Metrolink service cuts that were set to start Nov. 16 are on hold. The agency’s board postponed its final budget vote at the Oct. 23 meeting, and it now plans to take up the budget on Nov. 13, according to reports. The cuts would trim weekday trains by 29% and weekend trains by 40% across the system.
Why the vote moved
On Oct. 9, the board advanced a $420 million budget that included the reductions. Final adoption was due Oct. 23. Instead, staff asked to wait for a state decision. Metrolink has applied to California for about $20 million in flexible rail assistance, and the state is expected to answer in early November.
If the money arrives, staff said current service could continue through June 2028. If it does not, or if the conditions are unacceptable, staff would bring back a budget with cuts. A continuing resolution through December lets operations run in the meantime. In other words, the cuts are delayed, not canceled.
What the proposed cuts would change
The plan would cut weekday service 29%, weekend service 40%, and about 32% overall compared with the 2025 schedule. The Antelope Valley Line would lose 67% of weekend service and 27% of weekday service. Orange County would see half its weekend trains cut, including all weekday service to Oceanside.
Ventura County weekday trains would drop by about 36%. Metrolink’s finance chief said the cuts target low-performing trains and trains that overlap with Pacific Surfliner service.
The agency points to several causes. Ridership is still about 40% below pre-pandemic levels, and operating costs have risen. Federal and state funding has also shifted. In addition, member agencies face tighter budgets, and LA Metro reduced its Metrolink funding by 3%.
When the cuts could start
The start date is not settled. Earlier reports said Nov. 16. However, one summary of the Oct. 23 meeting suggests cuts could take effect on Jan. 4 instead. Metrolink has not posted a final timetable, so riders should treat both dates as unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, riders can check the Metrolink schedule update page and the Oct. 23 board meeting record for changes. Commuters who also use buses and trains inside the city can compare costs in our guide to LA Metro fares. More local transit coverage sits in the Los Angeles and California hub.
Metrolink says it cut costs and adjusted fares before it proposed fewer trains. For more detail on the proposal, see LAist’s report on the plan.
What happens next
Three dates matter. The state grant decision is expected in early November. The board meets Nov. 13 to hold the budget hearing and vote. Cuts, if approved, would follow on the date the board sets. Details as of Nov. 4, 2026 could change quickly.