Inspired by “The world’s longest light-rail line connects LA suburbs to the past”
Commuting in Los Angeles has long been synonymous with traffic, gridlock, and car culture. But recently, something shifted: the Metro A Line (formerly Gold Line) expanded east, connecting Pomona through La Verne, Glendora, San Dimas into the suburbs that once lost rail decades ago. The result? A continuous 58-mile rail line linking Long Beach and Pomona, now the longest light-rail line in the world.
Riding Through Time
The arrival of this line reinstates service to communities abandoned when the Pacific Electric “Red Cars” ceased operations in the mid-20th century. San Dimas, for instance, once thrived as a rail town; the 1887 railroad brought citrus wealth. Now, after 70+ years without rail, the new line breathes life into forgotten corridors.
For travelers and locals alike, the expansion makes it easier to traverse L.A. Without fighting freeways, you can cross the San Gabriel Valley and emerge at Long Beach, connecting cultural zones, hike entry points, and transit hubs.
What It Means for L.A. Travel
More accessible day trips to communities beyond the usual hotspots.
Reduced reliance on cars, especially for outlying neighborhoods.
New junctions with other rail lines and buses, making multi-modal transit more feasible.
Tourism boosters in historically underserved areas now linked to the city’s cultural core.
Glide past neighborhoods once skipped, peer into valleys and foothills, and experience Los Angeles not just from its edges but through its veins.
