Another landslide in the San Clemente area forced a renewed halt in rail service through southern Orange County Monday.
The tracks used by Metrolink and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains were closed Monday morning between San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano as crews inspected what appeared to be another significant movement of dirt on the hillside overlooking the tracks, just below the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens.
Trouble on the tracks
Some of the mud and rocks wound up abutting the train tracks.
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It was unclear how long the tracks would be impacted.
The tracks had been closed for about a month starting in late April due to the unstable hillside. But the tracks reopened on May 27. Casa Romantica was also closed due to damage on its terrace caused by the landslide, but the facility partially reopened on May 25. It was unclear if the latest movement of dirt would again impact operations at the center.
The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor was under construction between September 2022 and Jan. 24 as crews worked to fix tracks near San Clemente. Storms last fall shifted coastal tracks in the area, prompting authorities to suspend service from Oceanside to Irvine. In wake of the emergency work, shuttle bus service was offered in the impacted areas, which will likely be the case again starting this week.
