Sea Level Rise Threatens an Iconic California Train

California’s most scenic train trip faces an uncertain future as rising sea levels threaten the ground beneath its tracks, forcing Amtrak and the regional Metrolink agency to evaluate how to stabilize the faltering coastline and protect the tracks. Allison Nicole Smith reports on the story for Bloomberg CityLab.

On September 30, Amtrak and Metrolink stopped service on a stretch of rail south of Los Angeles due to safety concerns. “After Tropical Storm Kay tore into the Golden State’s seaboard with heavy rains and high tides, geotechnical sensors detected that the fragile landscape of sand and rock underneath the tracks near San Clemente was moving as much as nearly a half an inch a day.” The same segment was shut down last September for three weeks. 

Officials secured $6 million to stabilize the tracks. “The plan is to drive large metal anchors into the adjacent slope to prevent it from pushing the track further toward the coast, according to a news release.” The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has developed a plan to move the tracks into an inland tunnel at a cost of over $2.5 billion. Other alternatives include building seawalls or other coastal barriers.

The long-term future of the line—and coastal development in general—remains unclear as climate change speeds up coastal erosion in California, where 44 percent of residents live along the coast.