Baseball fans can save time and money with $7 round-trip tickets

LOS ANGELES - The popular Angels Express special train service that takes fans to and from Angels' games is back again this season, beginning with the home opener tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9.

Service to Anaheim will be available from Los Angeles Union Station and the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station for weeknight home games starting at 7:05 p.m. Service from Riverside also is available on Metrolink's Inland Empire-Orange County Line for Friday home games via a transfer at the Orange Depot.

"We are very pleased to partner with OCTA on such a great means of getting Angels fans from throughout Southern California to the games," said Metrolink Chairman and San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris. "We're not only taking cars off the freeways, but also providing baseball fans with an efficient, stress-free way to get to the ballpark and enjoy the games."

Heading to the game, a southbound train from Los Angeles and a northbound train from the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station will depart at 5:50 p.m. and make all regular stops on Metrolink's Orange County line. Both trains are scheduled to arrive approximately 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the game and will depart 30 minutes after the last out from the Anaheim Metrolink station, located in the parking lot of Angel Stadium of Anaheim. On Fridays, the train will depart 45 minutes after the game ends so fans can watch the fireworks.

Round-trip tickets for the special train service cost $7 for the general public, $6 for seniors and $4 for youth ages 6 to 18. All valid Metrolink fare media also will be accepted.

"The Angels Express was the choice way for baseball fans to get to the stadium last season and we are excited to be able to offer the service again this year," said Orange County Transportation Authority Chairman Greg Winterbottom. "We encourage fans to take advantage of this special Metrolink service and enjoy a convenient and affordable train ride to the ballgame."

To help promote the Angels Express special train service, OCTA and the Angels partnered to create a specially wrapped Metrolink passenger car that operates along the Orange County Line. The car sports images of Angel stars Jered Weaver and Josh Hamilton.

Last year, nearly 38,000 fans used the service to get to the game, which is made possible by a $194,235 grant from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Committee.

To kick off the baseball season, OCTA is hosting a pre-game event at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 12 at the Irvine Metrolink station. Those who attend will enjoy free food provided by Aioli, live music by the band Headshine and have a chance to win Angels merchandise and free train tickets to the game. Media members looking for more information regarding the event should contact OCTA's Laura Scheper at (714) 560-5697.

For additional details on the service and train schedules, please visit www.metrolinktrains.com.

ABOUT METROLINK (www.metrolinktrains.com)

Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service in its 20th year of operation. The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, governs the service. Metrolink operates over seven routes through a six-county, 512 route-mile network. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the seventh largest based on annual ridership.

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