April 14th 2023: After months of construction and hill stabilizing the damaged train tracks in San Clemente are due to be reopened next week. The Orange County Transportation Authority has announced that Amtrak Pacific Surfliner and the Metrolink commuter service will return April 17th with service again to Oceanside in North San Diego County.
The tracks originally were closed down September 30th after land movement near the tracks after this Winters heavy rains. The track originally was scheduled to be reopened in February but was delayed as the work required was more extensive than originally expected.
Amtrak provided replacement bus service to bypass the current closure will end. Metrolink didn’t have a replacement bus service and had ended all service South of the Laguna Niguel station since the closure and will now restore train service all the way to Oceanside.
The restoration of normal service means train service will be restored between Los Angeles and Orange County with San Diego and the Inland Empire. The bigger issue is finding a long time solution to the erosion and hillside stabilization issues in San Clemente; Whatever solution is found if thats taking the track inland away from the ocean or tunnels the cost is going to very expensive. Because of the issue of global warming and rising tides this issue will have to be dealt with sooner or later.
