Culver City station of the L.A. Metro, showing the modern urban transport solution

 

An electric multiple unit of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Expo Line at one of the two termini stations, Culver City, on 13 November 2013 with the parking lot for commuters' cars visible.  This line, so named because it follows Exposition Boulevard for much of the route, was opened to here in June 2012.  The units operate on 750 Volts DC from overhead.

The line was built in 1875 as the steam-powered Los Angeles and Independence Railroad to bring mining ore to ships in Santa Monica harbor and as a passenger excursion train to the beach—first independently and later after purchase by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1877. When the Santa Monica harbor closed to shipping traffic in 1909 the line was leased to Pacific Electric who converted it to electric traction.  After Southern Pacific ceased using the line in 1989 it was bought by the LA County.

At the completion of the project, scheduled for next year, to Santa Monica, the line will be 15.2 miles (24.5 km) long.