San Clemente landslide sends boulders onto tracks, stalling passenger train service

Amtrak and Metrolink service was suspended in Orange County Wednesday after a landslide in San Clemente sent boulders and falling debris onto the train tracks below.

The debris slide happened at the Mariposa pedestrian and bike bridge, according to Orange County District 5 Supervisor Katrina Foley.

Around 5:15 p.m., Amtrak announced delays would be expected between Los Angeles and San Diego on its Pacific Surfliner trains.

By 6 p.m., Amtrak said it would be temporarily suspending all service between Irvine and Oceanside due to the “unforeseen track closure.” A bus bridge was deployed to help stranded passengers get to their destinations.

Metrolink’s Orange County Line and its Inland Empire-Orange County Line were both affected by the closure. Some riders affected by the closure may be eligible for an Uber voucher worth up to $50, Metrolink said.

Foley, who also serves as director of the Orange County Transit Authority, released a statement Wednesday in which she called said the landslide a product of “decades of climate change denial.”

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