SPECIAL EVENT LINE (SAN DIEGO TROLLEY)

Special Event Line
Special Event Line
Overview
Status	Special events only
Owner	Metropolitan Transit System
Locale	San Diego, California
Termini	Balboa Avenue Transit Center; 12th & Imperial Transit Center;
Stations	15
Website	http://www.sdmts.com/
Service
Type	Light rail
System	San Diego Trolley
Operator(s)	San Diego Trolley, Inc.
History
Opened	July 20, 2022; 21 months ago
Closed	July 24, 2023; 9 months ago ; (most recent time)
Technical
Number of tracks	2 Tracks
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	600 V DC Overhead lines
Operating speed	Max. 50 mph (80 km/h)
Route map
	Legend
	Blue Line
	to San Ysidro
	Orange Line
	to Arnele Avenue
	Blue Line
	to America Plaza
	Orange Line
	to Courthouse
	Blue Line
	to America Plaza
	Silver Line
	via Civic Center
	I-5
	San Diego Freeway
	I-8
	Kumeyaay Highway
	Green Line
	to Santee
	All stations are accessible
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

Special Event Line
Special Event Line
	San Diego Trolley Old Town
Overview
Status	Closed; later revived on a different route in 2022 and 2023
Owner	Metropolitan Transit System
Locale	San Diego, California
Termini	Stadium station (San Diego); 12th & Imperial Transit Center;
Stations	15
Website	http://www.sdmts.com/
Service
Type	Light rail
System	San Diego Trolley
Operator(s)	San Diego Trolley, Inc.
Rolling stock	Triple Car U2 Trains ; * Train configurations may vary
History
Opened	July 10, 2005; 18 years ago
Closed	August 29, 2012; 11 years ago
Technical
Number of tracks	2 Tracks
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Electrification	600 V DC Overhead lines
Operating speed	Max. 50 mph (80 km/h)
Route map
	Legend
	Blue Line
	to San Ysidro
	Orange Line
	to Santee
	Blue Line
	to America Plaza
	Orange Line
	to Courthouse
	Blue Line
	to America Plaza
	Silver Line
	via Civic Center
	I-5
	San Diego Freeway
	I-8
	Kumeyaay Highway
	Amtrak
	Pacific Surfliner
	I-805
	Mission Valley Viaduct
	Green Line
	to El Cajon Transit Center
	All stations are accessible
	This diagram: view; talk; ;

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.

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

Station Name	Connections	Notes
Special Event Line (Petco Park–Qualcomm Stadium)
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

Station Name	Connections	Notes
Special Event Line (12th and Imperial–Balboa Avenue)
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

^ Compare the maps of the San Diego Trolley issued before^[8] and after^[9] the change in the trolley schedule on September 2, 2012.
^ 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

^ "Comic-Con 2007". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 24 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Trolley Special Event Services". www.sdmts.com. Archived from the original on 25 August 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Petco Park Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 21 September 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Qualcomm Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Cox / OAT Events". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "MTS Special Event - Comic Con 2007". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "SDMTS - Trolley Information". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. 22 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 July 2007. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Trolley | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System". www.sdmts.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Trolley". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012.
^ "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.
^ "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022.
^ "ComicCon 2022" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
^ "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. March 29, 2016.
^ "MTS Logged 250,000 Extra Passenger Trips to Support Comic-Con in 2023". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. July 25, 2023.

[10] Compare the maps of the San Diego Trolley issued before^[8] and after^[9] the change in the trolley schedule on September 2, 2012.

[12] 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]

[ComicCon2007-1] "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.

[Cox/OAT-5] "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.

[11] "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.

[13] "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022.

[14] "ComicCon 2022" (PDF). San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024.

[15] "Comic-Con". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. March 29, 2016.

[16] "MTS Logged 250,000 Extra Passenger Trips to Support Comic-Con in 2023". San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. July 25, 2023.

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2005-2012 route

2022/2023 route

Notes

References

2005-2012 route

2022/2023 route

Notes

References

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