Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service likely disrupted until at least mid-December
Editor's Note
Service could return to a portion of Amtrak's popular Pacific Surfliner route before the end of the year, officials say, as crews conduct emergency work along a section of track on California's Pacific coast.
Amtrak indefinitely suspended service earlier this month on a southern portion of the Pacific Surfliner south of Los Angeles. Orange County transportation officials did the same with commuter trains in the area, due to coastal erosion underneath the tracks around San Clemente, right near the ocean.
The emergency track work has disrupted a more than 40-mile section between Amtrak's stops in Irvine and Oceanside, so passengers looking to connect between the two stops need to take a bus. The problems have effectively broken the Pacific Surfliner route into three distinct portions: train service from Irvine, north; bus service between Irvine and Oceanside; and train service from Oceanside, south.
Ordinarily, the 351-mile route gives passengers views of beaches and rolling hills while connecting them with major southern California destinations from San Diego at the southern end of the route to San Obispo, north of Santa Barbara, at the route's northern end.
SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Coastal erosion to blame
The train service disruption has to do with erosion: The hillside underneath the tracks in the San Clemente area has slipped some 28 inches over the past 13 months, with storm surges being a big contributor, Orange County transit officials said.
Crews are in the midst of a three-month, multi-million dollar project to correct the problems — with hopes of rebuilding and stabilizing the land and tracks. At the moment, there's no passenger train service in the immediate area.
While the project timeline calls for the work to fully wrap up by mid-January, officials hope to be able to resume train service return by mid-December. However, transit officials caution, it's possible unforeseen circumstances could delay the track reopening until the project is entirely complete.
Temporary solutions
While construction on the tracks and land underneath happens in the San Clemente area, Amtrak is using bus service on the route between Irvine and Oceanside.
On top of that, beginning Monday, Oct. 31, Amtrak will begin limited train service (trains 770, 774 and 784) to and from San Juan Capistrano, which is south of Irvine, but north of the affected area. If you're looking to connect between the northern and southern corridors, though, you'll want to get off at Irvine to catch the bus.
As the service evolves, check this page for updates on ways you might be able to navigate the ongoing disruptions.
An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train passes through Del Mar, California. BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Bottom line
While Amtrak continues to roll out contingency plans amid work along a southern section of the Pacific Surfliner route, you still won't be able to ride the route end-to-end for a couple of more months. If you're planning to ride any portion of the route south of Los Angeles, you'll want to keep a close eye on Amtrak's latest updates so you'll know what to expect on your trip.
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- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.