|Goleta}} with intermediate stops at Camarillo, Oxnard, {{scax|Ventura}}, {{scax|Carpinteria}}, and {{scax|Santa Barbara}}, as well a mid-morning southbound return train with the same intermediate stops but also continuing nonstop to L.A. Union Station.<ref>{{cite news |title=Santa Barbara agency asks for agreement for launch of Metrolink service |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/santa-barbara-agency-asks-for-agreement-for-launch-of-metrolink-service/ |access-date=May 12, 2024 |work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |publisher=[[Kalmbach Media]] |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>

Currently, the Goleta extension is scheduled to open in January 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://raillynews.com/2025/08/Metrolink%27s-Santa-Barbara-services-have-been-postponed-until-January-2026./|access-date=August 30, 2025 |title=Metrolink's Santa Barbara Service Postponed to January 2026 |work=raillynews.com }}</ref>

==Stations==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Station
! Connections
! colspan="2" | Location
<!-- Do not add addresses, they are listed on station pages -->
|-
| {{scax|Ventura–East}}
|
| rowspan="1" | [[Ventura, California|Ventura]]
| rowspan="5" = bgcolor = #f8f8f8| [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]]
|-
| {{scax|Oxnard}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]]
|-
| {{scax|Camarillo}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]]
|-
| {{scax|Moorpark}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Moorpark, California|Moorpark]]
|-
| {{scax|Simi Valley}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Simi Valley, California|Simi Valley]]
|-
| {{scax|Chatsworth}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''<br />{{rint|losangeles|lacmta}} [[Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metro]]: {{LACMTA icon|G|showtext=yes}}
| [[Chatsworth, California|Chatsworth]]
| rowspan="7" = bgcolor = #f8f8f8| [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles County]]
|-
| {{scax|Northridge}}
|
| [[Northridge, California|Northridge]]
|-
| {{scax|Van Nuys}}
| {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Van Nuys, California|Van Nuys]]
|-
| {{scax|Burbank Airport–South}}
|  {{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Coast Starlight]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''<br />{{rint|air|link=Hollywood Burbank Airport}} Walkway to [[Hollywood Burbank Airport]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Burbank, Los Angeles County, California|Burbank]]
|-
| {{scax|Downtown Burbank}}
| {{rint|losangeles|metrolink}} [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]: {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Antelope Valley|inline=route}}
|-
| {{scax|Glendale}}
| {{rint|losangeles|metrolink}} [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]: {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|Antelope Valley|inline=route}}<br />{{rint|us|amtrak}} [[Amtrak]]: ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]''
| [[Glendale, California|Glendale]]
|-
| {{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)|Riverside|inline=route}} {{rcb|Metrolink (California)|San Bernardino|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 strip|A|B|D|J}}<br />{{rint|air|link=FlyAway (bus)}} [[FlyAway (bus)|FlyAway]] to [[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX]]
| [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
{{commons category|Ventura County Line}}
* {{cite news |title= Commuters praise trains, grade crossings improved  |url= http://www.simivalleyacorn.com/news/2006/0310/Front_Page/004.html|publisher= Simi Valley Acorn | first= Sylvie |last= Belmond |date= March 10, 2006 |access-date= October 10, 2006}}
*[http://www.metrolinktrains.com/schedules/ Metrolink Schedules]
*[http://www.openstreetmap.org/?relation=1165701 Ventura County Line Route Map] — ''on [[OpenStreetMap]]''

{{Metrolink Ventura County Line navbox}}
{{Metrolink (California)}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airport rail links in the United States]]
[[Category:Metrolink (California) lines]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Public transportation in Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1992]]
[[Category:Transportation in the San Fernando Valley]]
[[Category:1992 establishments in California]]