Baseball, hot dogs, and trains, there’s no better combo! Spirits were high as Beaumont residents stepped on board Metrolink for a day at Dodger Stadium. On April 30, RCTC partnered with Beaumont Transit to take residents on a fun-filled adventure through the Metrolink system. This excursion is part of RCTC’s commitment to providing fun, efficient, and cost-effective transit options that enhance mobility across the region.

RCTC met with residents of Beaumont at the San Bernardino Transit Center, where the group received a presentation on rail safety and how to ride Metrolink. From there, they boarded the train to Los Angeles Union Station and transferred to the Dodger Stadium Express for the final leg of their journey. For some residents, it was their first time riding local transit, and their first visit to the iconic ballpark. This trip was more than just a baseball outing; it was a hands-on introduction to using public transportation, giving riders insight into how Metrolink can support their travel needs.

This trip is just one of many Metrolink excursions RCTC has organized over the past year. In addition to community trips, RCTC coordinated several excursions with high schools across Riverside County to provide youth with a fun and educational transportation experience. Earlier this year, students from Eleanor Roosevelt, Santiago, Corona, and Norco High Schools took a trip with Metrolink from Corona to downtown Riverside. RCTC provided a hands-on opportunity to 60 students to learn how to navigate and enjoy public transportation, including how to read schedules, locate platforms, and understand safety signage. This exercise blends education with real-world experience, helping students build confidence in using transit independently.

Encouraging transit education and providing meaningful experiences helps shape the future generation of riders – empowering them to explore their region through new modes of travel.

Group excursions with Metrolink offer a great way to introduce students and residents to the benefits of public transit. RCTC works closely with Metrolink to ensure these trips are safe, educational, and enjoyable for all participants. To learn how you can take your class, club, or group on a Metrolink excursion, please contact us.

Field trips on school or charter buses can be boring. Being stuck in traffic on a bus is no way to get start off a trip! As students from Canyon Springs High School in Moreno Valley found out, there’s more than one way to take a field trip. In April, a group of 100 students and their chaperones embarked on a memorable excursion to the California Science Center by riding Metrolink and the LA Metro light rail system.

The school trip was organized by the RCTC’s Metrolink Marketing team. RCTC sponsors trips for schools and community groups to promote sustainable public transportation options.

The trip started bright and early at 5:30 a.m. as students were dropped off at the Moreno Valley/March Field Metrolink Station. Students were provided with Metrolink tickets, Metro TAP cards, and a how-to-ride information to guide them on their journey along with a sleek RCTC bag.

A week before the trip, RCTC gave an overview presentation on how the Metrolink and Metro systems work and to remind the students to stay safe around the train tracks. The journey from Moreno Valley to Los Angeles on the 91/Perris Valley Line was a smooth one as students enjoyed the passing views of Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles counties.

“What I most enjoyed about my ride on Metrolink were the seating areas, especially the tables,” said Canyon Springs freshman, Marely G. “I really liked the fact that I was able to walk around and still be able to talk to my friends.”

At Los Angeles Union Station, a Metrolink representative met the group and gave a brief history of the historic building on their way to the B Line (Red) subway. On the B Line, the students made a simple transfer at the 7^th Street Metro Center for the Metro E Line (Expo). After a quick walk from the station through the beautiful Exposition Park Rose Garden, they finally made it inside the California Science Center.

95% of students who took a post-trip survey said they were satisfied with their Metrolink trip and over 80% of the students surveyed said they would ride Metrolink again. As freshman Marco T. put it, “This trip was 10 times better because I was on the Metrolink.”

The trip also helped improve the students’ view on public transportation with 70% of students recognizing the trip’s positive influence on their perception of train travel. “This trip was way more exciting since we got to travel quite a lot to get to our destination and see lots of new things along the way compared to other trips,” Marely said. “I normally take buses which are less exciting than riding the trains and subways.”

Metrolink excursions and group trips are a wonderful way to expose students and other the benefits of public transit. RCTC and Metrolink work closely together to ensure these trips for Riverside County groups are positive, safe and educational. To learn more about how you can take your class, club, troop, or any other large group, please contact us.