Heavy rainfall from Hurricane Marie forced emergency repairs along the Southern California coastal rail corridor.
The storm damage prompted the closure of a scenic track section in San Clemente on Sunday, suspending transit services across parts of Orange County.
Both Metrolink and Amtrak travel along the exact same track where the disruption occurred.
To protect passengers and crews, Metrolink issued an emergency alert to halt operations between Oceanside and Laguna Niguel.
In the official warning, rail representatives noted that tracks would be shut down due to high tides and hazardous coastal conditions.
“Tracks between Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo and Oceanside will be closed on Sunday, September 6 due to high tides and conditions along the coastal rail corridor,” the agency announced.
Officials emphasized that safety remains the primary driver behind the temporary suspension.
“The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of passengers and crews and allow emergency work to be performed along the rail corridor,” Metrolink stated in its public alert.
During this service disruption, Amtrak plans to transport stranded travelers using substitute buses.
Emergency crews are working to stabilize the track by placing large boulders, known as riprap, along the corridor.
This region has faced persistent closures in recent years from landslides and coastal erosion.