Train service between Orange and San Diego counties has been suspended for approximately six weeks due to emergency repairs in San Clemente. Crews are working to stabilize a section of coastline that has been affected by landslides and erosion. The closure impacts both Metrolink and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner services.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Metrolink trains will now terminate at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station, halting service to four southern stops. Amtrak will provide a bus bridge between Irvine and Oceanside to maintain connectivity for passengers.
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is leading the project, which involves reinforcing the rail line with riprap and adding up to 540,000 cubic yards of sand to stabilize the area. Doug Chaffee, OCTA and Metrolink chair, emphasized the urgency of the work, stating, “This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers, freight operations, and public safety” (CBS 8).
The project is part of a larger effort to protect the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) from ongoing coastal erosion and landslides. The California Coastal Commission has granted a partial emergency permit for the work, with a full hearing expected in early May (Trains.com).
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