Amtrak train resumes weekend services between San Diego and Orange County

PUBLISHED Feb. 7 | UPDATED Feb. 13

After a three-month closure, OCTA and Metrolink have announced the resumption of services between San Diego and Orange County, beginning Feb. 4. Photo by DANIEL PEARSON, staff photographer

Residents traveling between Orange County and San Diego County were able to start using the Amtrak train services again Feb. 4th after a closure of just over three months. 

Puja Thomas-Patel, the head of marketing and communications for the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo rail corridor (LOSSAN), told The Panther that the Orange County Transportation Agency (OCTA) initiated the closure after noticing movements on the tracks. The movements were caused by a landslide and coastal erosion from Tropical Storm Kay. 

OCTA and Metrolink conducted a safety assessment that found no more movement on the tracks. This initiated the reopening of weekend services, Thomas-Patel said. 

OCTA has also hired a contractor that will be installing 220 ground anchors in an effort to steady the slope. Amtrak train services will be held off on weekdays until the project is completed to ensure the safety of construction workers. 

The ongoing work involves the construction of two rows of anchors. The completion of the first row allows weekend services to reopen. Thomas-Patel confirmed that the contractors are currently completing the second row, with final project completion expected by late March. 

Freshman English major Jan Mejica is a San Diego native and has been taking the Amtrak since she was young. 

“The closure definitely made it more difficult,” Mejica told The Panther. “I had to drive home myself, which made my mom nervous and made me tired.”

Mejica said she is relieved that the services will be starting up again. 

Prior to its closure, the Pacific Surfliner had up to 6,000 riders per day, according to Thomas-Patel. She says recent months have been “taxing” due to the many people that are being affected. In an effort to support commuters, LOSSAN has been offering shuttle buses to ensure that customers could still reach their destinations on the weekdays. 

Andrew Perez, a Chapman alumnus who graduated in 2015 with a bachelor’s in Political Science, frequently used the train commute to work and was affected by its closure.

“I had to drive my personal car to and from San Diego, at the height of gas prices. It was very expensive,” Perez said. 

According to Thomas-Patel, Amtrak and Metrolink are thrilled to be back and are even offering a 25% discount on trips. 

“We want people to come back and enjoy their trip, and we are looking forward to reopening the full service,” Thomas-Patel told The Panther. 

Orange County and San Diego residents can expect full operation of the Pacific Surfliner by the end of next month. Metrolink and Amtrak passengers can visit both services’ websites for further updates on this returning service.

OCTA makes significant improvements to Anaheim Canyon station

Over the last few months, there have been many changes to the train services in Orange County and its surrounding areas. 

The newest addition to these changes involves improvements being made to the Anaheim Canyon station that was completed this month. In total, this project cost around $34.2 million, covered by local tax dollars for public transportation improvement and federal funding, according to a recent OCTA statement.

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) unveils new plans to renovate its Anaheim Canyon station with a $34.2 million budget. Photo by RENEE ELEFANTE, managing editor

Some of the changes that have been made to the station include a new second passenger platform, thousands of feet of new train tracks and new amenities such as shade and benches for commuters.

According to a newsletter sent out by OCTA, these various improvements are expected to increase the productivity of the station in addition to becoming more accommodating for passengers and commuters. 

Yorba Linda Mayor Gene Hernandez, who is also a chairman of the OCTA, was a significant contributor to this project by advocating for the need for improvements.

“Improving the passenger experience is vital to encouraging more people to get on and continue riding the train in Orange County,” Hernandez stated in a recent press release sent out via email. “The Anaheim Canyon Station is an important link in our rail network, and I think it’s clear these improvements will enhance the traveling experience for everyone who uses the station.”