Train service back on track through south Orange County to San Diego

If you were hoping to hop on a train for a holiday weekend adventure, you’re in luck – rail service is back on track starting Saturday, May 27.

Both Metrolink and Pacific Surfliners are expected to resume passenger services on Saturday, with one earlier train from San Luis Obispo to San Diego operating late Friday, according to an announcement released late Friday afternoon.

The line had been shut down last month due to emergency work needed to stabilized a collapsing hillside just north of the pier under the historic Casa Romantica. A landslide scattered debris into the rail area below.

Rail service had already been recently interrupted for several month by landslide activity in nearby southern San Clemente when an ancient landslide triggered in September prompted a months-long repair to secure the site.

Just two weeks after passenger service had began to run again, the landslide at Casa Romantica shuttered it again, leaving travelers and commuters searching for alternatives as emergency repair measures were taken.

Crews have finished the bulk of that work, and Metrolink has worked with a contractor to clear debris near the track, allowing passenger service to safely resume, officials said in Friday’s announcement.