Coastal Rail Service Between San Diego and Oceanside Will Pause Again This Weekend For Track Projects
Weekend shutdown affects COASTER and other trains using the coastal corridor
Coastal passenger rail service between downtown San Diego and Oceanside will be suspended again this weekend as crews complete maintenance and infrastructure work along the corridor. The shutdown is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25–26, with regularly scheduled service returning Monday morning, Oct. 27.
The affected segment is part of the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor, a heavily used coastal route that carries commuter, intercity passenger and freight rail traffic. During the weekend closure, no passenger or freight trains are expected to operate on the closed section, though construction vehicles and rail equipment may be active on and near the tracks.
Work sites span Del Mar, Carlsbad and key San Diego segments
Work planned during the closure includes multiple projects at different locations along the line. Agencies coordinating the closure have identified the following work areas:
- Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Phase 5
- Track maintenance near Santa Fe Depot and between Sorrento Valley and Rose Canyon
- Signal optimization in Carlsbad
- San Diego LOSSAN rail realignment work in the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon area
The Del Mar Bluffs work is part of a multiyear stabilization effort along the eroding coastal bluff section that supports rail tracks above the shoreline. The current phase includes additional support elements and drainage improvements intended to extend the usable life of the rail alignment while longer-term alternatives are evaluated.
Why weekend closures recur on the San Diego–Oceanside rail line
Planned weekend shutdowns are used to create a work window when construction and maintenance crews can access the right-of-way with fewer train movements, reducing operational conflicts and improving worker safety. In San Diego County, the need for recurring work windows has been driven by a combination of routine track and signal maintenance, major capital projects, and stabilization efforts in environmentally and geologically sensitive areas along the coast.
What riders should expect and how to stay safe near the tracks
Travelers who typically rely on coastal rail for weekend trips between San Diego and North County should plan for alternative transportation during the shutdown. Riders are also urged to remain alert near the corridor while work is underway.
Even when passenger trains are not running, rail crews and equipment may be present on the tracks, and crossings should only be used at designated locations.
Service is expected to return to its normal schedule on Monday, Oct. 27, following completion of the weekend work window.