News & Reviews News Wire Southern California rail service to resume after power-line disruptions

Southern California rail service to resume after power-line disruptions

By David Lassen | January 28, 2025

Amtrak, Metrolink operations blocked by downed wires near Los Angeles

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Damaged rail next to electric line across track
A rail shows the damage from a fallen high-power line. Downed power lines have disrupted Amtrak and Metrolink operations since Monday. Metrolink

LOS ANGELES — After two days of disruptions, train service interrupted by downed power lines between Los Angeles and the City of Commerce is set to resume.

Downed power lines across railroad track
Downed power lines along the Los Angeles River have blocked commuter and passenger operations. Metrolink

Amtrak is showing that the eastbound Southwest Chief departing LA today (Jan. 28) will serve its stops at Fullerton and Riverside, Calif., after two days in which trains were rerouted and skipped those stops. And Pacific Surfliner service, which has seen full or partial cancellations the last two days, is reporting train No. 595, the 9:01 p.m. departure from San Diego for Los Angeles, will operate between Fullerton and LA as scheduled. Otherwise, regular Surfliner service will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

Also, commuter rail operator Metrolink — which suspended operation on its Riverside, 91/Perris Valley, and Orange County lines Monday and today — says service will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

KCBS-TV reports that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has had crews working overtime to repair damaged towers that carried the power lines above the LA River and the rail lines.

5 thoughts on “Southern California rail service to resume after power-line disruptions

    1. I should add, unfortunately catenary is the exception to my above comment. Where forest fire destruction is concerned, dual fuel locomotives like the NH’s FL9s or battery hybrids could be used.

    2. @Jeff Hammer

      The relocation of HV power lines to an underground easement is possible but several issues have to be confronted when doing so.

      – Heat dissipation, these high tension power lines give off a great deal of heat. In New York and Chicago, when underground, they are in jackets of mineral oil to wick off the heat they generate.

      – Cost, utilities have shown a immense aversion to underground placement due to the cost involved.

      I recently read that a utility was compelled to raise their HV power lines so that a inland sea port could accommodate Panamax and taller cruise ships.

      It was going to cost $105 million to design and build a taller and hurricane resistant HV power line system. When people showed shock (no pun!) at the expense, tunnels were recommended, the utility said the tunnel would have to big very large , enough for crews to drive through and enough to keep the wires cool. Something they couldn’t do for $105 million.

  1. How was the power line gouge on the rail repaired? Did the power line short out any signal parts? What kind of power line towers were involved?

    1. What type(s) of pole(s) was involved? Mono pole – wooden, concrete, steel? If so did break off or uprooted? If lattice type(s) did framework fail, any rust breakage, uprooted, ETC? . DID wires have a change of direction on pole(s) involved? How many wires as picture seems to show more than 3.

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