This weekend, a full rail closure will be in effect to accommodate work along the passenger and freight rail line between Oceanside and San Diego.

The closure will take place from just after midnight on Saturday, March 20, through early morning on Monday, March 22. 

Full rail closures are routinely scheduled to advance rail construction and ensure worker safety. During the upcoming closure, construction activities are planned for continued emergency work to stabilize the Del Mar Bluffs, the El Portal Undercrossing project in Encinitas and the Mid-Coast Trolley project in San Diego.

This closure will affect four rail services operating on the San Diego segment of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor: North County Transit District (NCTD), Metrolink, Amtrak, and the freight carrier BNSF.

Regular passenger rail service is scheduled to resume by 5 a.m. on Monday, March 22. Riders are encouraged to plan for increased travel time as trains could be delayed.

The following work will be done during the closure:

In Del Mar, crews will continue preparing for emergency bluff repairs south of 4th Street following a bluff collapse in late February.

In Encinitas, crews will install a precast rail bridge onto previously built foundations near El Portal Street. The work includes removing the train tracks, placing and installing a precast bridge structure onto foundations, and reinstalling the train tracks across the new bridge. The El Portal Undercrossing project will create a rail bridge and pedestrian undercrossing in the City of Encinitas safely connecting businesses, residents, and schools between Vulcan Avenue to N. Coast Highway 101. Project completion is anticipated by spring 2022.

In San Diego, ongoing construction activities are planned throughout the Mid-Coast corridor. SANDAG crews will perform ongoing punch list items and inspections along the southern portion of the Mid-Coast Trolley alignment. Crews will remove graffiti, inspect electrical boxes, perform asphalt paving, and install drainage infrastructure, ballast rock, fencing, and landscaping. The Mid-Coast Trolley project will extend UC San Diego Blue Line Trolley service from the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego north to the University area and is anticipated to be complete by late 2021. View the project map .

During construction, nearby residents and businesses can expect intermittent noise and lights. Please visit GoNCTD.com , Amtrak.com , or MetrolinkTrains.com for alternate route schedules.

Update on Construction Activities During COVID-19 Pandemic
Public works construction activities have been deemed essential, so active construction projects are continuing during the pandemic. Protecting the health and safety of the San Diego region, including our partners, contractors, and stakeholders, is a top priority for SANDAG. Be assured that construction workers are following precautionary health measures and that we continue to monitor developments and follow all health guidance and orders.

For media inquiries, please contact Stacy Garcia at 619.699.1950 or PIO@sandag.org