Metrolink, Amtrak Confirm Holiday Rail Service

Orange County residents seeking to use the local rail network over Thanksgiving are being urged to read the small print and plan ahead. Both of the county's passenger rail providers will be offering a reduced service with ticketing restrictions.

Metrolink, the county's main commuter rail service, will operate a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, meaning no trains on the Ventura Line or the Riverside Line.

Passengers will be able to purchase and use the $10 weekend day pass on Thanksgiving Day.

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner service between Ventura and San Diego will also see a limited holiday schedule. In addition, due to an expected increase in ridership Amtrak is requiring all passengers hold a seat reservation prior to boarding.

Amtrak has also announced the temporary suspension the Rail 2 Rail program, the program that allows Metrolink season ticket holders to board Amtrak trains between Oceanside and Ventura. Rail 2 Rail passengers will now need a separate Amtrak ticket and reservation before boarding an Amtrak train. The Rail 2 Rail program will resume on Tuesday, November 27th.

Regular Metrolink service will resume on Friday, November 23rd.

In terms of road travel, Orange County Transit Authority has announced that OC Bus will operate a reduced Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day, but resume regular schedules on Friday, November 24th. Greyhound Bus Lines will operate their regular schedule services.