Damaged Southern California Rail Line Set to Resume Service
The OCTA, which owns the track through San Clemente, worked in partnership with Metrolink, which operates regional passenger rail service, to build a 200-foot-long wall at Mariposa Point, to safely re-establish service on the track.
Metrolink and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, operator of Pacific Surfliner, are each planning to resume full service on March 25.
2 min to read
The rail line serving Amtrak and Metrolink through San Clemente, Calif., is set to reopen for regular passenger rail service March 25 as emergency work to build a catchment wall to protect the track is wrapping up.
The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which owns the track through San Clemente, worked in partnership with Metrolink, which operates regional passenger rail service, to build a 200-foot-long wall at Mariposa Point, to safely re-establish service on the track.
Ad Loading...
Metrolink and the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, operator of Pacific Surfliner, are each planning to resume full service. Passengers are being updated through social media, station messages, and direct communication.
Restoring Pacific Surfliner Service
Full passenger service is being restored ahead of the initial schedule because of expedited work made possible with strong cooperation between the transportation agencies and the State, including the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).
In the past week, the construction team working at the San Clemente site finished the catchment wall and have continued to work on a more comprehensive drainage system and trenching along the rail right of way.
The team also worked in coordination with the City of San Clemente to adjust a sewer access point. This week, additional tie replacement and track resurfacing will take place.
The emergency construction work was necessitated by a Jan. 24 landslide from a privately-owned hillside that littered the rail right of way below with soil and debris halting rail service.
Ad Loading...
After extensive work, limited Pacific Surfliner passenger service resumed in early March, but the re-opening of the line will mark the first time regular passenger service has resumed through the area since the initial slide.
For the longer term, OCTA and its rail partners will continue to work with local, state, and federal stakeholders on both near-term and long-term solutions for protecting rail movement along this critical corridor.
Photo: OCTA
Working on Longer-Term Solutions
For the longer term, OCTA and its rail partners will continue to work with local, state, and federal stakeholders on both near-term and long-term solutions for protecting rail movement along this critical corridor.
Work is already under way on the first of two studies. Listening sessions with stakeholders and the public have begun on the OCTA-led Orange County Coastal Rail Resiliency Study, which aims to protect the rail line in place for the next 10 to 30 years.
The 2.1-mile extension will connect Fort Worth’s Medical District and Near Southside to downtown, surrounding communities, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Austin Transit Partnership CEO Greg Canally discusses the city's nearly 10-mile light rail project, its collaborative approach to project delivery, the importance of community engagement, and the milestones ahead as construction approaches in 2027.
The Systemwide Network Plan identifies infrastructure needs and potential investments to expand all-day, bidirectional rail service across the Chicago region.
The CRISI Grant Program funding will support rail infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades, and projects aimed at improving freight and passenger rail service across 45 states and Washington, D.C.
The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.
The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.
Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.
