Orange Line (San Diego Trolley)
| Orange Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Orange Line train at downtown San Diego 5th Avenue Station (March 2008). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | San Diego, California | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | SDMTS – Trolley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Light rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| System | San Diego Trolley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route number | 520 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operator(s) | San Diego Trolley, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | 3-car trains | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Daily ridership | 20,523 (FY 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ridership | 6,631,168 (FY 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | March 23, 1986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 17.1 mi (27.5 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | 2 tracks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | Overhead line, 600 V DC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 55 mph (89 km/h) (max) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Orange Line is a 17.1-mile (27.5 km) light rail line in the San Diego Trolley system, operated by San Diego Trolley, Inc. an operating division of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). The route connects downtown San Diego with the cities of Lemon Grove, La Mesa, and El Cajon. The Orange Line has the lowest ridership of the San Diego Trolley's three core lines, transporting 10,896,289 riders during FY 2014 according to the MTS.
It is one of five lines in the trolley system, along with the Blue, Green, Copper and Silver ("heritage weekend" service only) lines.
At night, the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad uses the Orange Line right of way east of the rail yard near 12th & Imperial Transit Center for its freight service to El Cajon and Santee.