San Diego Metropolitan Transit System 1016, a Siemens Duewag U2 light rail vehicle, passes the classic 95-year-old Santa Fe Depot as it heads "Not in Service" to, most likely, the yard. MTS is one of the oldest transit systems in southern California, and began operations in 1976 as the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB), changing to its current name in 2005. As for the Spanish Colonial Revival style Santa Fe station, it officially opened on March 8, 1915, to accommodate visitors to the Panama-California Exposition. Throughout its history, it not only handled Santa Fe traffic but also that of the San Diego and Arizona Railway (SD&A) and San Diego Electric Railway (SDERy). Today is serves both Amtrak (Pacific Surfliners) and Coaster commuter trains, as well as MTS light rail and buses. It is Amtrak's third busiest station in the state of California, and the tenth busiest in the entire Amtrak system. And after over 113 years of age (as I write this in 2024), it is still beautiful! (San Diego, California – January 4, 2011)
