Regular commuter rail service linking San Clemente and Oceanside will resume Monday, two months after operations were halted due to a landslide along the scenic coastal route.
The Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the track through San Clemente, worked with Metrolink, which runs regional commuter rail service, to build a 200-foot wall at Mariposa Point to support the hill. Full service will resume for Metrolink trains between San Clemente and Oceanside, and for Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train to and from San Diego after limited service began earlier this month.
Authorities closed a seven-mile stretch of the popular road between Orange and San Diego counties on Jan. 24 after debris fell from a privately owned hillside along the Mariposa Trail Bridge in San Clemente to the right-of-way and railroad tracks, stranding commuters for hours. This was the fifth time in three years that train service was interrupted due to eroding hills in the area.
A landslide in 2022 shut down Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink trains for six months. Then, another landslide occurred at the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a historic landmark in San Clemente known for its panoramic ocean views, and halted service, interrupting passenger and freight rail service along the coast.
The California Transportation Commission has allocated $7.2 million in emergency funding to support the recent repair work, which has also attracted federal support.
To secure the area, Metrolink undercut nearly 500 feet of ballast from underneath the track to remove mud and dirt along the right-of-way, and Orange County transit workers integrated a more extensive drainage system with the wall, which is supported by steel beams. The transportation agency reported it was 30 feet deep. Workers also replaced the railroad ties and resurfaced the track.
Metrolink asked the public to check http://metrolinktrains.com for the latest updates on rail service and schedules, or to call or text (800) 371-5465.
