LOS ANGELES — Amtrak and Metrolink service has been suspended in south Orange County for emergency track work to stabilize right-of-way in the San Clemente, Calif., area.
The Pacific Surfliner website says no trains will operate south of Irvine. Calif., between today and Sunday. As of Monday, Sept. 20, train service will resume on a limited schedule between Oceanside and San Diego, with bus service provided between Irvine and Oceanside. Regular service is projected to return no later than Monday, Oct. 4.
A Metrolink press release says the suspension is effective today and is projected to last through Oct. 4. Service will resume earlier if the work is completed earlier than expected.
Trains on the Orange County and Inland-Empire Orange County lines are affected. Trains will continue to operate as far south as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo stations; no alternate transportation is being provided to stations in San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, or Oceanside.
The Orange County Register reports it’s because of “big waves and high tides.”
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is affected and will use a bus bridge until October 4:
https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/plan-your-trip/schedules/upcoming-improvements/
Metrolink posts:
https://metrolinktrains.com/news/alert-details-page/?alertId=419368
Time to condider a new railroad further inland?
Message to Bob Johnston – On the above topic, photos are starting to surface on YouTube showing high tide waves over the tracks north of san Clemente Pier, also a member of LOSSAN staff says San Clemente has red-tagged several blufftop homes due to possible sliding but did not say where along the SCRRA line.
On a separate topic you may want to cover for NewsWire, a technology company named CoastFutura plans to run a demonstration on the Santa Cruz Branch of a new hydrogen powered railcar/streetcar (not sure what it looks like). The trips will be free hourly 45 minute, 4 mile round trip rides as follows:
October 16-17 Watsonville-Harkins Slough
October 21-24 Santa Cruz-Capitola
Tickets become available October 1 at CoastFutura.org, and their press release does not mention whether they have an FRA waiver to run on a railroad line with a possibly non-compliant vehicle. Also they seem to have allied themselves with the Roaring Camp Railroads, which I think is the current operator of the ex-SP Santa Cruz Branch, which is basically dormant except possibly in the Watsonville area for switching local customers. Hope this helps, the rail vehicle is definitely new tech with hydrogen fuel cell hybrid stated in the release. Best – Walt Stringer