We can now count on a the city’s Metro rail service until 2:00 am starting tonight, giving non-drivers and alcohol drinkers a chance to hang out and explore Los Angeles a bit longer.

The extended hours will keep trains running every 20 minutes on Friday and Saturday nights on the Red/Purple, Blue, Expo, Green, and Gold lines. Additionally, the Orange bus line will continue until 2:40 am.

This means us Echo Parkians can go dine in Hollywood and catch the train back to Union Station after 11:30 pm. Or even from Long Beach, Culver City, and Pasadena. Our favorite train ride takes us from the Chinatown Station near Echo Park and up to Pasadena, just down the street from our favorite pub, Lucky Baldwin, where they serve some really strong beer and driving is not an option.

Blogdowntown quoted councilman José Huizar, saying, “In Downtown Los Angeles, Metro’s extended Friday, Saturday evening hours will allow more customers to enjoy the many exciting late-night venues we offer, as well encourage more people to use public transportation.”

The late-night rail hours will run on a trial basis, and may continue indefinitely depending on ridership numbers.

Click here for more information about the routes on the Metro website.