Coastal railroads closed, service resumed between San Diego, Orange County due to landslide risk
Coastal railroads in coastal areas and San Diego County will resume services next month as staff spend nearly six weeks on track.
According to an update from the Orange County Transportation Administration, the southernmost end of the Seaside Railroad (including San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside) extends to the southernmost end of San Diego County. The railway line serves Metrolink’s commuter trains and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, and is closed in April to begin construction.
The California Coastal Commission approved emergency construction last month after several railroad departments located below the cliffs were considered unstable and faced direct risks of landslides and coastal erosion.
The crew placed 5,900 tons of boulders along the track, designed to absorb flowing water and stabilize potential runoff that could hinder the track. On the track between Mariposa and North Beach, up to 240,000 cubic yards of sand will also be placed between the two key points. Octa said crews are preparing to build a 1,400-foot catchment area next to the railway, but noted that construction timetables are still being determined.
OCTA estimates the total cost of these projects is about $300 million.
In the update, eighteen acknowledged the repeated disruption of their passenger rail service: “In the past four years, the bluffs of San Clemente eroded (on cities and private property) have repeatedly forced the railway lines that have operated uninterrupted for more than 125 years.”
Work will continue every day between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. before the railway is opened. Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink services are still scheduled to resume starting June 7.
