Los Angeles Metro Rail
Los Angeles Metro Rail is the rail system that serves Los Angeles County. It is run by Los Angeles Metro and has six lines: four light-rail lines called A, C, E, and K, and two fully underground subway lines called B and D. The system has 107 stations spread across the county and about 121 miles of track. It connects with the Metro Busway, Metrolink commuter rail, and Amtrak trains.
Ridership and reach
In 2024, Metro Rail carried about 68.65 million riders, and on weekdays around the third quarter of 2025, about 203,200 people rode. The light-rail part of the system is the busiest in the United States, and the overall network is among the largest in the country. The B and D lines run entirely underground, the C line runs entirely in its own separate right-of-way, and the A, E, and K lines run in a mix of at-grade, elevated, and underground sections.
How it works
All light-rail trains use an overhead power system, while the subway lines use a third-rail power system. Both types use standard gauge railroad track. Stations come with ticket machines, maps, displays, and seating. Underground stations have larger mezzanines and fare gates, while many surface stations use a proof-of-payment system with TAP cards. Fares are paid with a TAP card, and you can transfer between Metro routes for free within two hours of the first tap.
Fare system and discounts
Metro uses a TAP card for rides and has moved to daily and weekly fare caps. As of July 2023, you won’t pay more than $5 in a day (after three rides) or more than $18 in a week (after 11 rides). If you qualify for discounts, such as seniors, people with disabilities, Medicare recipients, low-income riders, or students, you can pay reduced fares.
Hours, service, and frequency
Metro Rail operates roughly from 5:00 am to 11:45 pm daily. There is no service between 2:00 am and 3:30 am except on special occasions. After the COVID-19 changes, service hours and frequencies were adjusted; peak weekday periods see more frequent trains. On weekdays, the A and E light-rail lines run about every 8 minutes during peak times, while the B and D subway lines run every 12 minutes all day. The C and K light-rail lines run about every 10 minutes. Off-peak and weekends typically see 10-minute to 20-minute headways. In 2025, Metro planned further frequency improvements on several lines.
Security and enforcement
About half of Metro Rail trains and stations are patrolled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department under contract, with the Los Angeles Police Department and Long Beach Police Department patrolling in their respective cities under contract. The system is monitored by security staff and cameras. Metro Ambassadors help riders with navigation and information. In June 2024, the Metro Board voted to create its own transit police force, including officers, crisis workers, and homelessness outreach teams.
A look back and ahead
Long ago, Los Angeles had private rail networks (the Pacific Electric Red Cars and Los Angeles Railway Yellow Cars). By the 1950s–60s, buses took over most service. Metro Rail began in 1990 with the Blue Line and has expanded since then. The system’s lines were renamed to letters in 2018, and major projects like the Regional Connector opened in 2023 to improve through-running between different lines. The agency has ongoing plans to expand Union Station with more tracks and services and to upgrade concourses and facilities. These projects are part of a broader plan called the Long Range Transportation Plan, updated periodically to guide funding and growth.
What makes Metro Rail special
Metro Rail is the largest light-rail system by ridership in the country and has an extensive network in a dense urban area. It connects with other transit modes and aims to provide frequent, reliable service to help people get around Los Angeles without always driving.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:38 (CET).