The Los Angeles Metro Board officially approved the Link US project at Union Station downtown, which includes run-through tracks and other improvements to handle increased capacity and future high-speed rail. Construction on the initial phases is expected to begin in spring 2026.
The entire project timeline is projected to span six years, though a few hurdles remain. The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSR), which is funding a significant portion of the project, still needs to approve a revised project scope before work can fully proceed.
Additionally, the city of Vernon has threatened lawsuits to block portions of Link US. The Metro Board brokered a deal with BNSF Railway to expand the company’s Malabar Yard in Vernon, offsetting the loss of about 5,500 track-feet of freight rail storage capacity at BNSF’s West Bank Yard near Union Station. Vernon officials oppose this mitigation arrangement and have threatened legal action. The Metro Board approved a supervisor motion to continue negotiations with all parties while moving forward with the project.
Despite these possible setbacks, officials moved forward with the plan and certified the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) on Oct. 23. According to officials, the initial phase of construction is fully funded and can move forward. Additional phases will need further funding to reach completion.
Currently, Union Station features dead-end stub tracks, meaning trains must enter and exit the station through the same five-track throat at the north entrance. By transitioning to run-through tracks, the station intends to improve efficiency and capacity while limiting the time needed to maneuver trains. The change would benefit Metrolink, Amtrak and future planned high-speed rail lines. The station currently handles 110,000 passengers per day but is expected to nearly double to about 200,000 passengers per day by 2040.
The centerpiece of the initial Link US phase is the run-through track system, which includes a nearly half-mile elevated rail structure that crosses over and runs along the 101 Freeway. The improvements also include common rail infrastructure extending from Union Station to the main line tracks along the Los Angeles River.
The Phase 1 infrastructure is being designed with this common rail infrastructure to accommodate the CAHSR’s planned high-speed rail system while also supporting legacy trains from Amtrak and Metrolink. The first phase also includes new rail communications, signals and safety improvements to support the station’s expanded capacity and increased train operations.
The second phase, which requires additional funding beyond current commitments, will construct new lead tracks with an elevated rail yard featuring new platforms and canopies. This elevated configuration will increase the station’s track capacity and allow for more efficient train movements through the expanded facility.
The second phase will also expand the existing 28-foot pedestrian passageway to 140 feet below the rail yard, complete with new escalators and elevators. The expanded concourse will include passenger waiting areas, wayfinding, transit-related retail and food service while enhancing safety, passenger capacity and ADA accessibility throughout the station.
Metro officials say the Link US project will deliver significant benefits to the region, including improved transit and regional connectivity, increased rail service capacity, reduced train idling times, new jobs, improved pedestrian access and enhancements to the 101 Freeway and local roadways.
Metro has secured $950 million in committed funding from State Proposition 1A and High-Speed Rail Bonds, Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grants and local and regional sources. The initial phase carries an estimated cost of approximately $3 billion and will be delivered with available funding, while Metro pursues additional funding for the second phase of construction.
Photo by David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
