One of the busiest rail lines that runs from San Diego to Los Angeles has been suspended due to sea levels rising and continuously eroding beaches. State and County officials declared an emergency, stopping the train from running as the landscape along the coast shifts every day.
UC Irvine Blum Center researcher Brett Sanders was interviewed in some articles about the matter, stating that to successfully ‘armor’ the seawalls, adequate amounts of sand are needed. Sanders explained that the previous sand levels on beaches meant to “defend the railroad and defend housing and other infrastructure [are] no longer there.” The rails will be undergoing long-term remedies, with the county securing funding to use anchors into an adjacent slope in hopes that it will prevent further track pushing. Until construction begins, the rail will continue to be out of use, putting extra pressure on buses to carry the millions of passengers the train usually claims.
Sanders has explained that constant repair is not out of the question. He notes that having structures exposed to the forces of the waves will likely demand the need of continuous check-ups to prevent any more drastic movement.
If you are interested in learning more, read some coverage of this issue in the news:
- LAist – A Reckoning With Mother Nature In South OC As Coastal Train Travel Is Suspended by Jill Replogle
- Bloomberg – The Race to Save a Scenic California Train From Rising Seas by Allison Nicole Smith
- Politico – How Eroding Beaches Led to a Calif. Commuting Nightmare by Anne C. Mulkern