Sensors and a camera installed over the weekend detected additional, accelerated movement Monday in a landside that threatens the railroad at San Clemente, as heavy rain continued to fall on the unstable slope.
“The track structure remains stable,” states a notice posted late Monday on the Orange County Transportation Authority’s website. “BNSF plans to continue running freight trains at reduced speeds during overnight hours. Passenger service remains stopped.”
All rail service between San Diego and Orange counties ceased on Jan. 24 after the landslide sent debris and parts of the Mariposa Pedestrian Bridge onto the railroad tracks. After some initial repairs, freight service resumed at slow speeds between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. the next weekend and has continued at nights since then.
Two large sections of the damaged bridge were removed, rocks and a drainage culvert were added to the slope, and the hillside was graded and covered with plastic tarps. OCTA and Metrolink officials said Friday they plan to build a barrier wall to protect the tracks while repairs are finished on the landslide above the tracks.