Southern California students from pre-school to college can use Metrolink for free. Here’s how:

Southern California students with a valid student ID will be able to ride Metrolink trains for free until next summer after the carrier renewed its popular Student Adventure Pass program.

The ticket allows any K-12 student to travel free anywhere within Metrolink’s 545-mile service area.

The program was launched in October 2023 and is proving very popular with students, many of whom have never traveled on a regional train before.

“The program has provided much-needed financial assistance to tens of thousands of Southern California students who can use those savings toward food, rent and other educational expenses like books and supplies,” said Larry McCallon, Metrolink board chairman. “By bringing the next generation to our region’s public transportation network, the Student Adventure Pass is also laying the groundwork for a more sustainable, less car-dependent future.”

On Friday, Metrolink’s Board of Directors approved a one-year extension to the program, which was set to expire Sunday after a nine-month pilot program ended.

Since launch, the pass has been used more than 500,000 times, Metrolink says. More than 32,000 students from 557 schools have registered for the program, which can be completed via the Metrolink app or at a station ticket machine.

Metrolink intends to significantly increase services in the fall

Students are becoming a major part of Metrolink’s total passenger numbers, with estimates showing they make up around a quarter of all passengers – up from 16% in 2023.

CEO Darren Kettle said at a media event on Friday that he reaches out to students himself on his regular train trips.

“If we could, if we could do this for you for free, what would that mean?” Kettle said, describing an earlier interaction with several Cal State Los Angeles students on a Metrolink train. “And it was like, ‘Oh, this would be the best thing that ever happened; “this could never happen.”

He said some of those same students contacted him months later, after the program had successfully launched. “She said, ‘I thought you were lying,’” Kettle said with a laugh.

The pilot program was made possible by Metrolink “pooling” the funds for its implementation.

“It was such a success that we ran out of money and had to take some of the money from another program,” Kettle said.

This time, the program is supported by a grant, but with additional support from five Metrolink member agencies: LA Metro, Orange County Transportation Authority, Riverside County Transportation Commission, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and Ventura County Transportation Commission.

“Our member agencies, the five counties, have seen the wisdom of this program… if you get young people on public transportation early, you become lifelong public transportation users,” Kettle said.

Students will be required to show their active ticket and student ID if asked to show proof of fare. Metrolink tickets also provide free transfers to LA Metro, as well as other local transit agencies.

For more information about the Student Adventure Pass program, click here.

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