Southern California’s Metrolink riders can keep planning around the current timetable. On Nov. 13, the railroad’s board adopted a $508.8 million budget for fiscal 2027 that preserves existing service and drops a proposal for cuts that could have started in January.
The decision leaves an earlier reduction in place. Metrolink’s budget report says weekday service was cut by about 20% in March compared with the schedule it had been running. The new budget pays to keep the service riders have now.
The headline grant figure covers more than one budget year. The California State Transportation Agency’s award summary lists up to $20 million in flexible State Rail Assistance for two years of operations. The budget report counts $6 million of that award in fiscal 2027, or 30% of the maximum. Metrolink also budgeted $12.3 million from its separate formula allocation of State Rail Assistance for operations. Together those two sources account for $18.3 million in this year’s operating plan.
Of the adopted budget, $355.3 million is for operations and $153.5 million is for capital. The budget report says the flexible award is intended to help keep current service through June 30, 2028. That gives the railroad time to address the longer-term funding needs it identified when announcing the vote.
For riders, the current timetable still has separate weekday and weekend listings. The Riverside Line, for example, runs on weekdays only. Check the table for your line and day of travel before making plans.