Emergency work authorized for San Diego's only coastal rail route

Coastal Rail Link Tests Fiscal Resolve as Erosion Takes Its Toll

$1 Billion Stabilization Plan Keeps Critical San Diego-Los Angeles Connection Open

 April 20, 2025

The rail link between San Diego and Los Angeles faces an existential threat from coastal erosion, with officials scrambling to secure nearly $1 billion in funding to keep the critical transportation artery operational over the next two decades.

The Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor, the nation's second busiest intercity rail line, carries approximately 50 daily trains and transported over 1.1 million total passenger boardings along its San Diego segment between 2021 and 2022. But a key 1.7-mile section running along the eroding Del Mar bluffs has become a maintenance nightmare requiring immediate intervention.

SANDAG and regional partners have secured $98.7 million for the current phase of stabilization work, known as Del Mar Bluffs Phase 5, which will cost $88 million and runs from spring 2024 through 2027. The project includes installing concrete-and-steel support columns, extending seawalls, and improving drainage systems.

Federal and state grants provide the bulk of funding. The LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency secured a $27 million Federal Railroad Administration grant in January 2025 to restore pre-pandemic service levels, while California awarded $189 million in October 2024 for infrastructure improvements. Earlier funding includes a $31 million state grant in 2023 for coastal resilience projects.

"Any disruption to rail service along the Del Mar Bluffs has devastating impacts to the entire Southern California economy," said California Transportation Agency Secretary David S. Kim. The corridor's value extends beyond passengers - one in 10 imported automobiles sold in the U.S. enters through San Diego's port and moves north via this route.

Long-term solutions remain costly. Relocating the tracks off the bluffs into an inland tunnel could cost $4 billion. The California Coastal Commission has added urgency by requiring existing seawalls to be removed within 30 years.

The Pacific Surfliner service carried more than 2 million riders in 2024, despite a 16% reduction in service compared to 2019. Officials project service could expand to 17-18 daily round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego by 2035.

With tracks positioned just 15 feet from the cliff edge at some points, the race against erosion continues. The question now is whether federal and state funding can keep pace with Mother Nature's assault on this vital economic lifeline.

Sources:

1. LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency Awarded $27 Million to Increase Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® Train Service (January 13, 2025) URL: https://news.pacificsurfliner.com/2025-01-13-LOSSAN-Rail-Corridor-Agency-Awarded-27-Million-to-Increase-Amtrak-R-Pacific-Surfliner-R-Train-Service
2. SANDAG - LOSSAN Corridor Improvements URL: https://www.sandag.org/projects-and-programs/featured-projects/lossan-corridor-improvements
3. State Awards $31 Million to LOSSAN Agency to Enhance Pacific Surfliner Service (February 2, 2023) URL: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/state-awards-31-million-to-lossan-agency-to-enhance-pacific-surfliner-service-301736891.html
4. State of California Awards More than $189 Million to Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor Agencies (October 28, 2024) URL: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/state-of-california-awards-more-than-189-million-to-los-angeles--san-diego--san-luis-obispo-rail-corridor-agencies-302289231.html
5. New federal and state funding awarded to Southern California passenger rail projects (December 19, 2023) URL: https://la.urbanize.city/post/new-federal-and-state-funding-awarded-southern-california-passenger-rail-projects
6. SANDAG - Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization URL: https://www.sandag.org/projects-and-programs/featured-projects/lossan-corridor-improvements/del-mar-bluffs-stabilization
7. LOSSAN Working Group lines up funding to stabilize eroding bluffs in San Diego County (January 14, 2021) URL: https://calsta.ca.gov/press-releases/2021-01-14-lossan-working-group-lines-up-funding-to-stabilize-erroding-bluffs
8. The Del Mar bluffs are crumbling (July 5, 2022) URL: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2022-07-05/lets-move-train-tracks-off-crumbling-del-mar-bluffs-by-brian-yanity-david-grubb

Emergency work authorized for San Diego's only coastal rail route

SIDEBAR: The High Price of Losing the Rail Link

What Would Alternative Transportation Cost?

If the LOSSAN rail corridor closure becomes permanent, freight shippers and passengers would face significantly higher costs and operational challenges.

Freight Impact

• Rail currently moves $1 billion in freight annually along this corridor
• Trucking costs $214.96 per net ton versus rail at $70.27 per net ton - a 3X increase
• Truck transit would require thousands of additional truck trips on I-5 annually
• The Port of San Diego handles 120 railcars per day of imported vehicles alone; switching to trucks would require 480-600 additional truck trips daily
• Rail offers a $0.105 per ton-mile cost advantage over trucking for long-haul freight

Passenger Alternatives

• Current Pacific Surfliner trains offer $27 one-way fares
• Replacement shuttle buses charge $58-59 per person (LAX LINQ, reLAXsan)
• Bus service takes 2.5-3+ hours versus 2.75 hours by train
• Greyhound offers $28.98 fares but requires transfers and takes up to 4 hours
• Service frequency would drop from 11-13 daily trains to 5-7 daily bus departures
• 2+ million annual Pacific Surfliner riders would need alternative transport

Environmental and Economic Costs

• I-5 already operates near capacity during peak hours
• Each freight train removes 280 trucks from highways
• Carbon emissions would increase substantially with mode shift to trucks
• Military logistics costs would rise as LOSSAN is part of the Strategic Rail Corridor Network
• Economic impact: Loss of direct access to Port of San Diego for rail freight

Long-Term Solutions Being Considered

• Tunnel realignments under consideration at estimated $4+ billion
• Short-term stabilization projects costing $1 billion over 20 years
• No viable alternative rail routes exist - an eastern bypass would cost $20-40 billion

Without rail service, the region faces at least $300 million annually in additional transportation costs, severe environmental impacts, and potential economic disruption to the $1 billion in goods moved via this critical corridor.Sources: RSI Logistics, Amtrak, SANDAG, Del Mar Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, Voice of OC, LAX LINQ, Freightquote

SIDEBAR: National Security at Risk: Navy Operations Without Rail

Critical Military Impact of LOSSAN Corridor Closure

The potential closure of the LOSSAN rail corridor poses a severe threat to U.S. military operations at Naval Base San Diego, the principal home of the Pacific Fleet, and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Key Defense Vulnerabilities

• Naval Base San Diego hosts 54 ships, 20,000 sailors, and 6,000 civilian employees
• Camp Pendleton trains over 21,000 Marine recruits annually
• LOSSAN is the only rail connection linking these facilities to the national rail network
• The corridor is part of STRACNET (Strategic Rail Corridor Network), serving 193 defense installations nationwide

Transportation Alternatives Lack Viability

Without rail, military equipment transport would face:

• Forced reliance on trucks or ships, slowing emergency response times
• Inability to efficiently move heavy equipment including tanks, amphibious vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and munitions
• No parallel rail lines exist in the San Diego-Los Angeles corridor
• BNSF typically uses chain tie-down flatcars to transport military vehicles

Strategic Military Concerns

• The Department of Defense relies primarily on rail to transport heavy and tracked vehicles to seaports for deployment
• Rail is essential for integrating bases and connecting installations to maritime ports
• Military traffic volumes significantly increase during conflicts
• The corridor supports both domestic deployment and peacetime logistics

BRAC Considerations and Strategic Oversight

During multiple BRAC rounds (1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, and 2005), numerous California military installations were closed or realigned while San Diego's bases were preserved, likely in part due to their strategic location and rail connectivity. The Defense Department has consistently recognized that "rail transportation is extremely important to DOD since the predominance of our heavy and tracked vehicles will deploy by rail to seaports." However, available documentation does not indicate that the vulnerability of the single-rail corridor was specifically evaluated during BRAC assessments, despite its critical role in military logistics.

Indo-Pacific Conflict Considerations

• This single rail corridor vulnerability could impact U.S. military logistics in a potential conflict
• The issue becomes critical as "timelines for a possible war in Asia may be shrinking"
• Without rail, military equipment transport would require slower alternatives, potentially impeding rapid force deployment
• China's military strategy research focuses on identifying U.S. logistical vulnerabilities in the Pacific theater

While China hasn't publicly identified the LOSSAN corridor specifically, they are actively studying U.S. military logistics challenges in the Pacific region as part of their strategic planning for potential Indo-Pacific conflicts.

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Sources:

1. SANDAG - LOSSAN Corridor Improvements
   URL: https://www.sandag.org/lossan
2. "Threatened coastal railroad is San Diego's only link to national military rail network. What if it shuts down?" - San Diego Union-Tribune (December 4, 2022)
   URL: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/12/03/threatened-coastal-railroad-is-san-diegos-only-link-to-national-military-rail-network-what-if-it-shuts-down/
3. GlobalSecurity.org - Strategic Rail Corridor Network (STRACNET)
   URL: https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/stracnet.htm
4. BNSF - "Trains, tanks and troops: How BNSF has long supported the U.S. military"
   URL: https://www.bnsf.com/news-media/railtalk/service/trains-tanks-and-troops.html
5. San Diego Union-Tribune via Rebel-locker.com (December 2022)
   URL: https://rebel-locker.com/business/news/transportation/story/2022-12-03/threatened-coastal-railroad-is-san-diegos-only-link-to-national-defense-network
6. Los Angeles Times version via essayhelpyes.com (December 2022)
   URL: https://essayhelpyes.com/latimes/california/story/2022-12-03/threatened-coastal-railroad-is-san-diegos-only-link-to-national-defense-network
7. Federal Railroad Administration - The LOSSAN Corridor Strategic Plan
   URL: https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot.gov/files/2020-08/lossanplan1.pdf
8. Center for Strategic and International Studies - "The U.S. Industrial Base Is Not Prepared for a Possible Conflict with China"
   URL: https://features.csis.org/preparing-the-US-industrial-base-to-deter-conflict-with-China/
9. Senate Republican Policy Committee - "U.S. Military Strategy in the Indo-Pacific"
   URL: https://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/us-military-strategy-in-the-indo-pacific
10. Base Realignment and Closure - Wikipedia (2 weeks ago)
    URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Base_Realignment_and_Closure
11. Federal Register - "Base Closures and Realignments (BRAC)" (May 16, 2005)
    URL: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2005/05/16/05-9749/base-closures-and-realignments-brac

SIDEBAR: The "Impossible Railroad" Alternative Through Mexico

Could the Historic Desert Line Through Mexico Provide a Rail Backup?

The unused 70-mile Desert Line section of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway, also known as the "Impossible Railroad," presents a theoretical alternative route that bypasses the vulnerable coastal section. However, multiple attempts to revive it have failed due to extraordinary costs and logistical challenges.

Route Description

• Extends from Mexico-US border near Tecate to Plaster City in Imperial County
• Includes 44-mile section through Mexican territory between Tijuana and Tecate
• Features 17 tunnels, 57 bridges, and treacherous terrain including Carrizo Gorge
• Last operated for freight in 2008

Revival Attempts

• 2012: Mexican government granted Baja Rail concession for Tijuana-Tecate section
• 2012-2017: Pacific Imperial Railroad attempted rehabilitation, entered bankruptcy with over $7 million in debt
• 2017-2023: Baja California Railroad secured 99-year lease but failed to meet payment obligations

Major Obstacles

• Estimated cost: Hundreds of millions to billions of dollars for full restoration
• Infrastructure: Widespread bridge and tunnel repairs needed, including caved-in sections
• Customs: New border facility required between Tecate and Campo
• Maintenance: Persistent rockslides, sand accumulation, and structural deterioration

Strategic Limitations

• Would require freight to cross international border twice
• Complex customs procedures would add significant delays
• Political and regulatory challenges between US and Mexico
• Alternative doesn't fully resolve military logistics vulnerabilities

Economic Case

While the route could potentially reduce border crossing costs by $455 million annually for San Diego County, the massive investment required and operational complexities have deterred all attempts at restoration.

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Sources:

1. "Will century-old Impossible Railroad finally thrive, delivering billions in economic activity?" - San Diego Union-Tribune (January 16, 2018)
   URL: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/transportation/sd-me-desert-line-20171221-story.html
2. "What will it cost to rehab the 'Desert Line' railroad from Tecate to Plaster City?" - San Diego Union-Tribune (December 21, 2022)
   URL: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/transportation/story/2022-12-21/san-diego-rehab-desert-line-railroad-tecate-plaster-city
3. San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway - Wikipedia (January 23, 2025)
   URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_and_Arizona_Eastern_Railway
4. Pacific Imperial Railroad - Wikipedia (October 26, 2024)
   URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Imperial_Railroad
5. "Baja Rail still spinning its wheels over rehabilitation of MTS-owned Desert Line" - San Diego Union-Tribune (January 15, 2020)
   URL: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2020/01/14/baja-rail-still-spinning-its-wheels-over-rehabilitation-of-mts-owned-desert-line/
6. "The Historical Desert San Diego and Arizona Railroad" - DesertUSA
   URL: https://www.desertusa.com/mccain/oct_sdazrr.html
7. San Diego and Arizona Railway - Wikipedia (February 9, 2025)
   URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_and_Arizona_Railway
8. "Welcome to ImpossibleRailroad.com"
   URL: http://impossiblerailroad.com/
9. "History of the San Diego and Arizona" - Pacific Southwest Railway Museum
   URL: https://www.psrm.org/sda/