OCTA Adds Buses to Angels Express Lineup to Complement Rail Service for 2016 Season

Baseball fans will have two easy and affordable options for hopping aboard the Angels Express to and from Angels home games this season now that bus service is being added to complement the already popular rail service direct to the stadium.

Both the Angels Express special Metrolink service and the new Angels Express Bus service will begin transporting baseball fans to the stadium on Monday, April 4, the home opener for the Angels against the Chicago Cubs at 7:05 p.m.

The Angels Express – by rail or bus – allows fans to avoid traffic jams and save gas and money by skipping the car trip and parking fees.

Express bus service to the stadium is being added this year thanks to a $128,500 grant to the Orange County Transportation Authority from the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee. The grant was approved on March 17, just in time for the start of the season.

The special Metrolink service has been running since 2011 and, last year, attracted 54,356 boardings during the season, a 24 percent increase over the previous year.

“We’re excited to offer another option for the Angels Express this year so fans can get to the ballgame by bus or train,” said OCTA Chair Lori Donchak. “We welcome back fans of the Angels Express for the new season and we encourage new riders to check out a stress-free and affordable way to catch an evening game.”

The Angels Express Bus will run from the Goldenwest Transportation Center, 7301 Center Ave. in Huntington Beach, to Angel Stadium, letting passengers off just feet from the stadium’s main entrance. The bus will serve weeknight home games beginning at 7:05 p.m. – a total of 50 games scheduled for the season.

The express bus is intended to serve communities in the west part of Orange County that can’t as readily access rail service, including Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminster and Seal Beach. Studies indicate that about 60,000 fans from those areas attended Angels games last season. The goal is to attract more than 9,000 passengers for the season.

The cost to ride the Angels Express Bus will be $2 each way ($4 round trip), with discounts for seniors and passengers with disabilities, and free for children 5 and under when accompanied by a paying adult.

The rail service will run to the Anaheim station, immediately adjacent to Angel Stadium of Anaheim, with service from Los Angeles Union Station and Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station for weeknight home games that begin at 7:05 p.m.

Service from Riverside is also available for Friday night home games, with a transfer at the Orange train station to Anaheim. Angels Express trains arrive at least 30 minutes before game time and the return trains leave 30 minutes after the final out.

The regular price for the Angels Express train is $7 round-trip, with discounts for seniors and riders with disabilities ($6), and children ages 6 to 18 years ($4). Children 5 and under ride free with an adult fare.

Two events are planned for early April to kick off the rail and bus services, respectively. OCTA is hosting a pre-game rally at the Irvine Metrolink Station, 15215 Barranca Parkway, at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 4 to mark the beginning of Angels Express train service. The event will include free snacks, music and prizes. Angels Express trains will depart at 5:10 and 5:59 p.m.

To celebrate the start of the Angels Express Bus service, am event is planned for 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8 at Goldenwest Transportation Center in Huntington Beach. The first 100 people will ride the Angels Express Bus for free. The first bus leaves at 5:15 p.m. – three buses will run to the stadium prior to the start of the game.