Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner suspended between Irvine and San Diego for emergency track repairs

SAN CLEMENTE, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: The rail line and cliffs along the coast at San Clemente State Beach on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022 in San Clemente, CA. The area, near the private community of Cypress Shores, now gets slammed by waves after years of sand loss and erosion swept away the beach buffer between the ocean and land, creating a vulnerable point in the rail system authorities are keeping a close eye on. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)
Amtrack's Pacific Surfliner has suspended service between Irvine and San Diego so crews can make emergency repairs to a portion of the tracks in San Clemente. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times)

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner train service has been suspended between Irvine and San Diego starting Friday because of emergency repairs needed on a portion of the track in San Clemente, officials said.

The Pacific Surfliner, which travels the coast between San Diego and San Luis Obispo, is suspended until further notice while repairs are made, Amtrak said in a travel advisory. Regular service will resume once the repairs have been made.

"We understand that closures will result in disruptions and sincerely apologize for any inconveniences it causes our riders," Amtrak said in a statement. "We’ll continue to look for ways to minimize the impact of these closures as this critical work continues."

In the meantime, Amtrak is trying to set up train service between Oceanside and San Diego and bus connections between Irvine and Oceanside.

San Clemente has been battered by high surf and heavy rains from Tropical Storm Kay this month, which has also caused delays for Metrolink commuters.

Over the years, the coastline has seen a significant amount of sand loss from erosion, climate change and development, which in turn has raised safety concerns about the adjacent railroad tracks, officials said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.