Coastal Rail Service Suspended in San Diego County This Weekend for Track Work

San Diego County coastal rail service will be suspended this weekend, March 9-10, 2026, as part of ongoing track maintenance and construction projects along the 351-mile LOSSAN corridor, stretching from downtown San Diego to San Luis Obispo. Both Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink trains will be affected, with no substitute bus service provided.

Project Details and Impacts

The complete closure of the LOSSAN corridor will impact travel between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. A significant portion of the weekend’s work in San Diego County will focus on the relocation of train signals and the construction of an embankment and retaining wall as part of the San Diego Association of Governments’ (SANDAG) Batiquitos Lagoon double-track project in Carlsbad.

The Batiquitos project aims to allow north- and south-bound trains to pass each other safely, and is a key component of plans to double-track the entire coastal route. Approximately 75% of the double-tracking project has already been completed. The project includes replacing a wooden trestle dating back to the 1940s with a new concrete-and-steel, double-track railroad bridge.

Work will as well continue on SANDAG’s Del Mar bluffs stabilization project, which began in the spring of 2024, specifically between Sixth Street and Coast Boulevard. Routine maintenance will also be performed along other sections of the corridor.

Environmental Considerations

SANDAG is incorporating environmental mitigation efforts into the Batiquitos Lagoon project, including the restoration of nesting sites for the California least tern, a bird species facing the threat of extinction. Sand excavated during construction will be used to widen Ponto Beach.

Future Work Windows

Additional work windows impacting service in San Diego County are scheduled for the following dates in 2026: March 21-22, October 17-18, and November 7-8.

Alternative Transportation

No substitute or connecting bus service will be available during the service suspension. Passengers who typically use the North County Transit District’s (NCTD) Coaster train are encouraged to consider NCTD’s Breeze bus Route 101 in North County or the Metropolitan Transit System in San Diego as alternative transportation options.

Safety Precautions

Test trains, construction vehicles, and other equipment will be operating near the tracks during the work window. Anyone in the vicinity of the tracks is urged to exercise caution.

The Pacific Surfliner connects San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and San Diego with multiple stops between. Amtrak provides further details on the route and schedules.

For real-time service alerts and updates, passengers can visit the Pacific Surfliner website or check their X (formerly Twitter) feed.