BURBANK, CA - Metrolink, Amtrak and Caltrans are proud to announce a new multi-faceted program that will allow Southern Californians more train travel options. Under the new "Rail 2 Rail" program, Amtrak and Metrolink will accept certain tickets issued from each of their respective rail services - giving both railroads' passengers more trains to meet their travel needs.

"Rail 2 Rail is about convenience. It's about giving passengers the option to choose the train that works best with their schedule," said Caltrans Director Jeff Morales. "But this is only the beginning. Metrolink, Amtrak, and Caltrans are working together to coordinate their schedules, their fares, and their ticketing to make the entire train experience easy, economical, and enjoyable."

How Rail 2 Rail Works

The Rail 2 Rail fare integration partnership replaces Metrolink's "Step-Up" coupon program. Through the "Step-Up" program Metrolink monthly pass holders on the Ventura and Orange County Lines purchased "Step-Up" coupons, which allowed them to ride on certain Amtrak trains.

With Rail 2 Rail, those "Step-Up" coupons will no longer be needed. Metrolink monthly pass holders who use the Orange County or Ventura County Lines will be able to ride any Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train or Amtrak bus within the trip limits of their pass for no additional charge.

Similarly, Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passengers will be able to ride any Metrolink train within the limits of their ticket at no additional charge.

Additional Rail 2 Rail Benefits

In addition to being able to board whichever train is most convenient for them, Rail 2 Rail allows Metrolink passengers to use their Orange and Ventura County Line monthly passes to ride Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner trains within the trip limits of their pass on weekends. Currently there is no Metrolink service on the Ventura and Orange County Lines during the weekends.

Another benefit of Rail 2 Rail is that both Metrolink and Amtrak will accept any of each other's fare media valid for travel between Los Angeles Union Station and the Burbank Airport station.

Southwest Airlines Promotion

While Rail 2 Rail is a Metrolink/Amtrak/Caltrans partnership, Southwest Airlines - the premier carrier at Burbank Airport - is helping promote the program among its passengers by offering them the opportunity to ride between the Burbank Airport and downtown Los Angeles on either Amtrak or Metrolink for free during the first 90 days of the program.

"The Rail 2 Rail partnership is not just about getting people to Los Angeles or to the airport, it's about getting people to the places they need and want to be," said Morales. "Here in California transportation is a quality of life issue. The State of California is committed to supporting Metrolink's and Amtrak's cooperative efforts in making connections between destinations more convenient. This helps to make California a better place for everyone."

More information about Rail 2 Rail is available at the following websites: www.metrolinktrains.com, www.amtrak.com.

Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service and is in its tenth year of operations. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink continues to be one of the nation's fastest growing commuter rail services, operating over seven routes through a six-county network with 507 total route miles.

Amtrak offers service to more than 500 communities in 46 states throughout a 22,000-mile route system. Acela Express, America's only high-speed rail service, was introduced on Amtrak's route between Washington, DC and Boston in the fall of 2000. Last year, the company set all-time records for passenger ridership and overall revenue.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) partners with Amtrak to provide service on three intercity rail corridors in California. Through a $75 million per year annual state operating assistance program and the largest capital assistance program in the nation, the State's Division of Rail supports service between the Bay Area and Sacramento on the Capitol Corridor, between San Francisco/Oakland and Bakersfield on the San Joaquins and, in Southern California, between San Diego and Santa Barbara via Los Angeles and Santa Barbara on the Pacific Surfliner. The California Corridors, operated under the partnership banner, Amtrak California, are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th heaviest traveled in the nation.