Coronavirus update: Passenger-rail agencies suspend fares, further revise schedules

Sound Transit in Washington, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority in California and Metro Transit-St. Louis have suspended fare collection on their light-rail systems to help protect rail employees and riders from the spread of coronavirus.

Meanwhile in California today, the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo passenger-rail corridor agency reduced Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner service and temporarily canceled some trains on the route; Sacramento Regional Transit District reduced light-rail service to operate daily trains on a Sunday schedule; and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit temporarily cancelled three trains in addition to other service reductions announced last week.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) last week suspended late-night rail service between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and began running trains less frequently during peak hours.

Last week, LA Metro recorded a 50 percent to 60 percent decrease in ridership related to the coronavirus, LA Metro Chief Executive Officer Phillip Washington said during a March 20 press conference.

During that time, the agency logged more than 550,000 daily boardings across its system on both March 16 and March 17, compared to about 1.2 million average weekday boardings in February.

Despite the drop, about 40 percent of daily riders continue to rely on LA Metro for transportation, and the agency has no future plans to shut down the system, Washington said.

Also, Bay Area Rapid Transit on March 21 logged a 87 percent drop in ridership.

Meanwhile, New Jersey Transit is operating its rail lines, with the exception of the Atlantic City Rail Line, on reduced schedules. And Calgary Transit in Alberta starting March 30 will reduce CTrain light-rail service levels.