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Metro's Gold Line trains will begin running every six minutes during weekend hours.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Metro will begin running weekend Gold Line trains more frequently starting at the end of this month. The 19.7-mile light-rail line that operates between Pasadena, East Los Angeles and Downtown will begin running every six minutes instead of every 12.

The schedule change, which will begin on January 27, will apply to Saturday and Sunday trains between the hours of approximately 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

According to The Source, Metro officials hope the increase in Gold Line service will "encourage patrons to enjoy Old Town Pasadena, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and East LA over the weekend."

The Gold Line's weekday schedule received a boost in 2011 when trains began running every six minutes (instead of every seven or eight) during the line's busiest hours, as a result of increasing ridership that Metro officials say continued between 2010 and 2012.

In December 2010, the Gold Line had an average of 30,804 weekday boardings. In 2011, that number jumped to 39,660 and in 2012 it was 42,295. Saturday's boarding numbers have also increased over the years, while Sunday/holiday statistics have actually been on a downward slope since 2010.

In addition to an increase in riders, Metro's Gold Line is poised for another expansion as crews are in the process of building Gold Line Foothill Extension, which will expand the line East from Pasadena to Montclair.

The Gold Line's weekend schedule changes will go into effect beginning January 27.