Passenger and freight trains operating through the nearly 2.5-mile section in the City of Riverside no longer sound horns at these crossings.
This Quiet Zone designation was a collaborative effort between the City of Riverside and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC), along with Metrolink, which operates 12 trains each weekday through the corridor. A limited number of freight trains also use this track.
A Quiet Zone does not mean train horns will not be sounded, but the noise from train horns has been significantly reduced. Now, train horns are only sounded in the case of emergencies, such as someone present on the tracks, or if workers are along the railroad.
Riverside’s first Quiet Zone began in November at 12 crossings from Mary Street to Buchanan Avenue between Metrolink’s Riverside-Downtown and Riverside-La Sierra stations.
A third Quiet Zone is in the early planning stages at the four Riverside crossings from Palm Avenue to Cridge Street. The Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway both operate on this track, while Metrolink operates its Riverside Line and Amtrak its Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited routes.
Outside of Quiet Zones, operators are legally required to sound the horn as the train approaches crossings to warn drivers and pedestrians. Safety upgrades, such as raised medians and additional crossing gates, are needed to reach the threshold for a Quiet Zone designation.
Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to look twice in both directions as they approach crossings and never trespass along railroad right of way.
