SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner passenger rail service will once again be in full service on Saturday, June 7, following the completion of emergency construction to reinforce vulnerable areas along the rail line in San Clemente, officials announced this week.
The reopening restores the coastal rail connection between San Diego and Los Angeles, which has been closed since April 28 to allow crews to address immediate risks from landslides and coastal erosion.
Emergency Reinforcement Efforts
Crews placed approximately 5,900 tons of large boulders, known as riprap, along the most vulnerable sections of track to protect against coastal erosion. In addition, about 240,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed on the beach between Mariposa Point and North Beach to stabilize the area further. Temporary concrete barriers have also been installed to create a safe workspace for the upcoming construction of a 1,400-foot-long catchment wall along the inland bluff, which is expected to be built in the coming months.
Final preparations before reopening include demobilizing equipment, clearing staging areas, testing rail signals, and resurfacing and inspecting the track. Crews will continue working daily, primarily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some nighttime work possible before the reopening on June 7.
Impact on Service and Safety Reminders
During the closure, Metrolink’s Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines terminated at the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station, while Amtrak Pacific Surfliner riders relied on bus connections between Irvine and Oceanside. With the repairs complete, both services will return to their normal schedules through San Clemente on June 7…