All coastal rail service between San Diego and Oceanside will be suspended this weekend for routine railroad maintenance and major infrastructure work.
An additional work-closure weekend is scheduled Jan. 24-25.
The North County Transit-San Diego Railroad and its project partners said they will use the closures to advance “critical projects” for the region, including the Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Phase 5 project and Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track project in Carlsbad.
The Batiquitos Lagoon project “will include erosion protection, access improvements, and excavation activities,” a statement from Caltrans and the San Diego Association of Governments said. The project is ultimately intended to “increase the reliability, operational flexibility, and capacity of the LOSSAN rail corridor by adding a second track from Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad to La Costa Avenue in Encinitas across the Batiquitos Lagoon.”
Track maintenance will also be performed this weekend at Leucadia Boulevard.
“Weekend closures occur periodically throughout the year on a pre- determined schedule to provide construction crews the opportunity to work safely on and along the rail line to complete preventative maintenance improvements and advance major railroad construction projects,” the NCTD said.
No passenger or freight trains will operate during the closures, but other test trains, construction vehicles and equipment will be active along the railroad right-of-way and on the tracks throughout the weekends.
Officials advised residents along the corridor to remain alert and cross the rail line only at designated rail crossings.
More information on weekend closures can be found at GoNCTD.com/Alerts.
–City News Service
