CEO Social Connect
December 12, 2019 - Topic: The Onboard Experience
CEO Social Connect is here this Thursday! Chat with Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins on Facebook Live on December 12 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. PST.
The topic "The Onboard Experience" ranges from the incorporation of Wi-Fi on Metrolink trains, Metrolink equipment, personnel, amenities and more!
Join the chat here.
PREVIOUS CHAT - August 14, 2019
CEO Stephanie Wiggins (SW): Thank you all for joining us in this CEO Social Connect. Your input is so important to me, and I’m excited that we get to talk about scheduling today, a topic selected by riders and very important to the success of Metrolink. I believe these discussions are valuable and I look forward to coming back at least every quarter to discuss more topics in the near future!
Tom B.: Angels Express would be nice on the weekends too! Not sure it makes economic sense for Metrolink, but it would be a nice commodity!
SW: Hi Tom! Express trains on the weekend really limit our family and leisure market. In addition, you are correct. It doesn't work economically for it. Thank you for riding!
Brian C.: Hi there. Love this idea! I have been a daily rider for 2 years from Santa Clarita to Union Station. Wondering: Are there any plans to add WiFi to the trains? And also, are you still considering adding frequency in the evening hours -- something between 7:38 and 9:36, or perhaps a later train in the 10 or 11 o'clock hour?
SW: Hi Brian! Thank you for being a loyal rider! I, too, want WiFi and am committed to getting it done! And yes, we are looking at adding more service on the AV Line. Stay tuned!
Tushondra T.: I have a corporate card from my job. Will functionality be added to the app to allow monthly pass purchase?
SW: Tushondra, yes! I'm happy to say the functionality for the corporate pass in the app began rolling out earlier this year. We are working out the kinks and it will be available to you over the next few months! Thank you for riding!
Clara S. P.: In the end, who is in charge of new line development? Ie if I thought a line to Temecula through the 91/15 freeway exchange was an awesome addition, whom do I send this feedback?
SW: Thank you, Clara, for the great question! RCTC is the agency in charge of new development for Riverside County service. They have a new outreach program called "Reboot My Commute." I encourage you to contact them there. Check it out here: https://www.rctc.org/reboot-my-commute/
Ruben V.: Hello there! It may have been asked, but any plans on adding more trains on the Riverside line between the 1:20PM and 4:15PM trains? Thank you.
SW: Hi Ruben! As you are aware, Union Pacific owns those tracks and our agreement does not allow more trains on the Riverside Line at this time. Thank you for riding!
Jeanette L.: Hello, are there plans of adding an additional time slot for the riverside line that runs through downtown riverside ? Currently, the only schedules coming from union station are 1:20PM and then 4:15PM.
SW: Hi Jeanette! As you know, Union Pacific owns those tracks and our current agreement does not allow us to add additional Riverside Line trains. Thank you for riding!
Keinvyrd F. T.: Can an agreement be reached with BNSF that allows more trains into Riverside on the IEOC or 91/Perris Line so that there is a later departure evening option?
SW: Hello Keinvryd! We are planning to add a later departure evening option on the 91-Perris Valley Line in the next few months.
Tom B.: Is there going to be an effort in working out a new contract with BNSF to ensure rider reliability to the OC and Riverside lines? These trains are constantly late due to "freight congestion" and other reasons. Getting to work on time is a priority for most of us commuters! Thank you for your answer!
SW: Yes, Tom! We are in the process of working with BNSF on a new contract. I appreciate the importance of getting to work on time. Thank you for riding.
Stephen P. K.: This is great. Are they looking at expanding parking at Buena Park and Santa Fe Springs? Thanks!
SW: Hey Stephen! I'm not aware of parking expansions at these stations, but we will look into it and get back to you!
Anthony M.: Any chance of bringing back the angels express to union station after the games during the week next year ? Not just Fridays ??
SW: Hey Anthony! We used to have that kind of service, but scaled back because we had low ridership.
Bill R.: Hello Stephanie - This is in reference to the San Bernardino line - Every year ( for at least the last few years) there has been talk about having a late train leaving Union Station ( Like about 11:00 pm) to San Bernadino when the Dodgers are in town - how come nothing comes of it. On the occasional Saturday games I take the train that leaves at 11:30 there's a good crowd. It would be nice to at least experiment with the idea next season for a few months
SW: Hi Bill! In April, we added late night service to the San Bernardino Line on Friday nights with an 11:30pm departure--just in time for baseball season. Check it out and let me know if it works for you!
Kendra B.: My question/ comment is about the Antelope Valley line. The majority of people get off work at 5pm. Which means the train that leaves Union Station at 5:34pm would be the logical train most people would take. But the AV285, which leaves at 5:34pm is an express train that does not stop at all of the stations. This means that people who have closer Metrolink stations to their homes have to drive farther to get to one of the four stations this train stops at. Doesn’t make sense to have this train an express train. I think in the end, it only saves 15 minutes on the commute and that’s only if your stop is Palmdale. My stop is Santa Clarita and the express train shaves maybe 10 minutes off the commute. I live walking distance from the Via Princessa station, yet I have to drive 15 minutes to the Santa Clarita station. So any time saved on the express train is wasted by driving home from a farther Metrolink station. I personally don’t see the benefit of an express train since it doesn’t shave that much time off the commute. Has Metrolink thought of doing away with express trains? Or maybe make the 5:34pm train a regular train and make the one before or after it an express train?
SW: Hello Kendra. As you are probably aware, the express trains are popular. As we look at schedule adjustments for the AV Line, your feedback will be taken into consideration.
Joanne L.: Is it possible to replace the seat cover or clean very week?
SW: Hi Joanne! The seats are vacuumed and wiped weekly and seats are deep cleaned every 92 days. Thank you for riding!
Dan W.: On weekends I can’t use the train to go to any sporting events since last train to Santa Clarita leaves at 9pm.
SW: Hi Dan! We are evaluating the ability to add later weekend service to the AV Line. Thank you for riding!
Hugo A: It would be great if Metrolink trains had WiFi
SW: Hugo, I completely agree. My goal while I'm CEO is to finally figure out how to add wifi.
Trisha S.: How is it possible for delays to be due to train congestion when it's the same schedules every day?
SW: Hi Trisha! While there are published schedules, sometimes trains are delayed due to incidents or mechanical problems, and when the delays are resolved, the consequences can be a bunching up of trains as we try to return to schedule.
John A.: On the AV line. Why do you have a train departing Union at 328pm and the another at 350pm. Can the 350pm train depart at 405 or 410?
SW: Hi John. The schedule is dictated by ridership demand and also track space. We will continue to monitor to see if we can adjust times.
Hugo A.: I really wish Metrolink had a line to San Bernardino from La Union, via Riverside
SW: Hi Hugo! While limited, there are some ways to do it like taking a Riverside Line train from L.A. Union Station to Riverside and transferring at Riverside to the IEOC Line heading towards San Bernardino or taking at 91/PV Line from L.A. Union Station to Riverside and transferring to the IEOC Line to San Bernardino. Learn More Here: https://metrolinktrains.com/schedules/
Kara M.: Suggestion: Doing a Facebook Live instead of just a chat.
SW: Karla--girl, you know I have to go to the stylist first! 😂 Next time we will do Facebook Live!
Trisha S.: Another question. Is it possible for wifi
SW: Hi Trisha! I am exploring the feasibility right now. I want WiFi, too! Thank you for riding!
John H.: Can we get more trains to Orange County
SW: Yes, John! We will be adding more service to Orange County this Fall! Stay tuned!
Erika A. T.: Hello
SW: Hi Erika!
Nesjheyh M.: hello Metrolink
SW: Hello to you, Nesjheyh!
SW: This concludes my CEO Social Connect! Riders, thank you for all the great questions, suggestions, comments and ideas. If you think this was interesting or helpful and want to see more of these chats in the future, please let us know! My vision is Customer-First, so I will be back on a frequent basis to chat with you again! For the questions I did not get a chance to get to today, my team will be answering them all in the coming days on this thread and it'll be posted on our website. Thank you for choosing to ride Metrolink!