‘Beach Train’ Puts Inland Empire on Track for Summer Relaxation

The first “Beach Train” rolled into San Clemente on Saturday morning, providing more than 500 Inland Empire residents a new way to beat the heat and avoid traffic hassles.

The trains, operated by Metrolink, will run on the third Saturday of each month through summer, traveling from Rialto to San Clemente with stops in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Inaugural commuters, some of whom had never been to the beach, praised the service’s convenience.

Rahdree Becker said he did not miss the traffic and enjoyed the scenery on the train ride.

“We like these beaches a lot better than L.A. beaches,” said Becker, of Rialto, who brought his 3-year-old daughter along for her first beach trip. “These beaches are a lot cleaner.”

Yucaipa residents Charles and Joyce Lawrence rode the train with their two 5-year-old grandchildren.

“It’s wonderful,” Joyce Lawrence said. “Everybody I talked to about it at work wanted to hear a report when I get back.”

As the passengers stepped off the train, they were greeted by San Clemente officials, who see the service as a way to boost the local economy without adding traffic congestion.

“This is the beginning of a very positive partnership,” San Clemente Mayor Steve Apodaca told the passengers. “We’re really excited.”

The Beach Train was created by Carl Schiermeyer, a consultant to the Riverside County Transportation Commission, as a community service for families and to promote the use of Metrolink commuter trains. The commuter railroad provides three trains Monday through Friday between Riverside and Irvine and eight trains daily between Los Angeles and San Clemente.

San Clemente businessmen Rick Anderson and Jerry Lehman were enlisted by Schiermeyer to help coordinate the welcoming ceremony.

“San Clemente has an identity crisis,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to demonstrate to other cities, counties and Metrolink that we can promote this kind of relationship.”

The Riverside transportation agency helps underwrite the $15,000 project. Round-trip tickets are $10 per person or $35 for a family of four, with children under age 2 riding free.

The 10-car Metrolink train departs Rialto at 8:15 a.m. and makes five stops in Riverside, Corona and San Juan Capistrano before reaching the San Clemente Pier at 10:28 a.m. It will run July 20 and Aug. 17.

“The response has all been positive from the City Council, citizens and beach community,” Anderson said. “Metrolink is also 100% behind this.”