Looking for something to do with the family over the holidayweekend?

Take Metrolink to the 24th Annual Festival of Lights Event
for only $7 for Adults and Free for Children Under 18

Special trainservice from throughout Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange Counties sponsored by the Riverside County Transportation Commission

This weekend and continuing into December, Metrolink will launch special train service to the Festival of Lights eventat Riverside's Mission Inn Hotel and Spafrom train stops throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. A roundtrip for an adult is only $7 and children ride free (age 18 and under).

USA Today has called the Festival of Lights, "The Best Public Lights Display in the Nation," featuring approximately 4.5 million lights and a dazzling fireworks display. Additionally, the Festival of Lights includes more than 400 animated figures including angels, elves and Dickens carolers; appearances by Santa Claus; the world's largest man-made mistletoe measuring 12' x 8'; horse-drawn carriage rides; freshly fallen snow; elaborately decorated Christmas trees in the lobby and throughout the hotel; and delectable holiday confections.

"This event attracts more than 250,000 visitors throughout the holiday season, so if you plan on going, make it easier for your family and take the train!" said Karen Spiegel, a Corona City Councilwoman who serves on the Metrolink Board of Directors and as a Commissioner on RCTC.

Special train service will be offered on the 91/Perris Valley Line route operating between Los Angeles Union Station and South Perris with stops in Orange County at the Buena Park and Fullerton Metrolink stationson Friday and Saturday evenings from Nov. 25 through Dec. 17, with special early train service on Nov. 25 for the official lighting celebration. The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) will provide free connecting bus service to the Mission Inn from the Riverside Downtown Metrolink station.

The special trains are timed to arrive in Riverside in the late afternoon on Fridays and Saturdays and depart after 9:15 p.m.Train times can be found at www.metrolinktrains.com/FOL.

"This is a great opportunity for families across Southern California to take a Metrolink train to one of the country's most beautiful holiday light displays," said Metrolink Chair Shawn Nelson, who is also a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. "For less than $20, a family of five with two adults and three children can travel round-trip from stops in Los Angeles or Orange counties all the way to Riverside."

The special trains are a joint effort between Metrolink and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and are intended to familiarize residents with Metrolink trains while bringing visitors to the well-known Holiday of Lights celebration.

*A detailed schedule for the service is attached to this news release and can be found at www.metrolinktrains.com/FOL

Contact: John Standiford
Riverside County Transportation Commission
Deputy Executive Director
(951) 787-7969

ABOUT METROLINK (www.metrolinktrains.com)

Metrolink is Southern California's regional commuter rail service in its 24^th year of operation. Metrolink is governed by 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. Metrolink operates seven routes through a six-county, 536 route-mile network. Metrolink's passengers travel approximately 441 million miles each year, making Metrolink the second busiest public transportation provider in Southern California. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the eighth largest based on annual ridership.