GAVIOTA, Calif. — Union Pacific and Amtrak operations along the Coast Line in Santa Barbara County have been shut down by a washout that led to an incident in which a maintenance worker was injured.
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reports it responded at 7:47 a.m. today (Jan. 6, 2026) to an incident north of Santa Barbara in which an excavator removing debris fell approximately 10 feet into a “large erosion event.” Union Pacific said in a statement that the excavator, operated by a contractor, rolled down a hill, damaging the tracks below. The excavator operator was able to climb back up to the tracks, where he was evaluated by fire crews, then transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with minor injuries.
The railroad says crews are on site conducting repairs but as of 5:30 p.m. Central it has no estimate when train service will be restored…