Go Slow on New Tracks

Some folks say that geography is destiny. If so, Amtrak is going to have its problems moving more passengers along its train tracks through San Clemente.

Train travel is on the rise in Southern California, especially among commuters unhappy with crowded freeways. Metrolink runs a number of lines in the area; so does Amtrak.

It’s Amtrak that provides service from Los Angeles to San Diego with stops in Orange County. Amtrak’s suggestion for meeting increasing demand in San Clemente includes putting a second set of tracks onto an elevated platform, perhaps cutting into some coastal cliffs.

One argument against that proposal is esthetic: Elevated tracks would be ugly and diminish ocean views from the inland side of the tracks. Another argument against it is the fragility of the cliffs where the tracks would be constructed. Erosion and instability must be addressed before any excavation occurs.

There also are safety considerations. Residents are accustomed to walking across the tracks now to get to the beach. In the last decade, seven pedestrians have been killed by trains passing through the city. Adding another set of tracks will increase the risks for beachgoers.

Adding a second track along the route will cost several billion dollars, part of a $10.1-billion, 20-year Amtrak program to expand service, shorten trips and increase capacity throughout California.

A problem with Amtrak’s service is the need for it to pull onto a siding to let freight trains pass because Amtrak does not own the tracks. Those delays can add 30 minutes to a trip. Despite the longer time, the San Diego-to-Los Angeles route is Amtrak’s second busiest, after the one between Boston and Washington, D.C. Adding the second track would let trains whiz past each other and reduce delays.

The rail line is right to consider how to improve service and make travel safer for passengers and track-crossing pedestrians alike with underpasses and overpasses. Train service can become an even more important part of the solution to Southern California’s transportation problems. But the coast belongs to all Californians, and cutting into San Clemente’s beautiful cliffs or disrupting the area’s spectacular views will be awfully hard for Amtrak to justify.