Rider Fare Relief
06-15-2008

We've a taken a suggestion from a fellow passenger and taken it a few steps further. Sign the petitions targeted to cities and employers to get more help with the rising transit fare prices.

You can sign twice, for one city and one employer. Check it out here.

Ride Free on Thursday (June 19th)
06-15-2008

No, this is not a Metrolink offer. Metrolink only gives free rides to weekend sightseers, not the commuters who support it.

If you live in the San Gabriel Valley or as far east as Montclair and work in downtown Los Angeles, this is a good opportunity to try another transit system. Print your coupon or visit Foothill Transit for more information.

Metrolink Says No To Compensation Claims
05-28-2008

Metrolink is getting tired of your compensation claims.

Please help the thousands of train riders that were stranded and delayed for hours on May 7th and May 9th. Send Metrolink your comment. It takes only a minute to support your fellow train riders.

Thank you LA Weekly, Jill Stewart, and Max Taves
05-22-2008

The LA Weekly story takes Metrolink to task for its unconstitutional activities and gives some insight into its inner workings. Can you say "customer service" with a smile!? Read the entire decision that took Metrolink down a peg. The filing of the complaint cost the taxpayer $1,500 and doesn't include the time wasted by employees at Metrolink and the Los Angeles County Attorney's Office. Nevertheless, Oaxaca vows to continue to harass this and other local web sites.

Countdown to Thursday
05-18-2008

There are some developments that we'd like to share with you. It's time sensitive, so please be sure to come back on Thurday, May 22, 2008.

And the Survey Says ...!
05-11-2008

Yes, Metrolink is now conducting its great biennial hoax, otherwise known as the Metrolink 2008 Rider Survey.

In past years, Metrolink conducted the survey near the end of March and beginning of April. We can only speculate about why it is conducting the survey so late in the fiscal year. Perhaps, it wanted to put some distance between the survey and the annual rate hike. Perhaps, it wanted to put some distance between the survey and my train talks.

Many of you who heard me talk on the trains at the end of March about the survey will remember the importance of this survey to Metrolink. This is your chance to send Metrolink a message. The opportunity only comes every two years, so speak now or forever hold your peace.

In my talk, I urged you to rate Metrolink poorly on all the ratings questions. We've posted a sample survey to show you what we recommend.

Remember, we need to reach as many of the 20,000 daily Metrolink train riders as possible in a very short period of time. And we need your help to do it. Please help us out and make sure every passenger on your car knows about this effort.

To the Orange County, Inland Empire, and 91 Line passengers whose lives were disrupted two and three times last week, please stay tuned for the compensation letter postings. There are only so many hours in a day and the survey will come and go in a few short days, so it was a higher priority. For your amusement, you may want to review Metrolink's Backup Plan which we first published on August 17, 2007. As you can see, not much changes at Metrolink. And that's why your participation in the survey and your following of our recommendations is so important. We need to wake up David Solow from his dream state.

Busted! (Well, Almost)
05-07-2008

Is this still the United States of America?

Your humble correspondent was almost arrested for talking to passengers in a public train station. But the people trying to get home to Orange County this afternoon had it much worse. Read about it in the Dear Diary: Civil Rights article.

Metrolink Plays Dirty
04-30-2008

We just learned of two instances that demonstrate how petty the Metrolink staff are and how low they will stoop to silence free speech.

In the first instance, Los Angeles County employees are finding that their Internet nanny is blocking this web site. If you can't access this web site from work, contact me for alternate addresses. (We won't publish the alternate addresses because the nanny brigade will likely start blocking them as well.)

On another free speech front, you'll be pleased to know that Metrolink has enlisted the services of the Los Angeles County Attorney's Office to attempt to steal the domain names of web sites, such as this one, critical of Metrolink. What a coup for Metrolink, getting attorneys who are paid with your tax dollars to do its dirty work. Now Metrolink can claim that it's not using your fare increase for frivolous legal actions.

When attorneys pursue actions that use the courts or administrative bodies for frivolous or malicious purposes, they are violating their duty as officers of the court and their code of professional conduct. The pinheads involved in this are Raymond G. Fortner, Jr., County Counsel and Truc L. Moore, Senior Associate County Counsel. They may just be lackeys for the county supervisors. But hey, isn't that what the bad guys always say when they get caught -- I was just following orders.

If you know these people, you may want to point out to them that they are participating in highly suspect conduct and need to take a refresher course on United States trademark law. Government lawyers wouldn't normally be your first choice for complicated intellectual property work. Buy, hey, you know, they're free. And they've got the unlimited resources of the government on their side.

Metrolink "imprisoned" thousands of passengers on its trains for hours this week (see below). So in that vein, the gloves, so to speak, are off. See my new article Metrolink's Oxymoronic Quality Service Pledge about Metrolink's ridiculous compensation policy.

9% Fare Increase Approved
04-27-2008

First, I'd like to thank all of you who participated in the public comment effort. In the final analysis, however, the number of comments shouldn't be a criteria in judging them. After all, we're not voting, we're persuading. And if a million people told you to go jump in a lake, their suggestion may, nevertheless, not be very compelling. It's clear that the Metrolink Board rejected a compelling "green" argument, arriving during Earth Week, to reduce its wasteful and unsustainable weekend service. In my opinion, the 11% fare increase option was merely a ruse for comparative purposes. The Board can now sleep well at night knowing that it chose the smaller of the two proposed increases.

For those of you who didn't participate, I can only say that you have been hypnotized into a state of inertia. One day someone will snap their fingers and you'll wake up to the power of one person.

It didn't take long for the Metrolink Board to ignore public comment again and approve the third fare increase for the 2008 fiscal year. I have some new comment and analysis for you about the events of last week. See my response to Emerald City's interview with Metrolink in Google Transit and Other Fibs. And then there is the dramatic difference between Metrolink's "green" spin and it's "dirty" actions that are embodied in the juxtaposition of Earth Day and a fare hike in the same week when Metrolink Goes Dirty for Earth Week.

Take Action! Send Your Comments on the 11% Fare Increase
04-20-2008

We've added a new feature to send comments directly to Metrolink from this web site. Use the Metrolink Comment menu choice to let Metrolink know your opposition to the fare increase.

We have started you off by preparing several different comments for you to use to get started. Please personalize the messages by adding your own words to the prepared messages.

IMPORTANT!: Let's think a little outside the box here. Metrolink is a public agency and required by law to do public outreach for comment about its decisions. In the past we have concentrated on train riders who are directly affected by the fare increases. However, any taxpayer can make a public comment. So, please, let your friends, family, and colleagues know about the fare increase issue and ask them to a submit a public comment through this web site. I'm expecting thousands of comments. Please, make it so.

Metrolink's Lies (or Is It Merely Incompetence) Just Keep Coming

04-17-2008 3:00 p.m.

Metrolink just can't help itself. It's gotten so inured in its culture of public relations (PR) over substance, that it doesn't even know what the truth is. Between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on April 17th, Metrolink posted an explanation for the morning Riverside derailment. In the explanation, Metrolink stated:

Passengers were informed of the cancelations and directed to the 91 Line or to the San Bernardino Line as options. Passengers up the line were also informed of the cancelations.

We don't know how other passengers got the news, but the 200 train riders waiting at Industry at 5:24 a.m. didn't know anything about the derailment until the train didn't arrive as expected, even though the derailment occurred at 4:42 a.m. By around 5:30 a.m., some passengers took the initiative and made phone calls, then spread the word among the passengers still standing in the dark.

One passenger related the discussion he had when he used the call box. The operator told him that Metrolink had posted the notice on the emergency alert signs. When he responded that the alert signs at the Industry station haven't worked for months, the operator said that the system showed that the signs are operating.

Clearly, Metrolink thinks so highly of passenger safety that it has allowed its only emergency notification system to be broken for months at the most heavily used station on the Riverside line.

But I'm sure Metrolink will investigate. Just like it says it will investigate the derailment. But don't hold your breath. Metrolink also said it would investigate the Union Station fiasco on October 10, 2007, but still hasn't published why 10,000 homeward bound commuters were made to wait for hours to get home and how it will ensure that it keeps its promise that it will never happen again.

Our Apologies

04-01-2008 08:30 a.m.

The links in the articles posted over the weekend ("Trust" and "The History of the Fare Restructuring") are not working.

Also, "The History of the Fare Restructuring" on the site was a draft. The final version will be posted shortly.

Both these issues will be corrected before the end of today.

When It Rains, It Pours: Fares To Increase On Top of the Two Fare Increases Already Approved for July 1st

03-23-2008

I was totally caught off guard by this one. Perhaps, the "threat letter" about this domain name was designed to keep me busy or just have me give up. Take a look at the March issue of Metrolink Matters that will be available on the trains until the end of March 2008. On the front page, read the article, "Proposed Increase in Group Travel Program Fares." Few, if any regular commuters would care about the Group Travel Program which is merely a public relations gimmick. Well, now check out this news item Metrolink Board proposes increase in systemwide fares and for Group Travel Program posted on Metrolink's web site this past Tuesday, March 18th. Notice how the "Group Travel Program" stands out in the headline. Well, the real news is that you're about to get hit with a triple fare increase on July 1st -- the ten-year fare increase that was approved and begun in 2004, the three-year fare increase that was approved and begun in 2007 and now another fare increase on top of both of those. This just goes to show that you can't trust politicians with money.

From my point of view, what's outrageous about this, is that Steve Lantz and Francisco Oaxaca, who manage the Metrolink Spin Department, approved the inclusion of the item on the February 22nd Board Meeting Agenda that no one cares about, and excluded mention of the "systemwide" fare increase which everyone would likely care about. And there's another side to this stealth move. The agenda for the December, January (2), and February (2) board meetings don't even hint at another systemwide fare increase. Yet the two February board meetings discussed the Group Travel Program fare increase in depth. In fact, the Board meets again this Friday, March 28th, and there is no systemwide fare increase on the agenda. So one can only speculate how such a significant decision evades public scrutiny in the Board's Agenda and shows up in a news release 10 days before a board meeting that doesn't even have the item on the agenda. So, the systemwide fare increase hasn't appeared on any past or prospective agenda, yet it will be approved at the April 25, 2008 board meeting, according to the news item. So much for transparency by public agencies.

To recap, it's not even so much the fact of the fare increase, it's the underhanded way that Metrolink tries to push its agenda without the train riders having a reasonable period to organize a response. I can just imagine the April 25th board meeting, which takes place on Friday mornings while all of the passengers are at work. David Solow will report that a few people commented and disapproved of the fair increase, that no one showed up for the public comment portion of the meeting, and the board will vote 11-0 to approve the fare increase.

And don't forget the proposed change to the transfer system. Metrolink estimates that only 54% (February 8, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 41) of riders use connecting transit and that only 30% (March 28, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 16) connect to Metro (MTA). And anyone who uses Metro would have to buy a $50 to $70 Metro pass (March 28, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 16). And those are at the current Metro pass fare that will be going up every year. Are you mad enough yet?

Do you want to take any action about the stealth tactics of Metrolink? With everything that's going on right now, I need assistance. Are there any of you out there that are willing to lend a hand?

Biennial Hoax (Survey) Is Coming?

03-24-2008

Those dashing middle-aged men in their Metrolink blazers will soon be arriving on a train near you. How should you answer those questions? Here's our take on the survey. The Great Biennial Hoax (Survey)

When It Rains, It Pours: Fares To Increase On Top of the Two Fare Increases Already Approved for July 1st

03-23-2008

I was totally caught off guard by this one. Perhaps, the "threat letter" about this domain name was designed to keep me busy or just have me give up. Take a look at the March issue of Metrolink Matters that will be available on the trains until the end of March 2008. On the front page, read the article, "Proposed Increase in Group Travel Program Fares." Few, if any regular commuters would care about the Group Travel Program which is merely a public relations gimmick. Well, now check out this news item Metrolink Board proposes increase in systemwide fares and for Group Travel Program posted on Metrolink's web site this past Tuesday, March 18th. Notice how the "Group Travel Program" stands out in the headline. Well, the real news is that you're about to get hit with a triple fare increase on July 1st -- the ten-year fare increase that was approved and begun in 2004, the three-year fare increase that was approved and begun in 2007 and now another fare increase on top of both of those. This just goes to show that you can't trust politicians with money.

From my point of view, what's outrageous about this, is that Steve Lantz and Francisco Oaxaca, who manage the Metrolink Spin Department, approved the inclusion of the item on the February 22nd Board Meeting Agenda that no one cares about, and excluded mention of the "systemwide" fare increase which everyone would likely care about. And there's another side to this stealth move. The agenda for the December, January (2), and February (2) board meetings don't even hint at another systemwide fare increase. Yet the two February board meetings discussed the Group Travel Program fare increase in depth. In fact, the Board meets again this Friday, March 28th, and there is no systemwide fare increase on the agenda. So one can only speculate how such a significant decision evades public scrutiny in the Board's Agenda and shows up in a news release 10 days before a board meeting that doesn't even have the item on the agenda. So, the systemwide fare increase hasn't appeared on any past or prospective agenda, yet it will be approved at the April 25, 2008 board meeting, according to the news item. So much for transparency by public agencies.

To recap, it's not even so much the fact of the fare increase, it's the underhanded way that Metrolink tries to push its agenda without the train riders having a reasonable period to organize a response. I can just imagine the April 25th board meeting, which takes place on Friday mornings while all of the passengers are at work. David Solow will report that a few people commented and disapproved of the fair increase, that no one showed up for the public comment portion of the meeting, and the board will vote 11-0 to approve the fare increase.

And don't forget the proposed change to the transfer system. Metrolink estimates that only 54% (February 8, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 41) of riders use connecting transit and that only 30% (March 28, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 16) connect to Metro (MTA). And anyone who uses Metro would have to buy a $50 to $70 Metro pass (March 28, 2008 Board Agenda, p. 16). And those are at the current Metro pass fare that will be going up every year. Are you mad enough yet?

Do you want to take any action about the stealth tactics of Metrolink? With everything that's going on right now, I need assistance. Are there any of you out there that are willing to lend a hand?

Metrolink and Trademarks and Where's Waldo? and Contest

03-23-2008

What's the connection? Check out the new web log article, Where's Metrolink?

Metrolink To Charge MORE For Transfers?

03-19-2008

You use your Metrolink ticket or pass to transfer to MTA and LADOT ligth rail, busses, and shuttles. You probably don't even give it a second thought. How would you like to have to buy another ticket to get to work or home? Learn more about what Metrolink is considering.

Please let your fellow passengers know about this potential change in policy that will make it more expensive or more difficult to use Metrolink for your commute.

Metrolink Sends "Threat" Letters

Update: March 2 at 9:30 p.m.

We are seeking an attorney with expertise in intellectual property and the First Amendment to advise us on the "threat" letter. If you are an attorney, or work for one, or are married to one, we'd appreciate it if you would contact us.

03-01-2008

In its latest public relations folly, Metrolink has issued "threat" or "cease and desist" letters to several web site owners. The letters claim that this and other web sites are infringing on Metrolink's trademark by using the word Metrolink in their domain names.

Emetrolink.com has already acceded to the threat letter and is now operating under another domain name.

Rest assured that the use of the word Metrolink by this site is not a trademark infringement under any interpretation of the law. The "threat" letters are a thinly veiled attempt by Metrolink to bully web site owners that Metrolink wishes would go away.

While we will shortly have a more detailed response, this issue involves not only trademark law, but also First Amendment issues. As a governmental agency, Metrolink should know better. Clearly, Metrolink would rather kill the messenger rather than deal with its operational issues.

We will be putting up more information about this issue in the near future. March will be an interesting month, so stay tuned.

The famous Metrolink biennial survey is coming up this month, so we'll be making some comment on that as well.

Riverside Pickup Crash
02-08-2008

At about 5:20 a.m., the Riverside line 401 train, en route from Industry to Montebello, struck a pickup truck abandoned on the tracks.

After the 401 train hit a pickup truck on the tracks near Industry, all morning and early afternoon traffic on the Riverside line was severely disrupted.

Incident report for Riverside Line train 401, 403, 405, 409, and 411.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Riverside Car Crash
12-12-2007

On the morning of December 12th, the 407 train crashed into a car on the tracks in Riverside. The 409 train finally arrived to pick up stranded passengers, but it too was delayed.

Incident report for Riverside Line train 407 and 409 trains.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Simi Valley Push
12-07-2007

On the evening of December 7th, the 113 train broke down near Simi Valley and had to be pushed by the 115 train. Both trains were very late.

Incident report for Ventura County Line train 113 and 115 trains.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Blame It on Burlington (685 / 687) - Switch Problem
10-30-2007

On the morning of October 30th, both the 685 and 687 Orange County trains were very late.

Incident report for Orange County Line train 685 and 687 trains.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Frieght Train Fatality (708)
10-26-2007

On the evening of October 26th, the 708 train was delayed past Fullerton because of a fatality crash on the tracks ahead of it.

Incident report for 91 Line train 708 train.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Orange County Cancellations
October 23 and 24, 2007

Metrolink has posted that a bunch (601, 603, 605, 683, 685, 850) of morning Orange County trains have been cancelled on these two days. Were these really cancelled or did they just start at a different station? Were passengers left stranded on platforms waiting for trains that never arrived? Please contact me if you have first hand knowledge about any of these trains.

Earth, Wind and Fire (405 and 407) - Cancelled
October 22, 2007

Update: October 23 at 3:30 p.m.

Press coverage now appears under the new Metrolink News page. We located two short articles, but they conflict with what Metrolink has posted about the incident. We'd like to hear from a train rider who actually rode on the 405, 407, or 409 on Monday from Riverside to Union Station.

Having learned from last Monday's delay where the 407 train cancellation was posted on the station message boards but the train actually arrived late, Metrolink decided to play it safe this morning and not announce anything.

Incident report for Riverside Line train 405 and 407 trains.

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter will be available on October 23 on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Pedley Package (407) - Cancelled (???)
October 15, 2007

Update: October 16 at 12:00 a.m.

While the local news was filled with public relations stories about Metrolink stepping in to assist Santa Clarita area commuters, it did nothing to help its regular train riders get to work on time. Reportedly, Metrolink added cars to existing trains and fielded two additional morning trains for freeway commuters north of Santa Clarita. And for the hundreds of Riverside passengers who normally take the 407 train, Metrolink said 'Cancelled! [Take a hike!]' So much for customer service.

The incident was caused by a supposedly suspicious package at the Pedley station. The conductor on the 405 train repeatedly asked if any Pedley passengers on that train had any information about the package. One has to question what kind of security, if any, exists at the Pedley station.

There is scant information about this incident. We do know that Metrolink posted that the train was cancelled on the Industry station message boards and that passengers left the station because the next scheduled train was an hour-and-a-half later.

Incident report for Riverside Line train 407 (7:32 a.m. departure).

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter will be available on October 17 on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Homeward Bound - Delays at Union Station
October 10, 2007

Update: October 11 at 1:30 p.m.

The compensation letters are now available for the Riverside Line (408 / 410 / 412), 91 Line (708), the Inland Empire - Orange County Line (810), the Orange County Line (606 / 608 / 689), the San Bernardino Line (322 / 324 / 326 / 328 / 325 / 327 / 333), and the Ventura County / Burbank Airport Line (910). Download them from the QSP page.

Update: October 11 at 9:00 a.m.

Our sources tell us that the switches for tracks 5 through 12 were down because of a power failure. Only tracks 3 and 4 were operating. (We think a yard crewman spilled his Starbuck's in the power room [with sarcasm].) Union Station passengers whose trains were stuck outside the station had to stand on the platform for over an hour. Where were the Metrolink passenger service staff during all this? Where was the coffee and donuts?

Confusion reigned at Union Station as Metrolink rail traffic appeared to come to a standstill for the rush hour commute for thousands of home-bound passengers. The Riverside 406 train departed at 6:01, more than an hour behind schedule. Other inbound and outbound trains on some tracks were delayed because of a switching problem.

Stay tuned to this page. When Metrolink publishes the delays for the day, we will be adding more compensation letters.

Incident report for Riverside Line train 406 (4:55 departure).

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Press

Isn't it great when you have to get the news about your train third-hand. But if you go to Metrolink's web site this morning you can find out how to "Take Metrolink to Thunderfest/Bluesapalooza 2007."

Added 10-15 at 10:50 a.m. Here is a little different take on the story from the Los Angeles Times. I wonder what Denise Tyrrell means when she says the "trains kept moving." I think that is news for those of us who were stuck there.

Added 10-11 at 9:00 a.m. Here is the story from KNBC along with some grainy photos.

Waffle Truck Crash - 701 Delay in La Mirada
September 20, 2007

On the morning of September 20th, Metrolink train 701 clipped the rear of a semi-trailer that hadn't cleared the crossing at Valley View Avenue in La Mirada. We heard about this on the news, but today (October 16th) we had a first-hand account from a passenger on this train.

What happened to all those frozen waffles?

Incident report for 91 Line train 701 (5:20 a.m. departure).

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

Press

Added 10-16 at 12:00 a.m. This story at CBS 2 made a lot of local news because of the food angle. Despite the implication, this was not Metrolink's pilot breakfast program crashing and burning.

Added 09-04-2007 Metrolink Train Riders Web Log. Incisive opinion for the discriminating mind. Differing viewpoints encouraged to contribute.

Added 08-29-2007 Train Delays. New page with serious delay history for all lines.

Riverside Line - Afternoon Delays
August 16, 2007

Update: August 29 at 1:00 p.m.

We have had several reports that the four-trip tickets that are being sent out as a result of the August 16th delay (Riverside 404 and 406 trains) are dated to expire on December 1, 2007.

According to the Quality Service Pledge you are entitled to "a Universal 4-trip ticket with a one-year expiration date from the date of the incident."

So make sure to check your ticket expiration date and demand one that complies with the policy. In my opinion, you shouldn't have to return the wrongly issued ticket unless Metrolink provides a no-cost and no-inconvenience way for you the return it. It was Metrolink's mess-up -- just business as usual.

Update: August 16 at 2:00 p.m.

The compensation letter is now available on the QSP page.

Can you claim the compensation? See the FAQ page.

The 404 train departed late, passengers were being diverted. The 406 train departed a couple minutes late with the announcement that it would be delayed 20 to 30 minutes or more. The 408 train we don't have any information about. The 410 train was annulled (a marriage that was just never meant to be) and passengers were doubled up on the 412 train. The 412 train was so packed that Metrolink added another car (is that true) to relieve some of the overcrowding.

A fire along the right-of-way caused delays on the 404, 406, and possibly other trains. If you have any specifics on the 404, 408, or later trains being delayed, please let us know. Look for a compensation letter to download after 12:00 PM today.

Incident reports for Riverside Line trains 404 (4:15 departure), 406 (4:55 departure), 408 (5:25 departure), or 410 (6:05 departure).

To view incident reports that are approved for display.

Metrolink's Backup Plan

When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, it's reassuring to know that Metrolink staff has a plan.

1. Wonder why the gods are angry with Metrolink.
2. Hope it's really just a bad dream and that CEO David Solow will wake up soon.
3. Delay the announcement of the problem until the last possible moment.
4. Send out cannon fodder (a.k.a. unsuspecting employees), who don't know what's going on, to make announcements that may or may not be true.
5. Make an announcement and then change the announcement a few minutes later.
6. Ask passengers to fend for themselves.
7. If throngs of passengers have not yet dissipated, make it appear that Metrolink is doing something, but, at all costs, avoid actually doing anything.
8. Hope things work out.
9. Breathe a sigh of relief when the last passengers have left the station.
10. Rinse and repeat.