Jump to content

Surf Line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Surf Line
The southboundSan Dieganpasses throughCapistrano Beach, Californiaon the Surf Line in April 1973.
Overview
OwnerBNSF Railway(Los Angeles-Fullerton)
SCRRA(Fullerton-OC/SD County line)
NCTD(OC/SD County line-San Diego)
LocaleSouthern California
Termini
Stations34 (11 Amtrak stations, 23 commuter rail stations)
Service
TypeInter-city rail
Higher-speed rail
Commuter rail
SystemAmtrak(throughSCRRA)
NCTD
BNSF Railway
Operator(s)Amtrak(Amtrak California)
Metrolink
Coaster
Ridership1,517,425 (FY23)Decrease-7.1%[a][1]
History
Opened1882 (first section)
1885 (final section)
Technical
Track length128 mi (206 km)
Number of tracks1-4
Track gauge4 ft8+12in(1,435 mm)standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line,25 kV 60 Hz AC(Los Angeles-Anaheim, 2030-2033)[b]

TheSurf Lineis arailroadline that runs fromSan DiegotoOrange CountyalongCalifornia'sPacific Coast.It was so named because much of the line is near thePacific Ocean,within less than 100 feet (30 m) in some places. It is the second busiest passenger rail corridor in theUnited Statesafter theNortheast Corridor.

The tracks are now owned by theOrange County Transportation Authorityand theNorth County Transit District,and hostsMetrolink'sOrange County LineandInland Empire–Orange County Line,theSan Diego Coaster,andAmtrakPacific Surflinerpassenger trains. TheBNSF Railwayoperates freight over the line usingtrackage rights.

History

[edit]
San Dieganin San Clemente,c. 1940s

Construction of the Surf Line between Los Angeles and San Diego began on October 12, 1880, with the organization of theCalifornia Southern Railroad Company.On January 2, 1882, the California Southern commenced passenger and freight service betweenNational CityandFallbrook Junction,just north ofOceanside.[2]From Oceanside the line turned northeast for a winding route through theTemecula Canyon,and was finished on August 21, 1882.[3]The section throughDel Marwas built in 1881 but was originally built on an alignment about a block inland from the ocean. It was moved to its current location, along the seaside bluffs, in 1910, because the grade was less steep and there were fewer crossings.[4]

The line became part of theAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad'stranscontinental rail linein 1885 via an extension of the California Southern from Colton north over theCajon PasstoBarstow.From 1886 to 1888, theRiverside, Santa Ana and Los Angeles Railwaybuilt a branch fromHighgrovesouthwest viaRiversidetoSanta Anaand fromOrange(just north of Santa Ana) northwest to Los Angeles. Also in 1888 theSan Bernardino and San Diego Railwaycompleted its line from Oceanside north to Santa Ana, completing what was originally called the Los Angeles–San Diego Short Line. The now-downgraded old route was destroyed by floods in 1891 and the new line, later named the Surf Line, was now the only line to San Diego from the north.

In 1910, the Fullerton and Richfield Railway built a short cutoff of the San Bernardino–Los Angeles route fromAtwoodwest toFullerton,giving the Surf Line its northern terminus of Fullerton.[citation needed]

For much of the 20th century, the Surf Line (officially, the Fourth District of the Los Angeles Division[5]) was to the Santa Fe what theNew York CityPhiladelphiacorridor was to thePennsylvania Railroad.[according to whom?]Daily traffic could reach a density of ten trains (each way) during the summer months. The route hosted AT&SFSan Dieganpassenger trains, renamed thePacific SurflinerbyAmtrakin 2000.[6]The Santa Fe installedcentralized traffic controlin 1943–1944 which increased capacity on the line.[7]

Santa Fe sold the line to local transportation authorities in 1992, with ownership split between the Southern California Regional Rail Authority inOrange Countyand the San Diego Northern Railway inSan Diego County.[8]

Operations

[edit]

The route is the southerly portion of the 351-mile-long (565 km) LOSSAN Rail Corridor betweenSan Luis Obispoand San Diego. Local agencies along the route formed theLos Angeles–San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agency(LOSSAN) in 1989.[9]Commuter trainsbegan operating in the 1990s, initially as an outgrowth of existing Amtrak services until the establishment ofMetrolinkandCoasterby theCalifornia State Legislaturein 1992.[10]Coaster runs within San Diego County, between San Diego and Oceanside, while Metrolink's services operate north of Oceanside. Amtrak'sPacific Surflinertravels throughout the corridor. TheSan Diego Trolleylight railshares the Surf Line's right of way in San Diego, running adjacent to the heavy rail tracks. For about a mile inOceanside,theSprinterservice parallels the Surf Line before heading east on theEscondido SubdivisiontowardsEscondido, California.

Sprinter train departing from Oceanside
Coaster train passes through Del Mar
Pacific Surfliner 785 passing overTrestles Bridge
Metrolink train enters Oceanside station
Southbound BNSF "daygo" freight train near San Diego

Freight traffic includes military vehicles and equipment toCamp Pendletonand the Navy ports in San Diego.[11]Due to passenger trains running on a daily schedule, BNSF manifest freight trains run through the Surf Line often at night, which is dubbed as the "Daygo".

The Surf Line is the second busiest rail corridor in theUnited States,after theNortheast CorridorbetweenWashington D.C.andBoston,as the Surf Line hosts the Pacific Surfliner, the third busiest Amtrak route behind theAcelaandNortheast Regional,which run on the Northeast Corridor. As trains on the Surf Line traverse speeds up to 90 mph (140 km/h) on portions of the route in Orange County and San Diego County, there are plans to upgrade tracks toClass 6 trackage,which can run at speeds of 110 mph (180 km/h), when funding is available.

About two-thirds of the 60-mile (97 km) segment from the Orange County line to the Santa Fe Depot indowntown San Diegohas been double-tracked. As one of the nation's busiest corridors, local transportation and planning agencies want to complete the entire section.[12]A 2.6-mile (4.2 km) section of double track between Elvira (SR 52) and Morena (Balboa Avenue) was completed in July 2020. The $192 million project, which began in August 2015, completed 14.6 miles (23.5 km) of double track from San Diego northward.[13]

The segment of the LOSSAN Corridor withinSan Diego Countyachieved full implementation ofpositive train controlin December 2018, for all passenger and freight trains operating on this segment.[14]

Track issues

[edit]

Due to its location along the beaches of Southern California, the line faces persistent issues due tosea level riseandcoastal erosion,exacerbated byclimate change.The tracks run atopcoastal bluffssome 40 feet (12 m) above the beach for 1.7 miles (2.7 km) inDel Mar.[15]Another segment along theSan Clementecoast on alow-lying sectionof track crosses an ancient, recurring landslide. Aggravated by storms and high tides, waves sometimes crash across these rails at high tide that are close to the surf on the narrow beach.[16]The eroding bluffs above the tracks in at least three locations require temporary closure of the tracks until conditions can be stabilized.[17]

Del Mar Bluffs

[edit]
AnIsrael RailwaysIC3being tested on theSan Diegan,passing over the Del Mar Bluff in July 1996

Coastal erosion eats away at the Del Mar bluffs each year and the rate has accelerated due to sea level rise due to climate change. The bluffs erode by about six inches every year.[4]The bluff has had to be shored up to safely run current operations.[18]Steel beams were driven into the beach at the base of the bluff in September 2020 to stabilize the face of the bluff for 20 or 30 years.[19]In August, theCalifornia Coastal Commissionhad emphasized the need to move the railroad tracks inland as they reviewed the emergency permits for the stabilization work. TheSan Diego Association of Governments(SANDAG) is conducting a $3 million study on relocating the rail line.[19]A tunnel under Del Mar, which would cost more than $3 billion, is under consideration.[20]In 2022, $300 million was included in the state budget for the SANDAG so that the project can compete for federal matching funds.[21]Local leaders, including SANDAG’s executive director, showed Secretary of TransportationPete Buttigiegthe coastal erosion at the bluffs in October 2022.[22]Del Mar City Council approved a list of guiding principles for the relocation on November 13, 2023.[23]More than a dozen possible routes for the tunnel have been considered by SANDAG. Residents have expressed concerns about the shortest and fastest routed that would take trains beneath residential properties.[24]

San Clemente beach

[edit]

With extensive beach erosion, waves crashing over the rails damaged the tracks in San Clemente on September 15, 2021. The segment had to be shut down through October 3 as storms and high tideshad aggravated the situation.[25][26][20]An extended closure occurred the next year when the segment was closed to passenger traffic on September 29, 2022 due to soil movement; freight traffic continued at lowered speed.[27][28]Additional rock was added between the beach and the railroad tracks after each incident.[16]The passenger rail traffic stop continued as anchors were being placed into bedrock.[29]The line fully reopened in April 2023 but rail service was halted again two miles to the north.[30][31]Falling debris did not damage the tracks but ground movement continued from a landslide involvingCasa Romanticaon the bluff above.[32]Full service resumed in late May[33]but was halted indefinitely again in early June.[34]During the work closures, freight trains are able to resume at a speed of 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) as officials were on site to clear them when it is safe to proceed.[35][36]Orange County Transportation Authority(OCTA), which owns the section of track,[37]declared an emergency on June 12 to speed up construction of temporary barrier wall at the bottom of the slope.[38]The 250-foot long (76 m) barrier is 12 feet (3.7 m) high with the piles set roughly 32 feet (9.8 m) into the ground.[39]Service resumed on July 19, 2023.[40]The bluffs can become unstable after a rainstorm soaks the slope.[41]Service was suspended on January 25, 2024, due to a landslide from private property north of the San Clemente Pier.[42]Two damaged sections of the Mariposa Pedestrian Bridge on the slope above the tracks had to be removed.[43]California Transportation Commission initially awarded $2 million to clean up the debris and added $7.2 million in February to help repair the rail line.[44]A barrier wall similar to the one at the Casa Romantica slide will be constructed.[45]Limited service through the landslide area resumed on March 6.[46]Full service then resumed on March 25.[47]OCTA says $7 million is needed to study realignment and other possible solutions to protect 7 miles (11 km) of the line along the shore.[48][49]The first study, that started in August 2023, will identify the issues that impact the rail corridor, offer solutions to protect it, and develop the cost of the necessary improvements.[50]

Future

[edit]

As stated above, sections of the Surf Line in Del Mar and San Clemente will be relocated inland from their current locations to reduce the amount of times of service disruption. This would mean that there would be tunnels inland in San Clemente and Del Mar. There have been plans to upgrade tracks to Class 5 trackage, in which passenger trains can reach up to speeds of 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). However, as of 2024, funding has yet to be available.

TheCalifornia High-Speed Railwill run on a brief portion of the Surf Line between Los Angeles and Anaheim as part of its full Phase 1 route. Similarly, for Phase 2 of the California High-Speed Rail, the final portion of the route from Los Angeles to San Diego via the Inland Empire will parallel the Surf Line into San Diego from University City to either theSan Diego International Airport,Old Town San Diego station, or Santa Fe Depot in San Diego. This plan for the CAHSR Phase 2 has yet to be finalized.

Historic station stops

[edit]

Many, but not all of these stations currently operate. Many of these stations no longer exist (e.g. Linda Vista) and new ones have opened (e.g.Sorrento Valley). For a list of stations that currently operate, see the articles for Metrolink'sOrange County Lineand theCoasteror the templates to the right.

Key: Open Closed Proposed

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Amtrak's Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1 of the prior year to September 30 of the named year.
  2. ^Though no set timeline or finalization of the portion of Phase 1 of theCalifornia High-Speed Railbetween Los Angeles and Anaheim, it is possible that two of the four tracks would be used for passenger trains, which would also includeAmtrakintercity trains andMetrolinkcommuter trains, with the two other tracks forBNSF Railwayfreight trains.
  3. ^ReplacingMTS bus routes972, 973, 978, and 979, also known as the Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection (SVCC), effective June 10, 2024.[64][65]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership"(PDF).Amtrak. November 27, 2023.RetrievedNovember 30,2023.
  2. ^Duke 1995,p. 50
  3. ^Duke 1995,pp. 53–54
  4. ^abDiehl, Phil (February 10, 2024)."'This project will happen.' Del Mar residents remain unhappy with plan for train tunnel ".San Diego Union Tribune.
  5. ^Richardson 2005,p. 38
  6. ^Gabbard, Dana (September 24, 2012)."History of the Surfliner, LOSSAN and a Look at Pending Legislation".StreetsBlog LA.OpenPlans.RetrievedMarch 27,2015.
  7. ^Jordan 2004,p. 69
  8. ^Stein, Mark A.; Perlman, Jeffrey A. (June 19, 1992)."Santa Fe, Transit Officials Reach Rail Deal: Commuting: The $500-million agreement for 336 miles of track means expanded O.C. passenger service".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 21, 2014.
  9. ^"LOSSAN Corridorwide Strategic Implementation Plan, Final Report (April 2012)"(PDF).San Luis Obispo Council of Governments. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on January 18, 2021.RetrievedApril 24,2018.
  10. ^"Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency, Monday, December 11, 2023".California State Senate.December 11, 2023.RetrievedDecember 28,2023.
  11. ^Diehl, Phil (November 29, 2022)."Freight traffic temporarily suspended at San Clemente railroad repair site as hillside continues to move".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedNovember 29,2022.
  12. ^Diehl, Phil (August 19, 2019)."Coastal Commission frowns on trenching idea for rail tracks atop oceanfront bluffs".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedAugust 19,2019.
  13. ^"SANDAG Completes Major Railway Project Connecting more than 14 Miles of Continuous Double Tracking".Claremont Times.July 15, 2020.
  14. ^"Positive Train Control (PTC) Fact Sheet"(PDF).NCTD.July 2, 2019.
  15. ^"Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Project".SANDAG: San Diego's Regional Planning Agency.Archived fromthe originalon October 28, 2020.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  16. ^abDiehl, Phil (September 30, 2022)."Metrolink, Amtrak suspend train service to Oceanside because of unstable slope".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedOctober 2,2022.
  17. ^Diehl, Phil (February 9, 2024)."San Diego freight trains resume again as fixes explored for active San Clemente landslide".Del Mar Times.RetrievedFebruary 12,2024.
  18. ^Diehl, Phil (October 25, 2020)."California opposes district's bid to control Del Mar bluffs, erect chain-link fence".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 25,2020.
  19. ^abLittle, Joe (September 22, 2020)."Steel Beams Installed to Reinforce Del Mar Beach Bluffs".NBC 7 San Diego.RetrievedSeptember 24,2020.
  20. ^abDiehl, Phil (August 16, 2020)."State Coastal Commission says Del Mar train tracks need to move inland".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedAugust 16,2020.
  21. ^"California to provide $300 million for relocation of rail line off Del Mar Bluffs".Trains.July 5, 2022.RetrievedJuly 6,2022.
  22. ^Fleming, Omari (October 25, 2022)."Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg Tours San Diego's Bluff Erosion by Train".NBC 7 San Diego.RetrievedNovember 2,2022.
  23. ^"Nearly a dozen routes eyed for Del Mar train tunnel. 'We have an obligation to maintain this rail corridor.'".Del Mar Times.San Diego Union-Tribune. November 27, 2023.RetrievedNovember 28,2023.
  24. ^Diehl, Phil (March 4, 2024)."Del Mar may create task force to monitor plans for railroad tunnel".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedMarch 5,2024.
  25. ^"Beach-bluff homes, lot cracking near damaged train track in San Clemente".Orange County Register.September 21, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 23,2021.
  26. ^Diehl, Phil (September 16, 2021)."Metrolink suspends rail service to Oceanside to make emergency repairs".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedSeptember 23,2021.
  27. ^"Service Update".Metrolink.September 29, 2022. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 30,2022.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  28. ^"Unstable slope stops coastal train service for up to 60 days".KPBS.September 30, 2022.RetrievedOctober 1,2022.
  29. ^Diehl, Phil (November 11, 2022)."Bluff continues to move at San Clemente rail site where repairs shut down service to San Diego".The San Diego Union-Tribune.Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 11,2022.
  30. ^Diehl, Phil (April 28, 2023)."New landslide closes railroad tracks at San Clemente, again halting link to San Diego".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedApril 29,2023.
  31. ^Diehl, Phil (April 10, 2023)."Metrolink, Amtrak to resume full service from Orange County to San Diego County next week".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedApril 11,2023.
  32. ^"California landslide halts rail service, homes evacuated".KPBS Public Media.April 28, 2023.RetrievedApril 28,2023.
  33. ^Lester, David C. (May 30, 2023)."Rail Service, Including Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner, Cleared to Resume Through San Clemente".Railway Track and Structures.RetrievedJune 1,2023.
  34. ^"Rail service halted again because of landslides on coastal tracks between San Diego and Los Angeles".AP News.June 5, 2023.RetrievedJune 9,2023.
  35. ^San Román, Gabriel (May 16, 2023)."After landslide, an Orange County beach town finds itself between a bluff and a hard place".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
  36. ^González, David (June 10, 2023)."Rail service slowly getting back on track after landslide in San Clemente".ABC7 Los Angeles.RetrievedJune 10,2023.
  37. ^"Train service through San Clemente will remain shut down through February as rail line repairs begin".ABC7 Los Angeles.November 20, 2022.RetrievedNovember 21,2022.
  38. ^Schlepp, Travis (June 12, 2023)."Orange County Transportation Authority declares emergency over threatened railroad track".KTLA.RetrievedJune 13,2023.
  39. ^Dawson, Danielle (July 11, 2023)."Amtrak, Metrolink service to resume after second landslide".FOX 5 San Diego.RetrievedJuly 12,2023.
  40. ^Diehl, Phil (July 11, 2023)."Passenger trains to resume Monday between San Diego and Orange counties".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedJuly 15,2023.
  41. ^Conybeare, Will; Ramos, Annie Rose (January 29, 2024)."Approaching storm poses new landslide threat to Orange County rail line".KTLA.RetrievedJanuary 29,2024.
  42. ^Rendon, Karla (January 25, 2024)."Landslide in San Clemente damages bridge and halts train service".NBC Los Angeles.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.
  43. ^Miller, Daniel (January 27, 2024)."No timetable for reopening train service through San Clemente amid landslide cleanup".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJanuary 28,2024.
  44. ^"Orange County gets $7M+ to repair rail line damaged by landslide".ABC7.February 19, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 20,2024.
  45. ^Aere, Jacob (February 21, 2024)."Barrier wall to be constructed where landslide stopped rail service in San Clemente".KPBS Public Media.RetrievedFebruary 21,2024.
  46. ^"Limited Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Rail Service Set to Resume Through San Clemente on Wednesday"(Press release). LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency. March 5, 2024.
  47. ^"Rail service through San Clemente to resume Monday".KPBS Public Media.City News Service. March 19, 2024.RetrievedMarch 26,2024.
  48. ^Diehl, Phil (February 28, 2023)."Agency wants to study railroad relocation to protect endangered tracks in southern Orange County".San Diego Union-Tribune.RetrievedFebruary 28,2023.
  49. ^Connelly, Laylan (March 10, 2023)."As coastal train track is repaired, OCTA hopes $5 million study will help find longer term fixes".Orange County Register.RetrievedMarch 14,2023.
  50. ^Ireland, Elizabeth (August 15, 2023)."OCTA Launches Engineering Study on Threats to Rail Service to San Diego".Times of San Diego.RetrievedAugust 16,2023.
  51. ^"Amtrak station opens".The San Bernardino County Sun.July 29, 1993. p. 9 – viaNewspapers.
  52. ^abcdefgSanta Fe Railway (1939)."The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway System Time Tables"(PDF).Streamliner Memories.p. 42.RetrievedMarch 9,2024.
  53. ^abcdefSanta Fe Railway (1948)."Time Tables - The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway System"(PDF).p. 24.RetrievedMarch 9,2024.
  54. ^"Metrolink Station Opens".The Los Angeles Times.July 18, 1995. p. 23 – viaNewspapers.
  55. ^Rose, Andy (September 8, 1985)."Santa Ana: Officials Dedicate Transportation Center".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 19,2015.
  56. ^Morin, Monte (January 18, 2002)."New Metrolink Station to Debut Today in Tustin".Los Angeles Times.ISSN0458-3035.RetrievedJuly 5,2019.
  57. ^abSanta Fe Railway (1961)."Santa Fe System Timetables (PDF)"(PDF).Streamliner Memories.Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.p. 22.RetrievedMarch 9,2024.
  58. ^McKibben, Dave (April 17, 2002)."Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink Depot Set to Debut".Los Angeles Times.p. 11.RetrievedJuly 5,2019– viaNewspapers.
  59. ^abcdBradley, Jr., Tom (February 26, 1995)."High Hopes Ride Aboard Coaster".The North County Times.Oceanside, California.pp. B1,B8.RetrievedMarch 13,2022– via Newspapers.Open access icon
  60. ^abNational Park Service (NPS) Digital Asset Management System."Carlsbad Santa Fe Depot".
  61. ^abcdSanta Fe Railway (1953)."Time Tables - The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway System"(PDF).p. 24.RetrievedMarch 9,2024.
  62. ^Eyerly, Alan (February 4, 1994)."Timetable Changes for Amtrak's San Diegan".The Los Angeles Times.p. B3.RetrievedMarch 13,2022– via Newspapers.Open access icon
  63. ^"Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program Sixth Round Selected Projects – Project Detail Summary"(PDF).California State Transportation Agency.April 24, 2023. p. 11.RetrievedOctober 11,2023.
  64. ^"COASTER Connection".North County Transit District.RetrievedJune 4,2024.
  65. ^"Service Changes | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System".sdmts.San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.RetrievedJune 4,2024.
  66. ^Showley, Roger (March 3, 2015)."Santa Fe Depot at 100: Tiles, tourists and skyscrapers".U-T San Diego.RetrievedMarch 6,2015.
  67. ^Diehl, Phil (June 27, 2021)."Transit district to increase Coaster commuter train service this fall".San Diego Union-Tribune.Archivedfrom the original on June 27, 2021.RetrievedOctober 11,2023.
  68. ^ab"Time of Trains, Sleeping Car Schedules, and Other Information"(PDF).October 20, 1913. p. 33.RetrievedJune 7,2024.
  69. ^"Santa Fe Railway Timetable"(PDF).August 1926.
Journals
[edit]