Rail

OCTA, Metrolink, Amtrak trains return to service through north San Clemente

May 30, 2023

Passenger train operations had been suspended in the area north of the San Clemente Pier after slope movement occurred in late April.

Mischa Wanek-Libman

Metrolink and Pacific Surfliner passenger trains resumed service May 27 through San Clemente following emergency slope stabilization repairs on the slope below Casa Romantica Cultural Center.

Passenger trains resumed operation through a rail line near the San Clemente Pier on May 27 following a month-long outage brought about due to slope movement.

Metrolink, which operates regional passenger rail service, and its contractors worked with San Clemente, the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, which operates the popular Pacific Surfliner service, and the Orange County Transportation Authority, owner of the track through Orange County, to clear the way to safely re-establish service on the track.

A Google Maps view of the Casa Romantica Cultural Center the slope below that required emergency stabilization efforts and the single railroad track below the slope where passenger train service was suspended for a month for repairs to be completed.

The city of San Clemente, Calif., reported on April 27 the slope on the western side of its historic Casa Romantica facility had dropped 20 feet with the slope’s instability threatening the rail line below. The city worked with its contractor, Alliance Diversified Enterprises, to complete emergency repairs. The emergency work included removing excess soil and reshaping the slope to reduce the chance of additional material sliding down on the rail line or up against the condominium building to the north.

The city explains the work was a temporary stabilization effort and more permanent work will be needed to secure the Casa Romantica building, as well as the entire slope in the future. The city worked closely with OCTA and Metrolink on coordination of the work.

All the partners, including OCTA, San Clemente, Metrolink and LOSSAN, are continuing to work together to coordinate any future work and will keep the public informed of any significant updates.

The Casa Romantica Slope Stabilization Project was the second slope movement event in San Clemente to impact train operations. In mid-April, OCTA completed stabilization work on a slope two miles north of the Casa Romantica slope slide. Train operations resumed through the north location following a six-month outage.

About the Author

Mischa Wanek-Libman | Editor in Chief

Mischa Wanek-Libman serves as editor in chief of Mass Transit magazine. She is responsible for developing and maintaining the magazine’s editorial direction and is based in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Wanek-Libman has spent more than 20 years covering transportation issues including construction projects and engineering challenges for various commuter railroads and transit agencies. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.

She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and serves as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.

She is a graduate of Drake University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a major in magazine journalism and a minor in business management.