Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Status, San Clemente Tracks and El Niño

Trains and Travel

Oct 13

8 min read

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is running on Tuesday, Oct 13, though Amtrak canceled four trains as a precaution for high tides at San Clemente. Service came back Monday after a scheduled weekend closure with no trains between San Diego and San Luis Obispo on Oct 10 and 11. Tropical Storm Rachel brought big surf and very high tides that same weekend, flooding parts of Newport Beach and damaging homes in Long Beach, and we have found no reports of damage to the San Clemente tracks. The bigger worry is what comes next: the beach that once protected the rail keeps washing away, and forecasters expect a strong El Niño this winter. Here is what happened, what is being done, whether the train could move inland, and what it means if you ride with kids.

The short version

The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner is running on Tuesday, Oct 13, except trains 572, 579, 588 and 593, canceled for high tides at San Clemente. Next full closure: Nov 7 and 8.
The San Clemente tracks sit between eroding bluffs and a shrinking beach; the city is short about 3 million cubic yards of sand.
Rachel flooded parts of Newport Beach and red-tagged nine buildings in Long Beach. No reported damage to the San Clemente tracks; minor coastal flooding is possible through Tuesday.
NOAA gives an 83% chance of a historic El Niño this fall, which tends to bring bigger surf, higher water and more erosion.
OCTA just finished a nearly 1,400-foot wall at Mariposa Point and plans about 690,000 cubic yards of new sand, with no firm date yet.
Moving the line inland is being studied, with no decision, no route, and earlier estimates over $5 billion.

Watercolor page: Rally the corgi looks out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird. — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner status (updated Tuesday, Oct 13, 9:45 a.m. PT)

Is the Pacific Surfliner running today? Yes, with four trains canceled. Amtrak canceled trains 572, 579, 588 and 593 on Tuesday, Oct 13 as a precaution for high tides along the San Clemente coastal corridor, to cut congestion and delays from slower speeds and railroad flagging there. If you were booked on one of them, Amtrak says you may ride the next available train. Every other Pacific Surfliner train is on its regular schedule from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.

The coast: the National Weather Service’s coastal flood advisory runs until 2 p.m. Tuesday, the last day of elevated tides from Tropical Storm Rachel’s swell. We have still found no reports of storm damage to the San Clemente tracks.

Coming up: trains 777 and 794 may run late through Oct 16 near Vandenberg Space Force Base (roughly 3:20 to 8:25 p.m.). On Oct 24 and 25, some trains swap to a bus between Los Angeles and Van Nuys, skipping Glendale and Burbank. The next full-corridor closure is Nov 7 and 8, with no bus bridges. Our Pacific Surfliner family guide keeps the current list, and the official Pacific Surfliner travel advisories and Amtrak’s Track Your Train map show your train.

Look inside the book

Traveling on Amtrak with kids? Don’t forget to bring a copy of Rally.

Rally Takes the Train is a corgi’s ride on the Pacific Surfliner, ocean view and all. Turn a few pages before your trip: the morning of, the station, the window seat, the tunnel, and the people waiting at the end. Every one is real watercolor on paper.

Page 1 of 8

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Pacific Surfliner status by station

Pacific Surfliner trains are running at every station below as of Tuesday, Oct 13, except the four trains Amtrak canceled for high tides at San Clemente (572, 579, 588 and 593). Service came back Monday after Amtrak’s scheduled closure on Oct 10 and 11 (no trains, no bus bridges). Check Amtrak’s travel advisories and live train status for your station the morning you ride.

San Diego County San Diego (Santa Fe Depot), San Diego Old Town, Solana Beach, Oceanside
Orange County San Clemente Pier (select trains), San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton
Los Angeles County Los Angeles Union Station, Glendale, Burbank (Downtown Burbank and Hollywood Burbank Airport), Van Nuys, Chatsworth
Ventura County Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura
Santa Barbara County Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc (Surf station), Guadalupe
San Luis Obispo County Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo

Riding north of Los Angeles later this week? Amtrak also lists possible delays Oct 12 to 16 for trains 777 and 794 because of launch activity at Vandenberg Space Force Base, roughly between 3:20 and 8:25 p.m.

What is happening to the San Clemente train tracks?

For about seven miles through San Clemente and Dana Point, the coastal railroad runs on a thin strip between crumbling bluffs and the Pacific. For decades, a wide beach sat between the rails and the waves. That beach is disappearing.

Now the waves reach the rocks piled along the tracks, and sometimes the rails themselves. Since 2021, passenger and freight service through San Clemente has been interrupted again and again by bluff failures, beach loss and erosion. In September 2026, waves went over the tracks and service stopped for more than a week.

This matters far beyond one beach town. The San Clemente stretch is part of the 351-mile LOSSAN corridor linking San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. It carries the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink, freight and military trains, and the Associated Press calls it the second busiest passenger rail line in the country. When San Clemente closes, the whole coast feels it.

Why is the beach in front of the tracks disappearing?

Officials and scientists point to several causes working together:

Less sand arriving. Decades of development, including concrete-lined creeks, have cut off much of the sediment that used to wash down to these beaches.
Higher waves. Warmer ocean water has pushed waves higher and farther up the shore.
Rising seas. As sea level climbs, the shoreline moves inland. A U.S. Geological Survey oceanographer told the AP, “The constant pressure is sea level rise.”
The rocks themselves. To protect the tracks, crews piled large boulders called riprap along the rail. Waves crashing into rock tend to drag more sand offshore, which speeds up erosion over time.

The result is easy to see. San Clemente’s city manager says the city is short about 3 million cubic yards of sand. Trucking that in would take roughly 300,000 trips.

Timeline: major San Clemente rail closures since 2024

Timeline of San Clemente coastal rail closures and repairs, 2024 to 2026
When	What happened	What followed
Jan 2024	A landslide at Mariposa Point buries the tracks and destroys the beach trail bridge.	A 200-foot emergency wall; regular passenger service back in March 2024.
Late Apr 2025	Passenger service through San Clemente is halted for emergency reinforcement.	Service resumes June 7, 2025.
Sept 6, 2026	Swells from Hurricane Marie, which never made landfall, plus high tides push waves over the tracks.	Buses replace trains between Irvine and Oceanside; the line is closed for over a week.
Late Sept 2026	OCTA declares a coastal rail emergency to move faster on sand and rock.	About 690,000 cubic yards of sand planned; no firm completion date.
Oct 8, 2026	OCTA finishes the Mariposa Point project: a nearly 1,400-foot catchment wall.	The San Clemente Beach Trail section reopens to the public.
Oct 10 to 11, 2026	No Pacific Surfliner trains anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, for scheduled track closures. The same weekend, Tropical Storm Rachel brings high surf to the San Diego coast.	No bus bridges. Trains return Monday, Oct 12, with no reported storm damage to the San Clemente tracks.
Nov 7 to 8, 2026	The next scheduled full-corridor closure listed by Amtrak.	Same terms: no Pacific Surfliner trains and no bus bridges.

Tropical Storm Rachel updates: what happened to the coast and the train

Newest first. Times are Pacific. We update this as the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center and Amtrak post new information.

Tue, 9:45 a.m. Four trains canceled for high tides. Amtrak canceled Pacific Surfliner trains 572, 579, 588 and 593 today as a precaution for high tides along the San Clemente coastal corridor. Amtrak says the goal is to cut congestion and delays from reduced speeds and railroad flagging through that stretch, and passengers on those trains may ride the next available train. The rest of the schedule is running. Source: Pacific Surfliner travel advisories.
Tue, 9:45 a.m. Last day of the flood advisory. The coastal flood advisory for Southern California beaches runs until 2 p.m. today, the end of the elevated tides that followed Rachel. We still have no reports of storm damage to the San Clemente tracks. Keep kids off low beaches, jetties and the San Clemente Beach Trail around high tide.
Tue, 9:45 a.m. Next changes to plan around: possible evening delays on trains 777 and 794 through Oct 16 near Vandenberg Space Force Base; buses instead of trains between Los Angeles and Van Nuys for some trips on Oct 24 and 25, skipping Glendale and Burbank; and a full-corridor closure with no trains and no bus bridges on Nov 7 and 8.
Mon, 11:30 a.m. Day one back is going smoothly. Pacific Surfliner trains are running on Monday’s regular schedule. The early trains through Oceanside, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano ran on time or within a few minutes of schedule, and we have seen no reports of cancellations or storm-related changes. If you ride north of Los Angeles this evening, trains 777 and 794 may run late because of launch activity at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Mon, 11:30 a.m. Coastal flood advisory until 2 p.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service says minor to moderate coastal flooding is still likely around high tides through at least Tuesday, with localized damage possible in low-lying areas. The National Hurricane Center still warns of life-threatening surf and rip currents along Southern California beaches. Light to moderate rain is possible through Monday, with a low chance of thunderstorms.
Mon, 11:30 a.m. Newport Beach and Long Beach: Newport Beach remains under a local emergency, and Newport Pier, Balboa Pier, the Wedge and the Balboa Pier parking lot are closed. In Long Beach, access to the Peninsula is restricted from 62nd Place, and the mandatory evacuation for homes on the 6400 and 6500 blocks of Seaside Walk runs through noon Tuesday. Crews are reinforcing the damaged bulkhead and boardwalk.
Mon, 11:30 a.m. Rachel’s remnants are soaking Utah. The heaviest rain there was forecast for Sunday into Monday, with 2 to 4 inches possible across much of the state through Wednesday and 6 to 8 inches in some mountains, plus gusts of 35 to 45 mph Monday. Southern California is past the storm itself; what is left here is high surf, high tides and cleanup.
Mon, 5:45 a.m. The train is running. Pacific Surfliner service is back after the weekend closure. Northbound train 761 left San Diego on time at 4:01 a.m., passed Oceanside on time at 4:57 a.m., and ran through San Clemente a few minutes late on its way to Irvine. Southbound train 757 left Los Angeles on time at 5:13 a.m. We have found no reports of storm damage to the San Clemente tracks.
Mon, 5:45 a.m. Today on the coast: the National Weather Service expects Monday morning tides near 7 to 7.5 feet with 4 to 6 foot surf. The coastal flood warning eased to an advisory Sunday afternoon, but minor to moderate flooding is still possible through Tuesday afternoon, though less severe than Friday and Saturday. Rachel brought far less rain to the coast than forecast, with no more than a tenth of an inch expected through Monday.
Mon, 5:45 a.m. Long Beach damage: nine buildings across 13 addresses on the Peninsula are red-tagged as unsafe to enter, and one is yellow-tagged. A mandatory evacuation for homes between 64th and 66th places runs through noon Tuesday, with 39 more homes under an evacuation warning. The city has spent more than $1 million on emergency work and hopes to truck in 50,000 to 100,000 cubic yards of sand over the next two weeks.
Mon, 5:45 a.m. Where Rachel is now: the remnants have moved northeast across the desert Southwest toward Utah, where flood watches are in effect and heavy rain is likely Monday and Tuesday. For Southern California, the storm itself is over; what is left is elevated surf, high tides and cleanup.
Sun, 9:30 p.m. Trains return Monday. Amtrak’s scheduled Oct 10 to 11 closure is over, and Pacific Surfliner service resumes Monday, Oct 12, along the full route from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. We have found no reports of storm damage to the San Clemente tracks. Tides and surf stay elevated into Tuesday, so check the travel advisories the morning you ride.
Sun, 9:30 p.m. What Rachel did to the coast: the worst flooding hit Newport Beach, where the swell broke through 20-foot sand berms near the Wedge and flooded an estimated 15 to 20 blocks of the Balboa Peninsula. City officials said the tide ran about 20 inches above predictions, on top of an El Niño-driven Kelvin wave already lifting the ocean 6 to 12 inches. In Long Beach, oceanfront homes on the Peninsula were red-tagged after waves topped the Seaside Walk bulkhead. Seal Beach closed beach parking lots, and Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and San Clemente handed out sandbags Sunday.
Sun, 9:30 p.m. Rain and wind: Rachel came ashore Saturday night in northern Baja California, about 80 miles south-southeast of San Diego, after weakening to a post-tropical storm. Its outer bands brought gusts over 60 mph in Menifee and Temecula, 1 to 2 inches of rain, and isolated flash flooding, and rockslides briefly blocked some roads. By Sunday the remnants had moved into the desert Southwest, where Las Vegas set a daily rainfall record.
Sun, 9:30 p.m. What’s next: coastal flooding alerts for Orange County beaches run through Tuesday afternoon, and wind advisories with gusts near 40 mph around San Diego last through Monday. Stay off low beaches, piers, jetties and the San Clemente Beach Trail near high tide. Forecasters say Rachel may be a preview of a stormy El Niño winter.
Sun, 8:30 a.m. Rachel is now post-tropical, but the coast is not in the clear. The storm was downgraded just before 8 p.m. Saturday and its remnants moved over land early Sunday. The National Weather Service’s coastal flood warning runs until 3 p.m. Sunday from Malibu to San Diego County, including San Clemente, followed by a coastal flood advisory from 3 p.m. Sunday to 2 p.m. Tuesday and a high surf advisory until 10 p.m. Sunday. This morning’s high tide, around 9:40 to 10 a.m., lines up with some of Rachel’s highest waves. The National Hurricane Center says major coastal flooding is already happening in some areas, with water up to 1.5 feet above predictions, and life-threatening surf and rip currents through Monday.
Sun, 8:30 a.m. Up the Orange County coast: Newport Beach has closed all city beaches and piers until further notice after flooding on the Balboa Peninsula, where the city declared a local emergency Friday. In Long Beach, homes on Seaside Walk between 64th and 66th Place are under mandatory evacuation through Tuesday. Rain should taper off around 10 a.m. Sunday, with scattered showers possible Monday.
Sun, 8:30 a.m. The train: no Pacific Surfliner trains today under Amtrak’s scheduled closure. Amtrak’s advisories show no storm notice and no word yet on Monday. We’ve found no reports of damage to the San Clemente tracks so far; the next test is tonight’s high tide around 10 p.m. and Monday’s around 10 a.m. Check the travel advisories before you ride Monday.
Sat, 8:11 p.m. National Weather Service: Rachel is now post-tropical, still with 60 mph winds, about 240 miles south-southeast of San Mateo Point at San Clemente’s southern edge, moving north-northeast at 36 mph. Surf of 6 to 9 feet Sunday; the San Diego River at Fashion Valley is forecast to crest at 8.1 feet just before noon Sunday.
Sat, 11:05 p.m. What to watch Sunday: high tides around 9 to 10 a.m. and again around 10 p.m., with the biggest surf of the storm. After the tides, the question is whether the San Clemente tracks took damage before trains return. Check Amtrak’s travel advisories before any Monday trip.
Sat, 10:50 p.m. Amtrak: no Pacific Surfliner trains anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo on Oct 10 and 11 because of scheduled track closures, and no bus bridges. Amtrak lists it as track work, not a storm closure.
Sat, 3 p.m. Landfall shifts to early Sunday on Mexico’s northern Baja California peninsula. A coastal flood warning runs from the Malibu coast and Los Angeles County beaches to coastal San Diego County until Sunday afternoon, a stretch that includes San Clemente. Water levels were already running up to 1.5 feet above predictions, and the National Hurricane Center warns of “life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.” It is only the second tropical storm watch on record for San Diego; the first was Hurricane Hilary in 2023.
Sat, 8:07 a.m. National Weather Service San Diego: Rachel is a 60 mph tropical storm about 510 miles south-southwest of the Tijuana River mouth, moving northeast at 22 mph. Tropical storm watch for San Diego County. Surf peaking at 6 to 9 feet Sunday, then 3 to 6 feet Monday and Tuesday. Tides over 7 feet; “significant coastal flooding and beach erosion is likely.” Rain of 0.5 to 1.25 inches on the coast and 1 to 2.5 inches in the mountains.

The coastal danger for the railroad is not the wind. It is the water. The biggest surf arrives on top of very high tides, with the ocean already running above normal. In September, swells from a hurricane that stayed far out at sea were enough to overtop the San Clemente tracks. A storm this close brought the same ingredients. This time the San Clemente tracks came through with no reported damage, but Newport Beach, a few miles up the coast, flooded when the swell broke through its sand berms. That is the risk the railroad faces every big storm this winter.

If your weekend trip was cancelled

Pacific Surfliner trains are running again (since Monday, Oct 12), so you can rebook for this week. On Tuesday, Oct 13, trains 572, 579, 588 and 593 were canceled for high tides; the next available train is the fallback.
Pacific Surfliner tickets are flexible fares: Amtrak says you can cancel before departure for a full refund to your original payment, with no change fees.
Check the travel advisories page the morning you ride. High tides and surf continue through Tuesday, which can still cause last-minute changes in San Clemente.

Will El Niño make it worse this winter?

It could. On Oct 8, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said El Niño is strengthening, with a strong to very strong event likely through early 2027. It puts the chance of a historic event, stronger than any El Niño since 1950, at 83% for October through December.

For the coast, El Niño matters in three ways:

Bigger winter storms and surf. El Niño winters tend to send more Pacific storms toward Southern California.
Higher water. The National Weather Service says warmer ocean water can raise coastal sea levels, which brings more severe erosion and flooding, especially at high tide.
Less beach to start with. In the strong 2015-16 El Niño, USGS researchers found West Coast beach erosion ran about 76% above a normal winter, and most California beaches they studied eroded past historical extremes. They also found the condition of a beach going in shaped how badly it eroded.

That last point is the worry for San Clemente. The beach in front of the tracks is already thin, and the big sand delivery has no firm date yet. A wet, stormy El Niño winter on a narrow beach is exactly the setup engineers are racing to get ahead of.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Ride the coast with RallyA corgi, a red train, and the ocean out the window, painted from the real San Clemente coastline. A hand-painted picture book for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

What is being done to protect the railroad?

A new wall at Mariposa Point. On Oct 8, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) finished a project of about $93 million, including a catchment wall nearly 1,400 feet long that keeps rocks and soil from the bluff off the tracks. It also reopens a popular section of the San Clemente Beach Trail.
A lot more sand. After declaring a coastal rail emergency in September, OCTA plans about 690,000 cubic yards of sand: roughly 240,000 between North Beach and Mariposa Point and 450,000 at San Clemente State Beach. That could add 80 to 130 feet of dry beach. The catch is timing: only a few U.S. dredges can do this work and many are booked months ahead, so there is no firm completion date.
Real money. OCTA has secured more than $300 million in state and federal funding for coastal rail stabilization.
A plan with 23 parts. OCTA’s Coastal Rail Resiliency Study lays out 23 strategies, from sand and bluff stabilization to walls and seawalls, to protect the line for up to 30 years.

Will the train tracks be moved inland?

Maybe, someday. It is now an official question. The California State Transportation Agency is expected to launch a study of relocating the line, and the California Coastal Commission has required a long-term railroad adaptation study by 2034. The state says no decision has been made and all options are on the table.

Earlier planning estimates put moving the tracks inland at more than $5 billion. OCTA’s chief executive, Darrell Johnson, summed it up: “It will be complex. It will be expensive. It will be long-term in nature.”

San Clemente isn’t alone. Farther south on the same line, officials in Del Mar already plan to move the tracks off the bluffs eventually, though no new route has been chosen.

Is the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner still running? Tips for riding with kids

Yes. Service came back Monday, Oct 12, after the weekend’s scheduled closure, though high tides led Amtrak to cancel four trains through San Clemente on Tuesday, Oct 13, and most days you can still take the same ride Rally takes, from the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego up the coast into Orange County. If you’re planning a trip with little ones this season:

Check the travel advisories the morning you ride. Amtrak lists scheduled closures there (the next full one is Nov 7 and 8), and high tides or storms can cause last-minute changes.
Sit on the ocean side. Heading north from San Diego, the water is on the left. Heading south, it’s on the right.
Make it a beach lesson. Build a sandcastle near the water and watch what the waves do to it. That is what is happening to the beach in front of the tracks, just much bigger. More ideas in our guide to the real train ride behind the book.
Keep it hopeful. Lots of engineers and helpers are working to protect the railroad. Kids handle worrying news best in small, true pieces with a hopeful ending.

Watercolor page: Rally the corgi on a red train seat in a dark tunnel, just before the bright light. — The tunnel page. Scary in the middle, light on the other side.

Why this stretch of track is in our book

If you’ve read Rally Takes the Train, you know the page. The train pulls away, Rally presses his nose to an arched window, and there it is: the ocean, close enough to say hello to a white bird. That view is the real Pacific Surfliner passing San Clemente.

Kelsey wrote the book to bring her mom Deb’s dream to life: a little corgi, a big train ride, and grand-paw-rents waiting at the end of the line. You can read the story behind the book. Leslie Dunn hand-painted every page in watercolor, including that window.

We hope this railroad keeps hugging the coast for another hundred years, so many more kids get their own window-seat moment with the Pacific. And if the tracks ever do move inland, Rally’s book will be a small time capsule of what it looked like to ride right beside the sea. In the meantime, our free coloring pages include the train for a rainy storm day at home.

Keep the ocean view on your shelfRally Takes the Train captures the San Clemente ride in hand-painted watercolor, $13.99 on Amazon. Ages 0 to 8, about five minutes to read.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Pacific Surfliner, Rachel and the tracks: your questions

Is the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner running today?

Yes, with four exceptions. On Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026, Amtrak canceled Pacific Surfliner trains 572, 579, 588 and 593 as a precaution for high tides along the San Clemente coastal corridor, and says passengers may take the next available train. The rest of the schedule from San Diego to San Luis Obispo is running. Check the travel advisories page or the Amtrak app before you leave.

Why were Pacific Surfliner trains canceled on October 13?

Amtrak canceled trains 572, 579, 588 and 593 on Oct 13, 2026 because of anticipated high tides along the San Clemente coastal corridor. It called the move precautionary, meant to reduce congestion and delays from slower speeds and railroad flagging through that stretch. Passengers booked on those trains may ride the next available train. We have found no reports of storm damage to the tracks.

Will Pacific Surfliner trains be canceled on October 14 because of high tides?

As of Tuesday, Oct 13, 2026, the Pacific Surfliner travel advisories page listed no tide cancellations for Wednesday, Oct 14, and the coastal flood advisory for Southern California beaches ended at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Forecasters expected drier, warmer weather for the rest of the week. Check the advisories page and the Amtrak app the morning you ride, since tide calls are made close to the day.

When are the king tides in Southern California this year?

Visit Santa Cruz County's listing of this season's king tides, which links to the California Coastal Commission's King Tides Project, gives Nov 24 to 25 and Dec 23 to 25, 2026, and Jan 21 to 22, 2027. King tides are the highest tides of the year, so they are worth watching if your family plans a coast train trip on those dates.

How long was the San Clemente train line closed in September 2026?

About eight days. High surf from Hurricane Marie, which never made landfall, pushed waves over the tracks on Sept 6, and Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink service through San Clemente resumed Monday, Sept 14, 2026. Buses ran between Irvine and Oceanside while the line was closed.

Is the Pacific Surfliner running Monday, October 12?

Yes. Service is back on Monday, Oct 12, 2026, after Amtrak's scheduled full-corridor closure on Oct 10 and 11. Northbound train 761 left San Diego on time at 4:01 a.m. and ran through San Clemente, and southbound train 757 left Los Angeles on time at 5:13 a.m. High tides continue through Tuesday, so check Amtrak's travel advisories before you ride.

Is the Amtrak train from San Diego to Los Angeles running?

Yes, as of Monday, Oct 12, 2026. Pacific Surfliner trains between San Diego, Solana Beach, Oceanside, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Irvine, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Fullerton and Los Angeles Union Station are running again after the scheduled Oct 10 and 11 closure. Check Amtrak's travel advisories and Track Your Train map the morning you ride.

Is the Pacific Surfliner running between Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo?

Yes, as of Monday, Oct 12, 2026, including Glendale, Burbank, Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura, Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Grover Beach and San Luis Obispo. Amtrak lists possible delays Oct 12 to 16 for trains 777 and 794 near Vandenberg Space Force Base, roughly between 3:20 and 8:25 p.m.

Is the train from Orange County to San Diego running?

Yes, as of Monday, Oct 12, 2026. Pacific Surfliner trains between Orange County (Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente Pier) and San Diego County (Oceanside, Solana Beach, Old Town, Santa Fe Depot) are running again, and Monday's first northbound train ran through San Clemente. Check advisories before you ride.

Why was the Pacific Surfliner closed October 10 and 11?

Amtrak listed the Oct 10 and 11 closure as scheduled track closures along the whole corridor, not as a storm closure. It fell on the same weekend Tropical Storm Rachel brought high surf and coastal flooding to Southern California. Pacific Surfliner trains returned Monday, Oct 12, and we have found no reports of storm damage to the San Clemente tracks.

Are there buses when the Pacific Surfliner is closed?

Not for the Oct 10 and 11 full-corridor closure: Amtrak said no bus bridges will be provided. Amtrak Connection bus routes keep running, but scheduled train-to-bus connections won't be available. During some past San Clemente closures, buses replaced trains between Irvine and Oceanside, so it depends on the closure.

Can I get a refund if my Pacific Surfliner trip is cancelled?

Amtrak describes Pacific Surfliner tickets as flexible fares. If you cancel before departure, you can get a full refund to your original form of payment, and there are no change fees. Check your reservation in the Amtrak app or on amtrak.com to cancel or change a trip.

When is the next Pacific Surfliner closure?

After Oct 10 and 11, the next full-corridor closure Amtrak lists is Nov 7 and 8, 2026, again with no Pacific Surfliner trains between San Diego and San Luis Obispo and no bus bridges. Amtrak also lists other partial closures and delays, so check the travel advisories page before planning a trip.

How do I know if my Pacific Surfliner train is cancelled?

Check the Pacific Surfliner travel advisories page and your reservation in the Amtrak app or on amtrak.com before you leave home. Amtrak lists scheduled closures there in advance, like Oct 10 and 11 and Nov 7 and 8, 2026. Storms and high tides can also cause last-minute changes, so check again the morning you travel.

Are Amtrak Connection buses running during the Pacific Surfliner closure?

Yes. For the Oct 10 and 11 closure, Amtrak says Amtrak Connection bus routes keep running, but scheduled train-to-bus connections won't be available, and no bus bridges replace the trains. That means a bus can still get you between its own stops, but it won't link up with a Pacific Surfliner train that weekend.

Are Metrolink and the COASTER affected too?

Amtrak's notice covers the Pacific Surfliner. Metrolink and North County Transit District's COASTER run their own schedules and post their own service alerts, so check each one separately before you ride. During past San Clemente closures, Metrolink trains stopped short of the closed stretch, so storm damage there can affect more than one service.

Why is the San Clemente train line closed?

Closures happen when waves, high tides or bluff landslides threaten the tracks. The beach that once protected the rail has eroded, so big surf can now reach or overtop the line. In September 2026, swells from Hurricane Marie plus high tides damaged the slope and closed service for over a week. Check Pacific Surfliner alerts for current status.

Did Tropical Storm Rachel damage the train tracks in San Clemente?

We have found no reports of damage, and trains were running through San Clemente again on Monday morning, Oct 12. Up the coast, Rachel's swell broke through sand berms in Newport Beach and damaged homes in Long Beach. Tides and surf stay elevated through Tuesday, so a last-minute closure is still possible. Check Amtrak's travel advisories before you ride.

Where is Tropical Storm Rachel now?

As of Monday, Oct 12, Rachel's remnants are over Utah, where the heaviest rain was forecast for Sunday into Monday and 2 to 4 inches is possible across much of the state through Wednesday. The storm came ashore Saturday night in northern Baja California. In Southern California, what remains is high surf and tides, with a coastal flood advisory until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Is there a coastal flood warning for Orange County and San Clemente?

The warning eased to a coastal flood advisory Sunday afternoon, Oct 11, and the advisory runs until 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct 13. Minor to moderate flooding is still possible on Orange County beaches, including San Clemente, around high tides, with localized damage in low-lying areas. Stay away from low beaches, piers, jetties and beach trails around high tide.

When is high tide in Southern California after Rachel?

Monday morning's high tide, around 10 a.m. Pacific on Oct 12, is forecast near 7 to 7.5 feet with 4 to 6 foot surf, and tides stay elevated into Tuesday. Those windows bring the highest risk of waves reaching low beaches, roads and the San Clemente rail line, so plan beach time and coastal train rides with them in mind.

Is it safe to go to the beach after Tropical Storm Rachel?

Not near the water at high tide yet. Surf and tides stay elevated into Tuesday, Oct 13, and coastal flooding alerts remain for Orange County beaches. Rip currents are still dangerous. Stay off beaches, jetties and the beach trail during high tide, keep kids and pets well back, and follow lifeguard and city closures.

Are Orange County beaches closed because of Rachel?

Some are. Newport Beach closed all city beaches and piers until further notice after the swell broke through sand berms and flooded 15 to 20 blocks of the Balboa Peninsula. In Long Beach, nine buildings are red-tagged and a mandatory evacuation runs through noon Tuesday. Check your city's alerts before heading to any beach.

How much rain did Tropical Storm Rachel bring to Southern California?

Less than forecast on the coast. Forecasters had expected about 0.5 to 1.25 inches on the San Diego coast, but the National Weather Service expected no more than a tenth of an inch more through Monday. Inland, Rachel's outer bands brought 1 to 2 inches, gusts over 60 mph in Menifee and Temecula, and isolated flash flooding.

Has a tropical storm hit Southern California before?

Rarely. Hurricane Hilary in 2023 was the first tropical storm to reach Southern California in 84 years, and it brought San Diego's first-ever tropical storm watch. Rachel's watch is only the second on record for San Diego. Before 2023, the occasional tropical system reached the area without triggering watches or warnings.

How could El Niño affect the coastal train tracks?

A strong El Niño tends to bring more winter storms, bigger surf and higher coastal water levels to Southern California. During the 2015-16 El Niño, USGS found West Coast beach erosion ran about 76% above normal. With San Clemente's beach already thin, a stormy El Niño winter raises the risk of more closures.

Are they moving the train tracks inland in San Clemente?

Not yet. The state is expected to study relocating the line, and the Coastal Commission requires a long-term adaptation study by 2034. No decision has been made and no route has been chosen. Earlier estimates put moving the tracks inland at more than $5 billion, so near-term work focuses on sand, walls and stabilization.

Which side of the Pacific Surfliner has the ocean view?

Heading north from San Diego, the ocean is on the left side of the train. Heading south toward San Diego, it is on the right. Some of the closest ocean views are through San Clemente, the stretch painted in Rally Takes the Train.

What is the LOSSAN rail corridor?

LOSSAN is the 351-mile coastal rail corridor linking San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo. It carries Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, Metrolink and COASTER passenger trains plus freight and military traffic, and the Associated Press calls it the second busiest passenger rail line in the country. The San Clemente stretch is about seven miles of it.

How much sand is being added to San Clemente's beaches?

OCTA's emergency plan calls for about 690,000 cubic yards of sand: roughly 240,000 between North Beach and Mariposa Point and 450,000 at San Clemente State Beach, which could add 80 to 130 feet of dry beach. There is no firm completion date, because only a few U.S. dredges can do the work and many are booked months ahead.

Is the San Clemente Beach Trail open?

A popular section near Mariposa Point is reopening now that OCTA has finished its project there, including a nearly 1,400-foot wall that keeps the bluff off the tracks. During storms and very high tides, stay off the trail and beach near the water, and follow any city closures, since waves can reach the trail along the rail line.

pacific surflinersan clementecoastal railel ninotrain rides with kidsamtrak

Kelsey Cecil