SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Metrolink will resume weekend operations to and from its San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and San Clemente Pier stations as of this Saturday, Oct. 29, while Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner will offer an updated schedule for service south of Irvine as of Monday, Oct. 31.
Metrolink’s limited return of service will be its first south of the Laguna Nigel/Mission Viejo station since operations were halted on Sept. 30 because of an unstable hillside along the line used by Metrolink and Amtrak trains. The commuter rail agency says weekday service remains suspended south of Laguna Nigel/Mission Viejo because of the “higher volume of train traffic along this single-track route on weekdays, compared to weekends, making it challenging to provide service without significant delays.”
Changes to the Pacific Surfliner as of Monday will see a bus connection between Irvine and Oceanside, Calif., for southbound train 562, with train 1562 operating between Oceanside and San Diego. Trains 770, 774, and 784 will now operate to San Juan Capistrano, although passengers continuing to stops between Oceanside and San Diego should still change to buses at Irvine. Northbound, train 1567 will operate between San Diego and Oceanside, with a bus connection to train 567 in Irvine, while trains 777, 581, and 591 will originate in San Juan Capistrano instead of Irvine. They will continue to wait in Irvine for buses connecting from trains operating between San Diego and Irvine.
Emergency repairs in the San Clemente area are under way, but full service may not be possible through the area until early 2023 [see “Surfliner, Metrolink service may not be restored …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 17, 2022].
