Inland Empire ‘Beach Train’ Building Steam

When the first Metrolink “Beach Train” rolled into town June 15, bringing 600 passengers from the Inland Empire to the city’s beaches, restaurants and stores, organizers of the service couldn’t have guessed how popular it would become.

The number of excursions, first set at three, was expanded to seven during the summer, and now two more--one this month and one in October--are scheduled. The weekend day trips are in such demand that tickets regularly sell out.

The city of San Clemente is winning kudos for the service, but it was actually organized by local businesses and volunteers.

“A lot of people think this was a city-sponsored project,” Mayor Steve Apodaca said. But “if we had tried to do it, we’d still be holding public hearings.”

Working with Metrolink and Carl Schiermeyer, a consultant to the Riverside Transportation Commission--which underwrote the first three scheduled trains--local entrepreneurs Jerry Lehman and Rick Anderson started the wheels turning.

Lehman, who owns a printing and graphics firm, made posters, tickets and 30,000 fliers free of charge. Anderson, a contractor, designed and built a wheelchair access ramp for passengers.

Both enlisted volunteers from around town to help with everything from greeting passengers at the train to passing out fliers and building wooden platforms for arriving and departing passengers.

“The beach trains would not have become a reality and have such a significant presence if it had not been for the private sector in San Clemente,” said Peter Hidalgo, Metrolink spokesman.

The merchants have seen their work pay off. An informal survey found that passengers spend an average of $54 each during a day at the beach. At 1,200 passengers a train, that means each run has the potential to boost local businesses by more than $64,000.