SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and service on two Metrolink commuter lines will see disruptions starting this Monday, April 28, as the Surf Line is closed in San Clemente to allow for emergency repairs. The work is expected to last approximately six weeks.
For the Pacific Surfliners, modified service will continue between San Louis Obispo and San Juan Capisitrano and between Oceanside and San Diego. A bus bridge will operate between Irvine and Oceanside. The timetable for service during the closure is available here. Just five Surfliner round trips will operate daily on the Oceanside-San Diego segment, instead of the usual 11; nine of 11 will operate on the portion north of the closure to Los Angeles.
Metrolink has announced service on the Orange County Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line will originate and terminate at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station; no alternate transportation will be provided between Laguna/Niguel Mission Viejo and Oceanside.
The closure will permit the Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the portion of the rail line including San Clemente, to undertake emergency stabilization measures in an area where lineslides and other erosion have led to frequent service disruptions in recent years.
“This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers, freight operations and public safety,” OCTA and Metrolink Chair Doug Chaffee said in a press release. “While we recognize the inconvenience, this action is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of this vital rail link.”
The California Coastal Commission approved part of the OCTA’s request for an emergency permit to allow the stabilization work — including placement of large amounts of sand and riprap — on April 10, with the OCTA authorizing emergency measures on April 14 [see “Coastal Commission approves permit …,” Trains News Wire, April 16, 2025]. The work will also include construction of a 1,400-foot catchment wall and restoration of pedestrian access along segments of a coastal trail, as shown below. More details are available here.
I’ve been on one of these bus bridges before. They’re pretty efficient but you have to haul your stuff off the train onto the bus then back onto the train. Some people have a LOT of stuff. I was going to book a trip from KS. to San Diego this summer but figured something like this would happen so I’m flying instead. And yes, during these closures the freight do run through these construction zones.
Does this work mean no traffic anytime of the day or night? If so, how will the equipment at San Diego get any heavier maintenance? What about fright? Are any freights going to run at night?
Pols who only look at national figures will just assume the national Amtrak number of riders low much like the last FY.