Special Event Line (San Diego Trolley)

Special Event Line
San Diego Trolley Old Town
Overview
Status	Closed
Owner	Metropolitan Transit System
Locale	San Diego, California
Termini	Qualcomm Stadium 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 (2005-07-10)
Closed	August 29, 2012; 11 years ago (2012-08-29)
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)

The Special Event Line was a light rail line operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating division of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. These trains operated between Qualcomm Stadium and downtown San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter during sporting events at Petco Park and Qualcomm Stadium, as well as selected conventions and other major city events. These trains ran anywhere from every 7+1⁄2 to 15 minutes apart in addition to normally scheduled trains based on the time, size and location of the event.

The Special Event Line was used between 2005 through 2012, after which it was shut down as part of a system redesign. The entire route the Special Event line ran is now served by the Green Line, and MTS now opts to add cars and increase service on that route when needed.

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

From July 21 to July 24 of 2023, 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.^[1] Over the course of that weekend, the Special Events Line served over 100 thousands riders.^[2]

2005-2012 route

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.

2023 route

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.

References