Metrolink Pacific Surfliner Service Suspended in San Clemente Due to Weather Conditions

A portion of the Metrolink Pacific Surfliner railroad in San Clemente, California, is undergoing emergency repairs due to high swells from Hurricane Marie. Service suspensions are in effect across parts of Orange County through Labor Day Monday, September 6. Metrolink announced that tracks between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside will be closed due to high tides and adverse conditions along the coastal rail corridor. The closure is intended to ensure the safety of passengers and crews while allowing for emergency work to be conducted. Passengers are advised to check metrolinktrains.com for updates. Buses will be used to transport passengers during this temporary closure, as both Metrolink and Amtrak share the same tracks in San Clemente. Following a heatwave in late August, heavy rainfall from Hurricane Marie affected Southern California on Sunday, prompting a Coastal Flood Advisory that will remain in effect until Tuesday night. Crews are currently placing large boulders, known as riprap, to stabilize the track, and additional emergency repairs may be necessary depending on field conditions, according to the Orange County Transport Agency and Metrolink. This is not the first instance of service disruption in this area; the San Clemente tracks have faced multiple emergency repairs in recent years due to coastal erosion, landslides, and severe weather, including a major hillside collapse in 2024 that resulted in track closures.