Train service through San Clemente will halt for about six weeks starting April 28 as crews start work to stabilize a section of track at risk of landslides and coastal erosion, Orange County Transportation Authority officials announced.
The emergency project along the North Beach area of San Clemente, approved by the California Coastal Commission earlier this month, will add 7,650 tons of boulders to the beachside of the track and remove the remaining parts of the broken Mariposa Bridge. The plan also calls for 250,000 cubic yards of sand, though that portion of the project likely won’t get underway until 2026.
The work is the start of a bigger, $300 million plan to add rocks and sand on the beach along the rail tracks and a retaining wall on the inland side of the rail near Mariposa Point, where a landslide is still active.
Only a portion of the project was approved, while other parts of the plan — restoring the pedestrian trail, building a 1400-foot retaining wall in the same area, adding 1,400 tons of rip rip rock and a 1,200-foot long “shoreline protection structure” and replenishing sand at the southern end of town — is expected to be be discussed at the state commission’s early May meeting.
The work is spearheaded by Orange County Transportation Authority, in coordination with Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, to protect the coastal rail link between San Diego and Orange counties, following several landslides and storm surges that have shut down the service in recent years.
The work is focused on priority areas in San Clemente along the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail, or LOSSAN, Corridor, identified in early 2024 through engineering analysis where recent landslides have already caused significant damage, transportation officials said in announcing the upcoming closure.
“This temporary closure allows our teams to safely carry out urgent reinforcement work to protect rail passengers, freight operations and public safety,” said OCTA & Metrolink Chair Doug Chaffee, also Orange County’s Fourth District supervisor. “While we recognize the inconvenience, this action is necessary to preserve the long-term integrity of this vital rail link.”
During the construction work, Metrolink will continue to operate trains traveling southbound to as far as the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station.
Passengers should check metrolinktrains.com/service-updates for the latest rail service updates.
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner will continue to operate modified service between San Luis Obispo and San Juan Capistrano, as well as between Oceanside and Downtown San Diego.
Bus connections will be provided for Amtrak passengers between Irvine and Oceanside. Passengers are being directed to pacificsurfliner.com/alerts for schedule information and updates.
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