Amtrak stopped Pacific Surfliner train service between Irvine and San Diego on Friday because of emergency track repairs in San Clemente.
It is unclear how long the track closure will last.
There is no Amtrak service south of Irvine for this weekend, but there will be a mixture of bus and train connections for service within the closure area starting Monday, according to an Amtrak travel advisory.
“We plan to have train service between Oceanside and San Diego next week, with a bus bridge connecting Oceanside and Irvine. The repairs may take several weeks, but we will continue to coordinate with partners and keep everyone informed,” Amtrak officials said.
“The concern is the shifting of the track due to slippage of the bluff above the rail right of way, most likely due to the recent rains,” said Roger Lopez, an administration officer with LOSSAN, the agency that runs the rail corridor.
Lopez told Noozhawk that Metrolink has been working with engineers to monitor the area and that they notified Amtrak on Thursday that “the movement had become an issue.”
He added that “the safety concern is primarily that train traffic could exacerbate the movement.”
The temporary track closure could last between two and six weeks depending on repairs, which start next week, Lopez said.
The coastal railroad tracks are used by freight trains and passenger trains for long-distance and commuter customers.
According to the Los Angeles Times, San Clemente has “been battered by high surf and heavy rains from Tropical Storm Kay this month” and the coastline has seen significant erosion, causing safety concerns about the railroad tracks.
The LOSSAN rail corridor runs from San Luis Obispo to San Diego.
Click here to read the latest Pacific Surfliner travel advisories.
— Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.