San Diego Coaster affected by BNSF derailment Options

[RailHaRRy]

From San Diego Union-Tribune:

Derailment disrupts coastal train service

SIGNONSANDIEGO AND UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF REPORTS

12:45 p.m., December 17, 2004

Commuter and freight train service between San Diego and North County is not expected to resume until at least Saturday morning as crews work to repair tracks damaged by a freight train derailment near Sorrento Valley, officials said. 

Full article here. Site registration required.

This also affects Pacific Surfliner service as mentioned in the article. Sorrento Valley is about 15 miles north of downtown San Diego, and 5 plus miles south of the Solana Beach Coaster/Amtrak station.

[NickG]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, 12/18/04:

Derailment snarls commute

Six cars at the end of a fully loaded, 36-car freight train derailed late Thursday night, disrupting rail service and forcing commuters to transfer to buses yesterday to make their connections between San Diego and northern cities.

The full story is here.

[NickG]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, 12/20/04:

Most train service to be normal today

Most freight and passenger train service in San Diego County that had been canceled since the derailment of six freight cars Thursday evening will be back to a normal schedule today, transit officials said.

The full story is here.

[NickG]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, 12/21/04:

Amtrak to assist with commute during Coaster derailment repairs

Passengers on eight of the 22 daily Coaster commuter trains between San Diego and Oceanside will be asked to take Amtrak trains instead through Friday and perhaps into next week.

The full story is here.

[NickG]

From the North County Times, 12/24/04:

Coaster delays persist after derailment

NORTH COUNTY ---- The Coaster commuter trains that carry an average of 6,000 passengers on weekdays are experiencing serious delays due to ongoing repair work on Miramar Hill, south of the Sorrento Valley station, a railway official said.

The full story is here.

[KevinKorell]

From KGTV-TV, Channel 10 in San Diego, CA, 12/22/04:

Ongoing Repairs Delays, Cancels Coaster Trains

Coaster commuters should expect continued delays and fewer trains operating until after the New Year, 10News reported.

Last week's freight train derailment did more damage than originally thought.

The latest details are here.

[NickG]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, 12/30/04:

Rain holds up Coaster fix at section of derailment

Coaster train commuters face another week of inconveniences. The rains have worked against a quick fix of the problems caused by a freight train derailment two weeks ago.

The full story is here.

[RailHaRRy]

Following received via e-mail:

Update, Surfliner track outage

A BNSF derailment and subsequent dragging of the derailed equipment, caused severe damage on the San Diego Northern, 14 miles west (compass north) of San Diego on 17DEC04.  Much track and a mainline switch at CP Cumbres were damaged.  Track #1 was restored late on 19DEC04 but Track #2 has remained closed.  Coaster commuter train service has been severely impacted ever since, with several Amtrak Surfliner trains making Coaster stops between Oceanside and San Diego, in place of cancelled trains.

The custom-built switch was delivered but rainy conditions prevented its installation until an inspection on 04JAN05 determined that it could be installed on 05JAN05.  Accordingly an absolute window will shut down the railroad from 2100 on 05JAN05 to 0530 on 06JAN05.  Amtrak trains 590(5) and 796(5) will terminate at Solana Beach with bustitution to San Diego.  Equipment will deadhead to San Diego after track reopens.  An absolute window will shut down the railroad again after passage of Train 796(6), at approx. 0030 on 07JAN05, to reconnect Track #2.  Both tracks at CP-Cumbres are expected to reopen by 0001 on 08JAN05, with Coaster service to resume normal schedules on 10JAN05.  Speed restrictions will continue until final tie work and relining are completed.

-Gene Poon, from AMTRAK sources

[NickG]

From the San Diego Union-Tribune, 1/7/05:

Coaster train schedules should be back on track Monday

Commuters on Coaster trains, thrown off schedule by a freight-train derailment north of Miramar Road in San Diego Dec. 16, should be back on schedule Monday, according to transit officials.

The full story is here.