Metrolink riders across Los Angeles County will pay roughly 14% more starting Oct. 5, the agency's first fare increase in 13 years.

The SoCal Day Pass jumps from $15 to $19. The weekend and holiday day pass rises from $10 to $12. Prices for other tickets vary by distance and pass type, according to Streetsblog LA, which first reported the details.

The Metrolink Board of Directors approved the increases in June. In a statement included in the Streetsblog report, Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said the agency had worked to keep fares affordable while costs rose. He called the hike one step in a broader effort to address financial pressures and support long-term sustainability.

Discounted fares for students, seniors, veterans, active military members, riders with disabilities, Medicare recipients and low-income customers will remain available after Oct. 5, according to Metrolink's fare change page.

The increase comes as Metrolink faces a significant shortfall. As of August, the agency was $10 million short of the minimum needed to maintain existing service levels, pointing toward a potential 20% reduction in trains and frequency across the six-county system. The agency cut service in April after mechanical problems on newer locomotives and funding reductions from its two largest backers. L.A. Metro trimmed its overall budget by 3%, and the Orange County Transportation Authority cut its Metrolink contribution by roughly 10%, Streetsblog LA reported.

Ridership has not recovered from the pandemic.

Metrolink logged about 11 million annual boardings before COVID-19. In calendar year 2025, that number fell to just over 6 million.

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, a Metrolink Board member, raised the issue at the June meeting where the fare hike was approved. He questioned "why there was no mechanism that allowed fares to automatically be increased as part of the budget process," Streetsblog LA reported in August. Fares had not been raised in 13 years because increases required a board vote.

State and federal rail funding for Metrolink remains limited. No date has been announced for a board vote on further service cuts beyond those already in effect since April.