Weekend Rail Lines to be Affected by Construction

Editor's note: The following is an advisory from The San Diego Association of Governments.

San Diego, CA – A portion of the LOSSAN coastal rail line between Orange County and Oceanside will be shut down this weekend as construction crews work to improve passenger and freight rail services by installing a second main line track and new bridges in the corridor.

Service impacts are as follows:

Metrolink: All Metrolink Orange County and Inland Empire line trains will be cancelled on Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11; Orange County line trains 644 and 645 also will be cancelled on Friday, Dec. 9. Metrolink rider information: 1-800-371-LINK or www.metrolinktrains.com

Amtrak: Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains will operate on a limited schedule. Passengers traveling to destinations south of Fullerton will be transported by motorcoach between Los Angeles Union Station and Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego. Amtrak rider information: 1-800-USA-RAIL orwww.amtrak.com

COASTER: The North County Transit District’s COASTER trains will not be affected by the closure.

During the shutdown, the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) will work to complete a new rail bridge at Trestles beach, near the Orange County line. Crews also will continue construction of the new Santa Margarita rail bridge north of Oceanside, as well as the new second track in Carlsbad. At the same time, the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, which operates the Metrolink commuter rail service, will work on the LOSSAN line in Orange County, near the Fullerton and Anaheim stations.

About LOSSAN Coastal Rail Improvements

SANDAG, and Amtrak are working to add a second track to the 60-mile LOSSAN coastal rail corridor in Carlsbad to improve passenger and freight rail services. As a companion to Interstate 5, the San Diego segment of the LOSSAN corridor plays a critical role in the movement of people and goods within the region’s North Coast Corridor. During the next 20 years, more than $800 million in improvements are planned in the San Diego County section of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor. These projects include double tracking, bridge and track replacement, new stations, grade separations, and other improvements to shorten trip times and increase passenger rail service in the corridor. More information: www.KeepSanDiegoMoving.com/LOSSAN.