The first Metrolink fare increase in 13 years takes effect Monday. Here’s what changes, who will pay more and what riders can do to keep their commute affordable.
If Metrolink is part of your weekly routine for getting to work, school, an appointment or somewhere else across Southern California, your next train ride may cost a little more.
Metrolink’s first fare increase in 13 years takes effect Monday, Oct. 5.
But there’s an important detail that can get lost in the headline: the 27% increase does not apply to everyone.
The weekday SoCal Day Pass will go from $15 to $19. The weekend and holiday pass will rise from $10 to $12.
One-way fares will increase by about 14% on average. Metrolink says nearly 80% of one-way purchases will go up by $1 or less, while fewer than 1% will increase by more than $2.
So if you’re trying to figure out what this means for your own commute, don’t focus only on the 27% number.
The better question is: What will my trip cost now?
What changes Monday
The weekday SoCal Day Pass goes from $15 to $19.
The weekend and holiday SoCal Day Pass goes from $10 to $12.
One-way tickets will increase by approximately 14%, depending on the stations you’re traveling between.
Monthly passes and 5-Day Flex passes are a little different. Depending on your route, the price could go up, stay the same or even go down because those passes are calculated using the underlying one-way fares.
The LA Zone Day Pass stays at $5.
And transfers to connecting local transit services remain included with Metrolink tickets and passes.
That means you shouldn’t assume that your fare is going up 27%. Check your actual trip.
For someone who takes Metrolink once in a while, an extra dollar or two may not change much.
For someone riding several days a week, it can add up.
And Metrolink’s own rider data shows why that matters.
In its 2025 onboard survey of more than 4,300 riders, 40% identified as Hispanic, making Hispanic riders the largest single ethnic group in the survey. Metrolink also found that 27% of riders do not have access to a car. More than half said a language other than English is spoken at home.
For those riders, the train may not simply be a nice alternative to driving. It may be how they get to work, school, an appointment or another part of the region.
That’s why a fare increase can hit differently from one household to another.
The survey also shows that people are changing the way they use Metrolink. Monthly-pass use fell from 47% in 2018 to 20% in 2025, while single-day tickets became more common. About 25% of riders said their employer contributes something toward their pass.
So the cheapest option for you may depend on how often you actually ride.
Discounts are staying
The good news for riders who qualify for a discount: those programs are not going away.
Metrolink says its everyday discounts will continue for students and youth, seniors, riders with disabilities, veterans and active military members, Medicare recipients and qualifying low-income riders. The 50% Student/Youth discount remains in place.
The Mobility-4-All program will also continue giving California EBT cardholders a 50% discount on Metrolink fares purchased at station ticket machines.
One thing to remember: the discount percentage stays the same, but the amount you actually pay can still change when the underlying fare changes.
If you qualify, make sure you’re using the discount instead of paying the regular fare.
Metrolink says its costs have gone up while post-pandemic ridership and fare revenue remain below earlier levels. The agency also points to declining state and federal funding.
Metrolink says the higher fares are intended to help deal with those financial pressures and keep the regional rail system financially sustainable. Its board approved the changes June 26.
That’s Metrolink’s explanation for the increase.
But riders still have to figure out what those extra dollars mean for their own budgets; especially when rent, groceries, gas and other everyday expenses are already taking more of a paycheck.
The fare increase isn’t the only thing changing.
Print-at-home tickets are ending Oct. 5.
If you normally buy a ticket online and print the PDF at home, that option is going away. Online one-way tickets will instead be delivered through the Metrolink mobile app.
You can also buy tickets from station ticket machines or the ticket windows at LA Union Station. Contactless payment is available for eligible trips on the San Bernardino Line and Arrow service under the current pilot.
If you’ve never used the app before, it is probably worth setting it up before you’re standing at the station trying to catch your train.
We have written on the region’s push toward easier transit payments and expanded transit options as Southern California prepares for major events. Our earlier report on expanded regional transit options
There’s also a little break coming just two days after the fare increase.
On Wednesday, Oct. 7, Metrolink and Arrow will offer free rides all day for California Clean Air Day.
No ticket is required.
The free rides cover Metrolink’s six-county system, including Arrow service between San Bernardino and Redlands.
If you’ve been thinking about trying Metrolink, Wednesday could be a good time to do it without worrying about the fare.
What should riders do now?
Before your next trip, check the fare for your actual stations rather than assuming the 27% figure applies to you.
If you ride regularly, compare the cost of individual tickets with a 5-Day Flex Pass or monthly pass. Metrolink says the 5-Day Flex Pass continues to offer about 20% savings compared with buying 10 individual one-way tickets and can be used on any five days within 30 days of purchase.
If you qualify for a discount, make sure you’re using it.
And if you normally print your ticket at home, move to the Metrolink app or plan to use a station ticket machine.
You can check the official Metrolink fare changes and updated prices before your next trip.
For most riders, 27% isn’t the number that matters most.
The number that matters is what your own trip costs when you buy that ticket Monday morning.
