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Irvine, CA
A Metrolink train pulls in to Irvine, April 2008
General information
Other names	Irvine Transit Center Irvine
Location	15215 Barranca Parkway Irvine, California United States
Coordinates	33°39′24″N 117°44′01″W / 33.6568°N 117.7335°W / 33.6568; -117.7335
Owned by	City of Irvine
Line(s)	SCRRA Orange Subdivision
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Bus stands	8
Bus operators	OC Bus iShuttle
Construction
Parking	1,650 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Racks and lockers
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed, station building with waiting room
Station code	Amtrak: IRV
History
Opened	June 1, 1990 (1990-06-01)
Passengers
FY 2023	353,971 (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Santa Anatoward San Luis Obispo Pacific Surfliner San Juan Capistranotoward San Diego Preceding station Metrolink Following station Tustintoward San Bernardino–Downtown Inland Empire–Orange County Line Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejotoward Oceanside Tustintoward L.A. Union Station Orange County Line
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Santa Anatoward Los Angeles Orange County Commuter San Juan CapistranoTerminus San Diegan San Juan Capistranotoward San Diego
Location

The Irvine Transportation Center (shortened to Irvine Transit Center and also known as Irvine station) is a transit center in the Irvine Spectrum district of southeastern Irvine, California, United States. Located on the southwest end of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, it is served by Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner route, two Metrolink commuter rail lines, and multiple Orange County Transportation Authority (OC Bus) bus routes.

The $13 million Irvine Transportation Center opened on June 1, 1990, when Irvine was officially added to the Amtrak timetable as a stop on the route of the San Diegan (later renamed the Pacific Surfliner). On August 25, 2008, a new four-story parking structure was opened to expand available parking at the station by 1,500 spots.

History

Rail history in the vicinity of modern-day Irvine predates the city's incorporation. In 1889, James Irvine II permitted the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to build tracks through Irvine Ranch towards San Diego and establish a station at Myford to serve the local farms. Myford was later renamed Irvine in 1914, and it remained an unincorporated community.

When Santa Fe introduced the San Diegan passenger service in 1938, Irvine was included as a stop on the route. The passenger depot closed in 1947, leaving the town without rail service.

In 1988, the city of Irvine announced plans for a new Amtrak station in the Irvine Spectrum neighborhood, accompanying rapid commercial development in the area at the time. The facility cost US$13 million to build, $4 million of which Caltrans provided. Following an official dedication on May 16, 1990, the Irvine Transportation Center opened on June 1, bringing passenger rail to the area for the first time in 43 years and for the first time since the city's incorporation in 1971.

Amtrak began serving the station on June 6, 1990, five days after its opening. Its inaugural services were the San Diegan, a continuation of the original Santa Fe line that originally served Irvine, and the Orange County Commuter, a once-daily roundtrip from San Juan Capistrano station to Los Angeles Union Station.

In 1994, Amtrak turned over control of the Orange County Commuter service to Los Angeles-based commuter rail Metrolink, and it became the Orange County Line. The Irvine Transportation Center effectively became an inaugural station of the new line, and service was increased from the original once-a-day Commuter schedule.

Rail ridership

In FY2009, Irvine served about 3,000 total passengers daily for Metrolink and Amtrak.

Irvine served a total of 353,971 Amtrak passengers in Fiscal Year 2023.

Service

Rail

Irvine Transportation Center is served by 20 Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains (ten in each direction) evenly spaced throughout the day.

Irvine Transportation Center is served by 19 Metrolink Orange County Line trains (10 northbound and 9 southbound) each weekday, running primarily at peak hours in the peak direction of travel. Weekend service consists of 4 trains (2 in each direction) on both Saturday and Sunday, running in each direction in the morning and evening.

Additionally, the station is served by 14 Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains (7 in each direction) each weekday, running primarily at peak hours in the peak direction of travel. Weekend service consists of 4 trains (2 in each direction) on both Saturday and Sunday, heading towards Orange County in the morning and towards the Inland Empire in the evening.

Buses

Former bus services

FlyAway (bus) coach service to Los Angeles International Airport was formerly provided from the station, but was discontinued due to low ridership.

See also

• Orange County Great Park

References

1. SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation. p. 25.
2. ^ "Irvine Train Station". Metrolink. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
3. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of California" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
4. "Irvine, CA (IRV)". Amtrak. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
5. "Irvine Station". City of Irvine. March 19, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
6. ""Irvine Welcomes Amtrak" button". Amtrak History and Archives. November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
7. Teeboom, Leon (June 2, 1990). "Passenger Service on Track Again". Los Angeles Times. p. 198. Retrieved July 5, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "1,500 parking spaces in new train station garage". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
9. ^ Paulson, Wendy (May 17, 1990). "Tracking Progress : Irvine Hub Dedicated as Start of 'Railroad Renaissance'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
10. Davis Greene, Susan; Jamison, Dallas; Vanderknyff, Rick (December 1, 1988). "FOCUS : Corporate Heaven in East Irvine". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
11. "Orange County Celebrates 10 Years of Metrolink" (PDF). Metrolink. 2004. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
12. "Irvine Metrolink Station Fast Facts" (PDF). Orange County Transportation Authority. July 13, 2009.
13. "Pacific Surfliner Timetable" (PDF). Pacific Surfliner. October 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
14. ^ "Metrolink Timetable" (PDF). Metrolink. October 23, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
15. "Bus Book" (PDF). Orange County Transportation Authority. February 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
16. "LAX FlyAway Bus at Irvine Station to Discontinue Service". Los Angeles World Airports. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.

External links

• Irvine – Metrolink
• Irvine, CA – Amtrak
• Irvine, CA – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Irvine Amtrak-Metrolink Station (USA RailGuide -- TrainWeb)

• Buildings and structures in Irvine, California
• Amtrak stations in Orange County, California
• Bus stations in Orange County, California
• Metrolink stations in Orange County, California
• Railway stations in the United States opened in 1990