Passenger rail service set to resume through site of San Clemente landslides
Passenger rail service through San Clemente will resume Saturday morning, nearly six weeks after it was halted due to threats from landslides and coastal erosion.
The Orange County Transportation Authority announced that Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains will once again operate through southern Orange County beginning Saturday.
Emergency construction began April 28 to stabilize the track near Mariposa Point. Since then, crews have placed approximately 5,900 tons of boulders, known as riprap, along the bluffs in high-risk areas to shield the track from additional damage.
The effort also included the resurfacing of more than 3,600 feet of track and the installation of 400 feet of concrete barriers on the inland side of the rail corridor.
While that work is now wrapping up, OCTA says more is still planned.
The agency received approval last month to construct a 1,400-foot-long wall behind those barriers, which will be built over the coming months to help prevent future landslide debris from reaching the tracks.
Construction of the wall is not expected to disrupt passenger service.
The full emergency effort included the addition of sand to beaches between North Beach and Mariposa Point. In total, about 240,000 cubic yards of sand are expected to be placed in the area as part of the reinforcement project.
The San Clemente rail corridor serves as the only coastal rail connection between Orange and San Diego counties. Since 2021, repeated bluff failures have forced several closures.
OCTA and its partners say this phase of the project marks significant progress toward stabilizing the corridor while allowing future service to continue uninterrupted.
Pedestrians are urged to stay off the tracks and cross only at marked crossings. Trains will resume running at full schedules beginning Saturday morning.
Riders are advised to check updated schedules at pacificsurfliner.com/alerts and metrolinktrains.com/service-updates.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
16 hours ago
- Associated Press
Octa's oil outlook: Middle East tensions threaten global supply
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 21 June 2025 - Crude oil, which is arguably the world's most important commodity, is on everybody's mind right now. The flared up conflict in the Middle East is increasing risks of a major oil supply shock, potentially pushing the price of 'black gold' into the stratosphere and completely derailing the global economy. In this article, Octa, a global retail broker, shares its expert opinion on the unfolding situation and outlines possible scenarios for the global oil market. Octa Broker As it often happens, the market started to price in the possibility of a new conflict in the Middle East well in advance. On 11 June, oil prices rose more than 4% after reports surfaced that the U.S. was preparing to evacuate its Iraqi embassy due to heightened security concerns in the region. Two days later, Israel and Iran exchanged airstrikes, pushing both Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the world's two major oil benchmarks, to five-month highs as investors anticipated potential supply disruptions from an open conflict. To this day, the conflict continues without resolution and oil prices remain elevated even as there are some telltale signs that the parties may be willing to negotiate. 'This burgeoning unrest introduces an unprecedented degree of volatility, significantly amplifying the specter of a catastrophic oil supply shock', argues Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker, adding that the conflict between Israel and Iran 'carries ominous potential to propel crude prices to unprecedented levels, thereby unleashing a cascade of detrimental effects that could, in the most dire of scenarios, cause a major global economic crisis'. Indeed, the Middle East in general and Iran in particular play a pivotal role in global energy markets. A substantial portion of the world's crude oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) is produced and exported in this region. Iran itself, despite the existing sanctions on exports, remains an important supplier of oil—notably, for China. Furthermore, a vast number of ships carrying crude oil and LNG transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet vital chokepoint that Iran has repeatedly threatened to close. Should Iran act on this threat and block the strait, the repercussions would be quite severe, likely pushing global crude oil prices well above $100 per barrel, or even higher, due to the significant disruption of supply. Technically, if we look at a broader, long-term picture, WTI crude oil seems to be moving sideways with a minor bearish tilt. On a daily chart (see below), the price still has not escaped from the bearish parallel channel. However, due to the latest geopolitical news, the price has managed to rise above the 200-day moving average (MA) and seems poised to break above the critically important 77.60-78.00 area. 'Breaching the $80 handle should not be difficult if the current situation deteriorates sharply', says Kar Yong Ang. 'Continuing destruction of oil infrastructure in Iran, potential U.S. involvement in the war, countries' unwillingness to negotiate and, above all else, Iran's attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz, all of this will have a bullish impact on prices'. Indeed, a break above 80 level, would open the way towards 83.40, 85.20, 87.30, and 90.00 area. Alternatively, in case the hostilities moderate somewhat, other countries—particularly the U.S.—refrain from directly participating in the conflict, and both Israel and Iran express willingness to negotiate, bearish sentiment will immediately kick in. 'I think WTI oil may lose as much as 5 dollars per barrel in the blink of an eye should we see some progress in nuclear negotiations between Europeans and Iranians, which are due to commence in Geneva this Friday', concludes Kar Yong Ang. In this scenario, a break below 71.50 level would allow bears to target 67.80, 64.80 and 61.70. Overall, WTI crude price is now stuck in a broad range between $70 and $80. The move above and below these two levels will essentially indicate if the situation in the region is getting worse or is getting better. The chart below shows potential bullish and bearish targets, marked in green and red, respectively. NYMEX light sweet crude oil (WTI) daily chartSource: TradingView, Octa analysis and calculations ___ Disclaimer: This press release does not contain or constitute investment advice or recommendations and does not consider your investment objectives, financial situation, or needs. Any actions taken based on this content are at your sole discretion and risk—Octa does not accept any liability for any resulting losses or consequences. Hashtag: #Octa The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Octa Octa
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
California High-Speed Rail Hits Back at Funding Cuts: 'Outright Misleading'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The California High-Speed Rail Authority has hit back at the Department of Transportation after a new report threatened to withdraw federal funding for the state's rail project. The authority stated that the Federal Railroad Administration's description of the largest high-speed rail project in the country was "inaccurate" and even "outright misleading" at times. Newsweek reached out to the Federal Railroad Administration via email for comment. Why It Matters While the California high-speed rail project continues to make progress throughout the Central Valley, the project is increasingly drawing the ire of the federal government. President Donald Trump has been a longtime critic of the project, branding it a "waste" and a "green disaster." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has echoed similar skepticism over the cost and timeline of the project, both of which have ballooned beyond original estimates. What To Know This skepticism culminated in a compliance review into the project's use of two federal grants worth around $4 billion. The report, published on June 5, said that the project was still $7 billion short, and that there was "no credible strategy in place to secure additional funds." "CHSRA is on notice — If they can't deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trump's vision of building great, big, beautiful things again," Duffy said in a statement. However, the project's management fired back in their initial response, stating that the project was making significant progress in construction. "I must also take this opportunity to dispute, in the strongest possible terms, the misleading claim that the Authority has made 'minimal progress to advance construction', Authority CEO Ian Choudri said in a letter on Wednesday. "The Authority's work has already reshaped the Central Valley. We have built many of the viaducts, overpasses, and underpasses on which the first 119 miles of high-speed rail track will run." "In short, FRA's conclusions are based on an inaccurate, often outright-misleading, presentation of the evidence." An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train stops at the Moorpark Train Station in Moorpark, California, on June 15, 2024. An Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train stops at the Moorpark Train Station in Moorpark, California, on June 15, 2024. Getty Images Trump previously threatened to withdraw federal funding for the project, telling reporters in May: "It's hundreds of billions of dollars for this stupid project that should have never been built. This government is not going to pay." Last week, the California High-Speed Rail Authority announced the completion of 53 structures and almost 70 miles of guideway between Merced and Bakersfield. The finished structures include the 4,741-foot San Joaquin River Viaduct in Fresno and the Hanford Viaduct in Kings County, which the authority described as the largest structure in the Central Valley for high-speed rail. What People Are Saying U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a statement: "I promised the American people we would be good stewards of their hard-earned tax dollars. This report exposes a cold, hard truth: CHSRA has no viable path to complete this project on time or on country deserves high-speed rail that makes us proud – not boondoggle trains to nowhere." What Happens Next The rail project is entering the tracklaying phase this year, with much of its Central Infrastructure already completed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Adds 12th Roundtrip Between San Diego and Los Angeles
New afternoon and evening trains between Los Angeles and San Diego offer travelers more flexibility along the Southern California coast ORANGE, Calif., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency (Agency) today announced that the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® train service has added more daily roundtrips between Los Angeles and San Diego, offering travelers greater flexibility and convenience along the Southern California coastal rail corridor. The expanded Pacific Surfliner schedule introduces new afternoon and evening travel options, providing better connections for both business and leisure passengers along the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the nation. "This service expansion provides more transportation options between San Diego and Los Angeles - just in time for summer travel," said LOSSAN Agency Chair and City of Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung. "It is the next step in restoring Pacific Surfliner service and creating more transportation options to Southern California's most popular events and destinations." Effective June 16, 2025, the Pacific Surfliner schedule will feature an additional southbound and northbound train: Southbound Train 582: Departs Los Angeles Union Station at 4:10 p.m., arriving at San Diego Santa Fe Depot at 7:04 p.m. Northbound Train 593: Departs San Diego Santa Fe Depot at 8:10 p.m., arriving at Los Angeles Union Station at 10:57 p.m. "This service expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to increase passenger rail access across Southern California," said LOSSAN Agency Managing Director Jason Jewell. "The additional frequencies offer greater travel flexibility while supporting a convenient, reliable transportation option." These additional roundtrips fill key gaps in the schedule, giving customers more flexibility to travel at times that better fit their plans. With tracks now fully open throughout the San Diego to San Luis Obispo corridor, Pacific Surfliner now offers 12 daily roundtrips between San Diego and Los Angeles, five daily roundtrips between San Diego and Goleta and three daily full-corridor roundtrips between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. In addition, Amtrak Thruway Bus Service offers guaranteed connections to Pacific Surfliner trains, extending travel options north to Oakland through Santa Barbara, Solvang, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, and southeast to Indio through Fullerton, Riverside, Palm Springs and Palm Desert. The Pacific Surfliner route spans 351 miles through six counties, serving 29 stations from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. This schedule change marks a continued effort by the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency and its partners to enhance regional rail service and improve customer experience. It represents another step toward fully restoring service to levels that existed on the corridor prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included 13 daily Pacific Surfliner roundtrips along this segment of the corridor. All Pacific Surfliner trains feature comfortable, reclining seats with power outlets, complimentary Wi-Fi, bike and luggage racks, and a Market Café offering food and beverages, including California wines and local craft beer. Tickets are available now at via the Amtrak mobile app, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. About the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®The Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® travels along a 351-mile coastal route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties. It is the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States, serving nearly 3 million riders annually. About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor AgencyThe Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority overseeing the management of the Pacific Surfliner service. The agency works to improve rail service quality, safety, and reliability along one of the most heavily traveled rail corridors in the country. Visit to learn more. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
