Southern California’s Metrolink held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Burbank-Downtown Station to mark the start of the Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project.

The project is part of Phase 1 of the agency’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) program and aims to reduce travel times by allowing for increased speeds and more efficient operations. The improvements will lay the groundwork for the potential to provide passengers with wait times of no more than 30 minutes.

The Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project, located north of the Burbank-Downtown Station, will realign a portion of existing main line track, reconfigure and lengthen track, improve and replace approximately one-half mile of existing track, and install new right of way safety fencing. 

“It’s an exciting day for Metrolink as we begin work on this project that will eventually deliver more efficient train travel in the region, especially for riders along our Antelope Valley and Ventura County lines,” Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said. “Metrolink’s SCORE program will, over the next few years, add more track while improving grade crossings, stations, and signals for our riders and in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

The Burbank Junction Speed Improvement Project is funded by the California State Transportation Agency through Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2023.