Kinki Sharyo P3010 1062

Location: Downtown Santa Monica, Santa Monica, CA
Operator of Vehicle: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Date of Photo: March 10, 2022

With the LA Metro’s newest rail line scheduled to open to the public next Friday (October 7), it seemed fitting to share a photo of the previous extension of the LA Metro rail network.  In 2016, the Expo Line was extended from Culver City to Santa Monica.  Most of the route follows what was the right of way of the Santa Monica Air Line, which provided passenger and freight service between Los Angeles and Santa Monica beginning in 1908.  Passenger service ended in 1953 though freight service continued until 1988.  The extension to Santa Monica means it now takes about 46 minutes to travel from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.  

Although Los Angeles is often an afterthought in terms of rail transit projects due to its car dependence, there are a number of projects of note in the works to expand the city’s rapid transit network.  The K Line is the first phase of the Crenshaw/LAX line which will ultimately connect to the LAX Automated People Mover systen in 2024.  In addition, the Regional Connector, which will create a one seat ride between 7th Street/Metro Center and Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles is scheduled to open in early 2023, at which point the current A and E lines will be through routed along the current L line to Azusa and East Los Angeles, respectively.  

For more photos of LA Metro Light Rail rolling stock, please click here.