Amtrak halts passenger service between Irvine and San Diego because of ground movement

Amtrak has suspended its passenger rail service between Irvine and San Diego due to track safety concerns near San Clemente.

The suspension began Friday and is in place “until further notice,” Amtrak said.

Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner passenger train includes stops at San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Oceanside and Solana Beach in between Irvine and San Diego.

Amtrak’s regular schedule shows 10 trains daily depart from Los Angeles to San Diego. Another 10 go from San Diego to Los Angeles daily.

Amtrak said it is working on setting up bus connections between Irvine and San Diego as well as a train service between Oceanside and San Diego by Monday. Commuters should check its website and Twitter account (@Pacsurfliners) for updated information.

Amtrak’s cancellation comes on the heels of Metrolink suspending service south of the Laguna Niguel/mission Viejo station because of shifting ground under the tracks in San Clemente.

Metrolink’s suspension impacts trains on the Orange County line as well as the Inland Empire-orange County Line. Both suspensions of service are in place until further notice.

Earlier in September, a storm surge created high tides and waves that washed over and caused movement in a stretch of tracks south San Clemente that run along the shore.

A similar issue caused a closure last year, shuttering services for more than two weeks.

The Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the tracks, will have a special board meeting Monday to discuss more substantive fixes for the erosion.