The tracks between Oceanside and Irvine, CA, are shut down for repair and Amtrak is providing that service on a bus until further notice.
I consulted an Amtrak employee in person today on when the tracks will be open and she said it is currently showing on Saturday, Oct. 22. “And that’s different than when I got in today,” she added.
In other words, it could be before that date or after it. That is up to the repair team and this is something they want to fix right and fix the first time. The Orange County Metrolink, which uses the same tracks and provides train service to inland OC, is halting its service at Irvine.
Amtrak calls its San Diego-to-San Luis Obispo train the Pacific Surfliner. It goes right along the Southern California coast to shortly after leaving San Diego and cuts back to it in Ventura County. The train makes a stop at Union Station in Los Angeles. The train actually continues all the way up to Seattle.
It is a very good way to get between San Diego Los Angeles and Irvine, Fullerton and Anaheim in Orange County as an alternative to driving on the congested 5 and 405 freeways. The standard cost for a round-trip coach ticket from San Diego to Los Angeles is approximately $70, or $35 each way.
PubClub.com takes the Pacific Surfliner approximately once a month to go from San Diego to Los Angeles to do site’s live video podcast, PubClub LIVE! The location for the podcast is Tower 12 restaurant and bar at the Hermosa Beach Pier.
Amtrak may or may not have regular updates on it’s website at Pacific Surfliner.
Leave a Reply