Orange
Anaheim Canyon is the one station only served by just Inland Empire/Orange County Line Trains meaning it is currently the only Metrolink Station which never has train service into Los Angeles-Union Station. In 2011, trains ran towards Riverside and San Bernardino (inbound) twice during the AM, once at midday and four times during the PM rush hour. Roughly the reverse service is provided terminating (each have two trains each) at Irvine, Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo or Oceanside (outbound). As of 2024, the schedule is almost the same, although the number of weekend round-trips has increased from one to two, with two AM trips from San Bernardino to Oceanside, and two PM trips returning. These are all timed to allow Inland Empire Residents access to beaches and other recreation oppertunities in Orange County.
The station opened and a plaque says dedicated on August 5, 1996. It originally had a single side platform for a single track just south of the grade crossing with La Palma Avenue. A walkway leads down from this grade crossing to the platform with two small green modern canopy structures covering benches with glass windscreens behind them. Another covers the station's one TVM at the main staircase and ramp entrance in the middle of the platform (there is one additional staircase) which lead down to 144 transit parking spaces and mainly serves some office parks and new transit oriented development apartments in the area.
From 2021 through 2023 the line in this area was double-tracked with a new side platform constructed. The only connection between the platforms is the grade crossing with La Palma Avenue and the new platofrm has largely the same design as the original one except the paint colors don't match. It is painted a lighter shade of blue closer to teal.
Photos 1-23 taken on 17 March, 2012; 24-25: August 5, 2023;
