Train services running through San Clemente will resume this week after high surf from the outskirts of Hurricane Marie caused track damage over Labor Day Weekend.
A portion of the line running from Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo station to the Oceanside station in San Diego County was closed Sept. 6, with crews working to repair the line through to Sunday.
According to a news release by OC Transportation Authority, the Pacific Surfliner service resumed its normal path on Monday.
Last week, the train was unable to run between Irvine and Oceanside, with passengers using buses to connect the two stops.
Metrolink services also resumed on Monday, though it was initially expected to be closed until Tuesday, due to concerns of “wave-related impacts to the signal system” causing delays, according to an earlier news release.
The news of the resumed services comes after the rail line was closed indefinitely early last week, despite a previously anticipated Friday reopening.
High tides brought on by Hurricane Marie battered the OC coast line over Labor Day weekend, despite the storm never making landfall, bringing seawall damage, red-tagged homes and closed beaches in its wake.
Laguna Beach and Dana Point both declared states of emergency in their cities last week following the damage brought on by the storm, with extensive damage to water front properties and beaches.
[Read: OC Beach Cities Declare States of Emergency After High Tides Batter Coast]
Laguna Beach yellow-tagged six homes – meaning that the properties have restricted entry – and Dana Point yellow-tagged seven homes and red-tagged nine, meaning that the houses are unsafe to inhabit.
San Clemente is also looking to declare a state of emergency, due to pier damage, including 17 braces and a pylon, as their coastline continues to shrink.
This year, the National Weather Service is predicting a 75% chance of a historic weather event with the current El Niño forecast, which has left cities scrambling to replenish their beaches and brace for upcoming storms to hit the coast this winter.
“Most of us have never seen this much sand leave our beaches at once,” said Laguna Beach City Manager Dave Kiff in a news release.
“We expect it to come back, but we are not counting on it, and with a very strong El Niño forecast we need the ability to act quickly to protect homes, beaches and public infrastructure.”
Michelle King is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood reporting fellow. You can reach her at mcaitlin254@gmail.com.



