# Special Event Line (San Diego Trolley)

The Special Event Line, also known as the "Red Line" until 2012, is a light rail line operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating division of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Two different versions of this line operated, both times only during special events.
The original version of the Special Event Line, operating from at least 2007 to 2012, connected Qualcomm Stadium station with Gaslamp Quarter station, during sporting events at Qualcomm Stadium, Cox Arena, and the SDSU Open Air Theatre (OAT), as well as during events like San Diego Comic-Con. This version of the Special Event Line was discontinued in 2012, after the Trolley Renewal Project saw the Green Line extended over the Special Event Line's route.
Later, in July 2022, the Special Event Line was revived, this time running from Balboa Avenue Transit Center (which had opened in the previous September as part of the Blue Line Mid-Coast extension to 12th and Imperial. This version of the Special Event Line was revived from July 20 to July 23, 2023, and most recently from July 25 to July 28, 2024.

## Current route (2022-present)

The current version of the Special Event Line first operated from July 20 to July 24, 2022, during San Diego Comic-Con. Special Event Line services from that time onwards run from Balboa Avenue Transit Center to 12th and Imperial, following the Green Line's alignment from 12th and Imperial to Old Town Transit Center.
Likewise from July 20 to July 23, 2023, the Special Event Line was revived along the 2022 route. Over the course of that weekend, the Special Event Line served over 100 thousand riders.
Special Event Line (12th and Imperial–Balboa Avenue) :
| Station Name | Connections | Notes |
| Balboa Avenue Transit Center | Blue Line | |
| Clairemont Drive | Blue Line | |
| Tecolote Road | Blue Line | |
| Old Town Transit Center | Blue Line Green Line | $_{ServesOldTownHistoricPark.}$ |
| 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 | $_{TransferstationforBlueLine.}$ |
| Seaport Village | Green Line Silver Line | $_{ServesSeaportVillage.}$ $_{TransferstationforOrangeandSilverLines.}$ |
| Convention Center | Green Line Silver Line | $_{ServesConventionCenter.}$ |
| Gaslamp Quarter | Green Line Silver Line | $_{ServesGaslampQuarter,PetcoPark,ConventionCenter.}$ |
| 12th & Imperial Transit Center $_{(BaysideTerminal)}$ | Blue Line Green Line Orange Line Silver Line | $_{ServesPetcoPark.}$ $_{TransferstationforBlueandOrangeLines.}$ |

## 2005–2012 route

From at least 2007 to 2012, the Red Line operated between Gaslamp Quarter station and Qualcomm Stadium station (now known as Stadium station). They operated once every 15 minutes, during sporting events at Petco Park, Qualcomm Stadium, Cox Arena, and the SDSU Open Air Theater (OAT), as well as selected conventions and other major city events (such as San Diego Comic-Con).
On maps issued during its first tenure in operation, the Red Line was illustrated as a red dashed line, indicating that it was a "Special Event Service Only".
The Special Event Line was discontinued in 2012, as part of the Trolley Renewal Project. The entire route the Special Event line ran is now served by the Green Line (which had been extended from Old Town to 12th & Imperial), 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.
Special Event Line (Petco Park–Qualcomm Stadium) :
| Station Name | Connections | Notes |
| Qualcomm Stadium | Green Line | $_{ServedQualcommStadium(nowdemolished).}$ $_{TransferstationforGreenLine.}$ |
| Fenton Parkway | Green Line | |
| Rio Vista | Green Line | |
| Mission Valley Center | Green Line | $_{ServesWestfieldMissionValley.}$ |
| Hazard Center | Green Line | |
| Fashion Valley Transit Center | Green Line | $_{ServesFashionValleyMall.}$ |
| Morena/Linda Vista | Green Line | $_{ServesUniversityofSanDiego.}$ |
| Old Town Transit Center | Blue Line Green Line | $_{ServesOldTownHistoricPark.}$ |
| Washington Street | Blue Line | |
| Middletown | Blue Line | |
| County Center/Little Italy | Blue Line | |
| Santa Fe Depot | Blue Line | $_{TransferstationforBlueLine.}$ |
| Seaport Village | Orange Line Silver Line | $_{ServesSeaportVillage.}$ $_{TransferstationforOrangeandSilverLines.}$ |
| Convention Center | Orange Line Silver Line | $_{ServesConventionCenter.}$ |
| Gaslamp Quarter | Orange Line Silver Line | $_{ServesGaslampQuarter,PetcoPark,ConventionCenter.}$ |
| 12th & Imperial Transit Center $_{(BaysideTerminal)}$ | Blue Line Orange Line Silver Line | $_{ServesPetcoPark.}$ $_{TransferstationforBlueandOrangeLines.Notanofficialstation,usedtoreversedirection.}$ |