Topline:
Passenger rail service resumed Monday for the San Clemente coastal corridor after about two months of emergency construction to protect the busy tracks from sliding rocks and debris.
Why it matters: All Metrolink service to and from Oceanside is officially back in business, as is full Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service through San Clemente.
There’s once again 10 daily round trips running between Los Angeles and San Diego, and trains heading to and from San Diego will no longer need a bus connection between Irvine and Oceanside, according to Amtrak.
The backstory: A Jan. 24 landslide from a privately-owned hill along the Mariposa Trail Bridge dumped debris onto the tracks and right-of-way, roughly a mile north of Metrolink’s San Clemente Pier station, shutting down all rail passage.
Why now: Crews finished building a 200-foot catchment wall to protect the track last week. They also worked with the city of San Clemente to adjust a sewer access point, replace additional ties, and resurface the track.
What's next: The Orange County Transportation Authority is leading the “Orange County Coastal Rail Resiliency Study” with the goal of protecting the critical corridor for the next several decades. People are invited to learn more and share their input at the first public meeting April 11, either in person or via Zoom.
Go deeper: …to learn more about the coastal rail corridor in San Clemente.
