Hurt on a Metrolink Train in California: Common Carrier Duty, Maintenance Claims, and the 6-Month Deadline

Metrolink, Southern California’s regional commuter rail system, is in a difficult stretch. On October 9, 2026, its board of directors voted to approve a budget proposal that includes major service cuts: about 29 percent fewer weekday trains and 40 percent fewer weekend trains, an overall 32 percent cut compared with the 2025 schedule, according to the Orange County Register as published by Mass Transit on October 16. Member agencies are reviewing the budget before it returns to the Metrolink board for final approval on October 23, and the cuts would begin November 16. The Register reported that the cuts would be most severe in Orange County.

The proposal follows a September lawsuit by Metrolink’s former chief operating officer. As reported by the Los Angeles Times on September 15, 2026, the complaint alleges he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about unsafe rail equipment and maintenance practices, and it blames those practices for incidents including an October 2025 collision. Metrolink told the Times it does not comment on pending litigation. These are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings, and no court has ruled on them.

For riders, the practical question is simpler: if you are hurt on a Metrolink train or platform, what duty does the railroad owe you, and how long do you have to act?

In short: a carrier of passengers for reward in California must use the utmost care and diligence for passengers’ safe carriage under Civil Code section 2100, and the California Supreme Court has held that this duty applies to public carriers as well as private ones. Metrolink is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a joint powers authority and public entity, so an injury claim generally must be presented in writing within six months.

If you were hurt on a Metrolink train, at a station, or at a crossing anywhere in California, Win Attorneys handles Metrolink accident claims statewide. Seek medical care first, even if you feel fine.

Talk to us at (562) 296-5380 or reach out through our contact page to discuss your situation. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.

What Is Happening at Metrolink

According to the Register’s reporting, the proposed cuts come about seven months after Metrolink reduced weekday service by 20 percent. In Orange County, the plan would cut half of weekend service and 38 percent of weekday trips, ending weekday service to Oceanside. In Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley Line would see a 67 percent weekend reduction and a 27 percent weekday reduction. Metrolink’s communications director attributed the situation to an unusually complex budget cycle, with ridership and fare revenue below prepandemic levels and higher operating costs.

The former executive’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges, as summarized by the Times, that:

In October 2025, a Metrolink train collided with another train near Union Station, injuring multiple people, and an air valve had malfunctioned, according to the complaint.
In spring 2026, a train carrying hundreds of passengers became stuck in a tunnel after a fuel manifold failed, leaving passengers without working lighting or air conditioning for about an hour, according to the complaint.
Metrolink routinely replaced broken equipment with used parts from other trains.
Fifteen of Metrolink’s 61 locomotives had not been refurbished since entering service in the early 2000s, beyond the manufacturer’s recommended refurbishment cycle, according to the complaint.

The Times separately reported that in July 2026 another train lost power and broke down in a tunnel in Anaheim Hills, and several passengers were treated for heat exhaustion. On the October 2025 collision, the Times reported at the time that a Ventura County Line train arriving at Union Station struck an empty, stationary train, injuring eight people, and that the cause was under investigation.

The Times also reported that the rail authority’s claims administrator rejected an earlier retaliation claim by the former executive, saying it was not brought in good faith or with reasonable cause. Again, the lawsuit’s claims are unproven allegations.

L.A. Metro, which provides the largest share of Metrolink’s member-agency subsidy, has also taken note. A September 17, 2026 report to Metro’s Finance, Budget and Audit Committee includes an amendment directing Metro’s chief executive to request that Metrolink conduct a full audit of train parts, locomotives, and safety concerns, a forensic review of the March 2026 service reduction, and a review of its locomotive maintenance contractor’s performance.

Metro runs its own buses and trains under the same six-month claim rules. If you were hurt on a Metro vehicle instead, see our LA Metro bus and rail injury page.

The Common Carrier Duty of Utmost Care

Civil Code section 2168 defines a common carrier as anyone who offers to the public to carry persons, property, or messages. Civil Code section 2100 sets the standard for carriers of persons for reward: they “must use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage, must provide everything necessary for that purpose, and must exercise to that end a reasonable degree of skill.”

That is a higher standard than the ordinary care most people owe each other. In Lopez v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist. (1985) 40 Cal.3d 780, the California Supreme Court explained that the duty in section 2100 applies to public carriers as well as private carriers, and requires them to do all that human care, vigilance, and foresight reasonably can do under the circumstances. The court also stressed that carriers are not insurers of passenger safety. The duty is measured by what can reasonably be done consistent with the mode of transportation and the practical operation of the carrier’s business.

How Maintenance Can Matter in a Passenger Injury Claim

When a passenger is hurt, the question is whether the carrier, and anyone working for it, met the duty of utmost care. Equipment and maintenance can be central, for example:

Sudden stops or collisions that may involve brakes, air systems, signals, or train control
Breakdowns that strand passengers, especially in tunnels, heat, or without ventilation
Doors, steps, and handholds that fail or close on passengers
Platform and boarding conditions, such as gaps, lighting, or slippery surfaces
Crowding if fewer trains carry more riders

A railroad’s own maintenance records, inspection logs, work orders, and incident reports can be key evidence. Public allegations about maintenance do not prove what caused any particular incident, but they can shape what records a lawyer asks for.

Metrolink also contracts with private companies for some operations and maintenance work. Depending on the facts, a contractor may share responsibility, and claims against private parties follow different rules than claims against public entities.

Metrolink Is a Public Entity: The Six-Month Claim Rule

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which operates Metrolink, is a joint powers authority made up of L.A. Metro and the transportation agencies of Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Under Government Code section 6507, a joint powers agency is a public entity separate from its member agencies, and Government Code section 811.2 defines public entities broadly to include public authorities and agencies.

That status triggers California’s Government Claims Act:

Six months to present a claim. Government Code section 911.2 requires a claim for personal injury or death to be presented no later than six months after the cause of action accrues.
Claim before suit. Under section 945.4, a lawsuit generally cannot be filed until a written claim has been presented and acted on or deemed rejected.
What the claim must say. Section 910 requires, among other things, the claimant’s name and address, the date, place, and circumstances of the incident, and a general description of the injury.
The entity’s response. Section 912.4 generally gives the board 45 days to act. If it does not act, the claim is deemed rejected.
Late claims. Section 911.4 allows a written application for leave to present a late claim within a reasonable time not to exceed one year after accrual. Relief is not guaranteed.
After rejection. Section 945.6 generally gives six months after written notice of rejection to file suit.

Public entity liability in California must rest on a statute (Government Code section 815), and section 815.2 makes a public entity liable for its employees’ acts within the scope of employment, subject to immunities. For a full walkthrough of these deadlines, see our transit six-month claim deadline checklist.

What to Do if You Are Hurt on Metrolink

Get medical care. Tell the conductor or station staff you are hurt, and get checked even for symptoms that seem minor. Heat exposure and head injuries can worsen later.
Report the incident. Ask how to obtain the incident report number.
Document everything. Photograph the car, seat, door, step, or platform, and note the train number, line, car number, time, and direction.
Collect witnesses. Get names and phone numbers of other passengers.
Keep your ticket or app record. It helps prove you were a passenger.
Write down what happened while it is fresh, including announcements, lighting, temperature, and how long you waited.
Watch the calendar. The six-month claim period starts running from the incident.
Be careful with statements. Get advice before giving a recorded statement or signing a release.

If you were hurt at a crossing or as a pedestrian near the tracks, related rules apply. See our train accidents and mass transit pages.

How Win Attorneys Can Help

Rail injury claims combine a high duty of care with strict public entity procedures. We can help identify the right entity and any private contractor, present a timely claim, request maintenance and incident records, and work with medical providers and insurers. Our team speaks Spanish and Vietnamese.

Metrolink Injury FAQs

Is Metrolink a common carrier in California?

Metrolink carries members of the public for fares, and Civil Code section 2168 defines a common carrier as anyone who offers to the public to carry persons. Under Lopez v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist. (1985), the section 2100 duty applies to public carriers too.

What duty does Metrolink owe its passengers?

Civil Code section 2100 requires a carrier of persons for reward to use the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage. Carriers are not insurers of safety, but they must do what human care and foresight reasonably can under the circumstances.

How long do I have to file a claim after being hurt on a Metrolink train?

Metrolink is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, a public entity. A personal injury claim must generally be presented within six months under Government Code section 911.2.

What is the Southern California Regional Rail Authority?

It is the joint powers authority that operates Metrolink, made up of L.A. Metro and the transportation agencies of four neighboring counties. Under Government Code section 6507, a joint powers agency is a separate public entity.

Does the former executive’s lawsuit prove Metrolink was negligent?

No. The lawsuit’s claims about maintenance are allegations that have not been proven, and Metrolink has said it does not comment on pending litigation. Each passenger injury depends on its own facts.

Will the Metrolink service cuts affect injury claims?

The cuts do not change the legal duty of care or the claim deadline. Fewer trains may mean more crowding on some runs, which can matter to how an incident is evaluated, depending on the facts.

What if I miss the six-month deadline?

Government Code section 911.4 allows a written application for leave to present a late claim within a reasonable time not to exceed one year after the incident. Approval is not guaranteed, so act as early as possible.

Disclaimer

This page is general information for educational purposes. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Service cut details are attributed to the Orange County Register as published by Mass Transit on October 16, 2026, and are subject to final board approval. Lawsuit details are attributed to the Los Angeles Times of September 15, 2026, and are unproven allegations. No fault is assigned to anyone. Outcomes depend on the facts of each matter. Seek medical care for injuries. Consult a licensed California attorney about your situation.