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E Line (Los Angeles Metro)

From Alfawiki
E Line
Company typeLight rail route
IndustryPublic transportation
Founded2012
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Area served
Los Angeles County, California
OwnerLos Angeles Metro
Websitewww.metro.net

The E Line—known as the Expo Line from 2012 until 2019—is a light rail route managed by Los Angeles Metro within Los Angeles County, California. It connects 29 stations stretching from East Los Angeles to Santa Monica, with five stations shared alongside the A Line in the Downtown Los Angeles area. Operating for 19 hours each day and offering peak service intervals as frequent as every 8 minutes, it ranks as the second most utilized light rail line in the system, transporting over 12 million riders in 2023.

The segment running westward from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica traces the path of the historic Los Angeles and Independence Railroad, established in 1875. After conventional train operations ceased in 1988, Metro acquired this corridor during the 1990s. Planning efforts commenced in 2000, followed by construction beginning in 2006. The initial portion between Downtown Los Angeles and Culver City launched in 2012, with extension to Santa Monica completed by 2016. Originally called the Expo Line due to its route along Exposition Boulevard, it was rebranded as the E Line in late 2019, maintaining its distinctive aqua color and branding elements.

In June 2023, completion of the Regional Connector Transit Project extended the E Line eastward to East Los Angeles by incorporating a section of the former L Line through a new tunnel beneath Downtown Los Angeles. This development replaced L Line operations with E Line service between Little Tokyo/Arts District station and Atlantic station. To highlight this expanded coverage and integration with L Line tracks, the line’s color scheme was updated to gold.

Hours and frequency

Time 4A 5A 6-7A 8A 9A–1P 2–6P 7P 8P–12A
Weekdays 20 8–20 8 8–10 10 8 10 20
Weekends/Holidays 20 12–20 10 10–15 20

Speed

While certain sections of the E Line are certified for speeds up to , actual average speeds are lower. Scheduled end-to-end trips take approximately 69 minutes, resulting in an average velocity of . The line has faced criticism regarding its slow pace, especially across Downtown and South Los Angeles segments. To enhance punctuality, LADOT collaborates with Metro on optimizing traffic signal timing along Exposition Boulevard and has proposed redesigning the junction between the A and E Lines to facilitate faster train movement.

Station listing

Below is a comprehensive list of stations from west to east:

Template:!-- Downtown LA stations --Template:LAMsPicoTemplate:/minipage July 14, 1990 Los Angeles (Downtown Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA icon stripTemplate:LAMs7th Street/Metro CenterTemplate:/minipage February 15, 1991 Los Angeles (Downtown Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA icon stripTemplate:LAMsGrand Avenue Arts/Bunker HillTemplate:/minipage June 16, 2023 Los Angeles (Downtown Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA icon stripTemplate:LAMsHistoric BroadwayTemplate:/minipage June 16, 2023 Los Angeles (Downtown Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA icon stripTemplate:LAMsLittle Tokyo/Arts DistrictTemplate:/minipage November 15, 2009 Los Angeles (Little Tokyo/Arts District, Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA iconTemplate:LAMsPico/AlisoTemplate:/minipage November 15, 2009 Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) Template:LAMsMariachi PlazaTemplate:/minipage November 15, 2009 Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) Template:LAMsSotoTemplate:/minipage November 15, 2009 Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) Template:LAMsIndianaTemplate:/minipage November 15, 2009 Los Angeles (Boyle Heights) Park and ride: 42 spaces Template:LAMsMaravillaTemplate:/minipageEast Los AngelesTemplate:LAMsEast LA Civic CenterTemplate:/minipageEast Los AngelesTemplate:LAMsAtlanticTemplate:/minipageEast Los Angeles Park and ride: 289 spaces
Station Date Opened City/Neighborhood Major Connections and Notes
Template:LAMs May 20, 2016 Santa Monica
Template:LAMs Park and ride: 65 spaces
Template:LAMs
Template:LAMs Los Angeles (West Los Angeles) Park and ride: 217 spaces
Template:LAMs Park and ride: 260 spaces
Template:LAMs Los Angeles (Rancho Park)
Template:LAMs Los Angeles (Palms, Los Angeles)
Template:LAMs June 20, 2012 Culver City Park and ride: 300 spaces
Template:LAMs April 28, 2012 Los Angeles (West Adams) Park and ride: 494 spaces
Template:LAMs
Template:LAMs June 20, 2012
Template:LAMs April 28, 2012 Los Angeles (Jefferson Park, Los Angeles) Template:LACMTA icon
Park and ride: 450 spaces (closed Sundays)
Template:LAMs Los Angeles (Exposition Park, Los Angeles)
Template:LAMs
Template:LAMs Los Angeles (University Park, Los Angeles)
Template:LAMs


Ridership

In 2024, the E Line recorded a total annual ridership of 15,806,032, with an average of 48,913 passengers on weekdays during May. When it initially began operations in 2012, running from Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City, the weekday average was 19,092 riders. This figure steadily climbed to 33,264 by 2015. The extension reaching Santa Monica in 2016 significantly increased weekday usage to 54,073 by December of that year, while weekend ridership grew from roughly 11,000 in 2012 to approximately 30,000 by 2016. The highest weekday ridership was observed in 2018 at 61,024; however, starting in 2019, numbers fell due to service reductions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, hitting a low of 24,930 in 2020.

Annual ridership
Year Ridership %± <timeline>

ImageSize = width:auto height:250 barincrement:30 PlotArea = left:30 bottom:15 top:11 right:15 AlignBars = justify Period = from:0 till:20 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical Colors = 

id:gray  value:gray(0.5)
id:line1 value:gray(0.9)
id:line2 value:gray(0.7)

ScaleMajor = start:0 increment:1 gridcolor:line2 ScaleMinor = start:0 increment:1 gridcolor:line1

PlotData= 

color:yelloworange width:22
bar:2012 from:start till:4.141440
bar:2013 from:start till:8.659229
bar:2014 from:start till:9.818027
bar:2015 from:start till:9.834541
bar:2016 from:start till:13.376428
bar:2017 from:start till:19.030229
bar:2018 from:start till:19.413884
bar:2019 from:start till:18.269068
bar:2020 from:start till:8.308144
bar:2021 from:start till:7.939241
bar:2022 from:start till:11.004310
bar:2023 from:start till:12.831640	
bar:2024 from:start till:15.806032

</timeline>

2012 4,141,440 —
2013 8,659,229 Template:Change
2014 9,818,027 Template:Change
2015 9,834,541 Template:Change
2016 13,376,428 Template:Change
2017 19,030,229 Template:Change
2018 19,413,884 Template:Change
2019 18,269,068 Template:Change
2020 8,308,144 Template:Change
2021 7,939,241 Template:Change
2022 11,004,310 Template:Change
2023 12,831,640 Template:Change
2024 15,806,032 Template:Change
Source: Metro

Gold Line Eastside Extension

The earliest portion of what is now the E Line originated as the Gold Line Eastside Extension, initially functioning as the southern branch of the former Gold Line and serving as the inaugural segment of the Eastside Transit Corridor project. This route stretches from Union Station eastward to Atlantic station located in East Los Angeles, running along newly constructed medians on both 1st Street and 3rd Street.

Construction commenced in 2004, with service beginning on November 15, 2009, providing a connection between Union Station and Pasadena to the northeast. The line was further extended to Azusa in 2016. In preparation for the Regional Connector construction, the Gold Line was renamed the L Line in 2020 and divided into two separate segments. The Eastside Extension section—east of Pico/Aliso station—operated independently until it was integrated into the E Line in 2023, thereby improving direct downtown access and enhancing overall regional transit integration.

Transition from Air Line to Expo Line

The western portion of the E Line traces the former path of the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad, a steam-powered railway established in 1875. By 1920, the Pacific Electric had electrified this route, operating it as the Santa Monica Air Line with both freight and passenger services. Passenger operations were discontinued in 1953, followed by freight service ending in 1988.

Advocacy organizations such as Friends 4 Expo Transit played a key role in supporting Proposition C in 1990, which authorized Metro to acquire the right of way from Southern Pacific. In 2000, an urban art collective launched a fictitious "Aqua Line" campaign to emphasize public demand for rail transit linking Santa Monica and the Westside to Downtown Los Angeles. That same year, Metro conducted a Major Investment Study evaluating bus rapid transit versus light rail alternatives along what would become known as the "Mid-City/Exposition Corridor."

The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority, a joint powers entity created by the California State Legislature in 2003, oversaw the planning and construction of the line. This authority, governed by representatives appointed from Metro, Los Angeles County, and the municipalities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Culver City, transferred operational control of the line to Metro on January 15, 2016.

Construction unfolded in two stages: Phase 1 spanned from 7th Street/Metro Center station in Downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. Groundbreaking took place in early 2006, with most stations opening on April 28, 2012. The Culver City station and the later-added Farmdale station began service on June 20, 2012.

Phase 2 extended service from Culver City westward to Santa Monica. Construction commenced in September 2011; testing started by April 2015; and this segment officially opened on May 20, 2016.

In 2019, Metro transitioned all rail and Busway lines from color-based names to letter designations; consequently, the Expo Line was renamed the E Line while maintaining its aqua color until the inauguration of the Regional Connector Transit Project.

Regional Connector

The Regional Connector Transit Project constructed an underground light rail tunnel beneath Downtown Los Angeles that integrates the A and E Lines with the former L Line. This connection facilitates uninterrupted travel without transfers between 7th Street/Metro Center station and Union Station extending to the Eastside. Additionally, two new downtown stations were introduced to improve transit accessibility.

Initial planning for this project began in 2004, with final approval granted in 2012. Construction officially started following a groundbreaking event on September 30, 2014. The at-grade L Line station at Little Tokyo/Arts District station was demolished in 2020 and reconstructed approximately southward as a subway station on the opposite side of Alameda Street. Train testing within the tunnel commenced on April 9, 2023. The project opened for passenger service on June 16, 2023.

After completion, the L Line was divided at Little Tokyo/Arts District station: its northern section merged with the A Line, extending service between Long Beach and Azusa, while its eastern portion combined with the E Line, providing a continuous route from Santa Monica to East Los Angeles. The expanded E Line retained its designation but adopted the gold color previously associated with the L Line. The L Line name was retired following these changes.

Eastside Transit Corridor

The Eastside Transit Corridor initiative aims to extend the line eastward in two stages, beginning from its current endpoint at Atlantic station and reaching Lambert station in Whittier. With partial funding sourced from Measure M, construction is anticipated to commence in 2029, targeting a service launch in 2035. However, there is potential for expedited completion aligned with Metro’s preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics under the Twenty-eight by '28 program.

Operations

Within Metro Rail’s internal scheduling system, the E Line is identified as line 804. Before the inauguration of the Regional Connector, it was classified as line 806.

Maintenance facilities

Two main maintenance and storage yards serve the E Line.

Division 14 became operational in 2016 following Phase 2 completion. It is positioned east of Stewart Street and north of Exposition Boulevard in Santa Monica, situated between the and stations.

Division 21 opened in 2003 during the initial phase of the Gold Line. Located at 1800 Baker Street, it lies between Elysian Park and the Los Angeles River in Chinatown, between the and stations on the A Line.

Rolling stock

On weekdays, the E Line operates trains composed of three cars, while on weekends it typically runs two-car trains except during major events at Expo Park when train lengths increase to accommodate higher demand. The entire fleet consists solely of Kinki Sharyo P3010 light rail vehicles.

Metro projects that a total of 47 vehicles are necessary to maintain peak service levels on the E Line, with three-car trains running at six-minute intervals.

Bike paths

The Expo Bike Path parallels the light rail corridor between and stations. This route integrates dedicated bike lanes along Exposition Boulevard with off-street trails adjacent to the rail tracks.

Incidents

  • March 28, 2015 – A collision occurred between a light rail vehicle and a silver Hyundai Sonata at Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue shortly before a sold-out soccer game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
  • November 29, 2018 – A pedestrian crossing the tracks was fatally hit.
  • January 15, 2019 – A passenger fell between train cars and was fatally dragged; identification efforts were complicated by the condition of remains.
  • May 2, 2019 – An individual jumped from a construction crane near Expo/Sepulveda station, landing on the tracks and causing a temporary service disruption; video footage circulated widely online.
  • September 18, 2024 – In East Los Angeles, a car collided with a Kinki Sharyo P3010 train resulting in derailment and one person hospitalized.

External links

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