Special Event Line (San Diego Trolley)

The Special Event Line, also known as the "Red Line" until 2012,[1] was a light rail line operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating division of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. This line operated twice, but only during special events.

Special Event Line
San Diego Trolley Old Town
Overview
StatusClosed; later revived on a different route in 2022 and 2023
OwnerMetropolitan Transit System
LocaleSan Diego, California
Termini
Stations15
Websitehttp://www.sdmts.com/
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemSan Diego Trolley
Operator(s)San Diego Trolley, Inc.
Rolling stockTriple Car U2 Trains
* Train configurations may vary
History
OpenedJuly 10, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-07-10)
ClosedAugust 29, 2012; 11 years ago (2012-08-29)
Technical
Number of tracks2 Tracks
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC Overhead lines
Operating speedMax. 50 mph (80 km/h)
Route map

12th & Imperial
Greyhound Lines
Storage and Maintenance Yard
Gaslamp Quarter
Convention Center
Seaport Village
Santa Fe Depot
San Diego International Airport (via Santa Fe Depot (San Diego))
County Center/Little Italy
Middletown
San Diego International Airport (via Middletown station (San Diego Trolley)#Airport Connection)
Washington Street
Old Town
Morena/Linda Vista
Fashion Valley
Hazard Center
Mission Valley Center
Rio Vista
I-805 (1961).svg
I-805
Mission Valley Viaduct
Fenton Parkway
Qualcomm Stadium
Green Line
to El Cajon Transit Center
Other service sharing track

Handicapped/disabled access All stations are accessible

The first time, from at least 2007[2] to 2012, the Red Line operated between Gaslamp Quarter station and the Qualcomm Stadium station (now known as Stadium station). They operated once every 15 minutes, during sporting events at Petco Park[3] Qualcomm Stadium,[4] Cox Arena,[5] and the SDSU Open Air Theater (OAT),[5] as well as selected conventions and other major city events (such as the San Diego Comic-Con).[6]

On maps issued during its first tenure in operation, the Red Line was illustrated as a red dashed line, indicating that it was a "Special Event Service Only".[7]

The Special Event Line was discontinued in 2012, as part of the Trolley Renewal Project.[a] The entire route the Special Event line ran is now served by the Green Line (which had been extended from Old Town to 12th & Imperial), and MTS now opts to add cars and increase service on that route when needed.[b]

The last Special Event Trolley departed at 6:54 pm on August 29, 2012.

From July 20 to July 24, 2022 (during ComicCon), the Special Events Line was brought back to run from Balboa Avenue Transit Center to 12th and Imperial, following the Green Line's alignment from 12th and Imperial to Santa Fe Depot.[11][12]

Later, from July 21 to July 24, 2023, the Special Events Line was revived along the 2022 route.[13] Over the course of that weekend, the Special Events Line served over 100 thousands riders.[14]

2005-2012 route edit

Special Event Line
(Petco Park–Qualcomm Stadium)
Station Name Connections Bus Train Parking Info Notes
Qualcomm Stadium  Green Line   Serves Qualcomm Stadium.

Transfer station for Green Line.

Fenton Parkway  Green Line
Rio Vista  Green Line
Mission Valley Center  Green Line   Serves Westfield Mission Valley.
Hazard Center  Green Line
Fashion Valley Transit Center  Green Line     Serves Fashion Valley Mall.
Morena/Linda Vista  Green Line     Serves University of San Diego.
Old Town Transit Center   Blue Line
 Green Line
        Serves Old Town Historic Park.
Washington Street   Blue Line  
Middletown   Blue Line
County Center/Little Italy   Blue Line
Santa Fe Depot   Blue Line     Transfer station for Blue Line.
Seaport Village   Orange Line
  Silver Line
Serves Seaport Village.

Transfer station for Orange and Silver Lines.

Convention Center   Orange Line
  Silver Line
Serves Convention Center.
Gaslamp Quarter   Orange Line
  Silver Line
Serves Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, Convention Center.
12th & Imperial Transit Center
(Bayside Terminal)
  Blue Line
  Orange Line
  Silver Line
  Serves Petco Park.

Transfer station for Blue and Orange Lines.
Not an official station, used to reverse direction.

2022/2023 route edit

Special Event Line
 
Overview
StatusSpecial events only
OwnerMetropolitan Transit System
LocaleSan Diego, California
Termini
Stations15
Websitehttp://www.sdmts.com/
Service
TypeLight rail
SystemSan Diego Trolley
Operator(s)San Diego Trolley, Inc.
History
OpenedJuly 20, 2022; 21 months ago (2022-07-20)
ClosedJuly 24, 2023; 9 months ago (2023-07-24)
(most recent time)
Technical
Number of tracks2 Tracks
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification600 V DC Overhead lines
Operating speedMax. 50 mph (80 km/h)
Route map

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12th & Imperial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Storage and Maintenance Yard
 
 
 
 
Gaslamp Quarter
 
 
 
Convention Center
 
 
 
Seaport Village
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Santa Fe Depot
  (via  )  
 
 
 
County Center/Little Italy
 
 
 
Middletown
  (via  )   
 
 
 
Washington Street
 
 
 
 
 
Old Town
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tecolote Road
 
 
 
Clairemont Drive
 
 
 
 
Balboa Avenue
 
 
 
 
Other service sharing track

  All stations are accessible
Special Event Line
(12th and Imperial–Balboa Avenue)
Station Name Connections Bus Train Parking Info Notes
Balboa Avenue Transit Center   Blue Line
   
Clairemont Drive station   Blue Line
   
Tecolote Road station   Blue Line
 
Old Town Transit Center   Blue Line
 Green Line
        Serves Old Town Historic Park.
Washington Street  Green Line
  Blue Line
 
Middletown  Green Line
  Blue Line
County Center/Little Italy  Green Line
  Blue Line
Santa Fe Depot  Green Line
  Blue Line
    Transfer station for Blue Line.
Seaport Village  Green Line
  Silver Line
Serves Seaport Village.

Transfer station for Orange and Silver Lines.

Convention Center  Green Line
  Silver Line
Serves Convention Center.
Gaslamp Quarter  Green Line
  Silver Line
Serves Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, Convention Center.
12th & Imperial Transit Center
(Bayside Terminal)
  Blue Line
 Green Line
  Orange Line
  Silver Line
  Serves Petco Park.

Transfer station for Blue and Orange Lines.
Not an official station, used to reverse direction.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Compare the maps of the San Diego Trolley issued before[8] and after[9] the change in the trolley schedule on September 2, 2012.
  2. ^ For example, during the Holiday Bowl Game and Parade in December 2015, the MTS "increase[d] the number of Green Line trains" operating to Qualcomm Stadium.[10]

References edit

  1. ^ "Comic-Con 2007". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Trolley Special Event Services". www.sdmts.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Petco Park Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Qualcomm Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Cox / OAT Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  6. ^ "MTS Special Event - Comic Con 2007". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  7. ^ "SDMTS - Trolley Information". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Trolley | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". www.sdmts.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Trolley". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012.
  10. ^ "MTS Trolley Special Event Service for Holiday Bowl Game and Parade | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 23 December 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022.
  12. ^ "ComicCon 2022" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. March 29, 2016.
  14. ^ "MTS Logged 250,000 Extra Passenger Trips to Support Comic-Con in 2023". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. July 25, 2023.