County Agrees to Buy Rail Line for Service to Antelope Valley Transportation: The 67 miles of track eventually will be used to shuttle commuters to and from work in L.A.: [Valley Edition]

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission announced Thursday that it has agreed to purchase a 67-mile rail line from Southern Pacific railroad in order to extend commuter train service to the Antelope Valley at some undetermined time in the future.

The so-called Saugus Line was part of 78 miles of right of way in the northern part of the county that the commission acquired for $68 million under an agreement reached Wednesday during a closed-door session.

The purchase will make it possible to extend the Metrolink commuter rail service between downtown Los Angeles and the Santa Clarita Valley-which begins Oct. 26-to the Antelope Valley someday, county transportation officials said.

"The acquisition of these rights of way is necessary in order to provide future transportation service to the communities of...