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December 19
1970 - Snow day in Santa Clarita Valley [photos]
Saugus train station


An annual tradition for the last 16 years is no more after the decision to close a funding gap resulted in the cancelation of Metrolink’s Holiday Toy Express.

The decision to cancel the event was made to help shore up a $10.2 million funding gap for the 2013-14 Fiscal year according to the agency’s website.

The Metrolink Board of Directors came to the conclusion that the company could not justify allotting the holiday train’s $269,000 annual expense.

However, seeking private funding brings hope for 2014. The agency is trying to obtain corporate sponsorship to operate the train in the future.

 

holidaytrain

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14 Comments

  1. Boo!!!! Thumbs down!

  2. This is so sad. We have been going for about 10 years. This was our tradition! It is so sad that it is the small things about the holidays that are the first to go. This was a staple in our household. Very disappointed. Wish they would find a way to bring it back.

  3. The railcars they used are parked on the siding along Railroad.

  4. Maybe they can create a volunteer team to create this to offset some costs?

  5. This is terrible for future generations to come.

  6. Kim says:

    Oh, I am so bummed to hear about this! My kids love bringing a toy to donate & then wait for it to arrive. I believe it was 2 years ago it was pouring rain & it didn’t even detour people from leaving. That’s why it’s so sad. It makes such an impact on all young & old. Hope it can return next year.

  7. So sad! Who is the UNCLE SCROOGE?

  8. Ryan Ridderbush says:

    It’s been 12 years since this thing has run. The holiday season hasn’t been the same or as exciting as when it used to run. The Caltrain up north had been doing their decorated holiday train since that I liked, but I don’t live near there as it’s harder to get up there and see it as not every year I have the ability to go all the way up there to see it compared to if Metrolink still did theirs out here as it hasn’t been convenient for me. I still wish Metrolink could put theirs back on track

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