All aboard the Pacific Surfliner. Next stop: the Pacific Ocean.
Massive waves have been battering Southern California’s coastline, sending explosions of whitewater over the rocks and directly against the Amtrak trains traveling along San Clemente’s increasingly vulnerable shoreline.
The extraordinary conditions have been documented by Laguna Beach surfer Blair Conklin in a recent video, along with Chris Monroe, better known as BEEFS TV, whose footage captures the ocean’s relentless assault on the coastal railroad.
But perhaps the wildest perspective comes from inside the train itself.
In a viral video, a six-year-old passenger experiences the spectacle firsthand as a powerful wave crashes against the train’s windows.
Mary Neville captured the terrifying footage while filming the view with her six-year-old daughter. Then, a massive wave violently slammed into the side of the moving train.
“Of course scary, terrifying, completely unexpected,” Neville explained to CBS 8 San Diego. “And then just to also have my camera out recording that exact moment, I was like, ‘Wow, we just witnessed an important part of this timeline.’”
Talk about an unforgettable ride.
As for BEEFS, he simply put it: “Southern California, we got a problem.”
The chaos follows months of hurricane-generated swells, with a developing Super El Niño and an associated Kelvin wave adding to the coastal erosion crisis. The latter can temporarily elevate sea levels by several inches, allowing waves to reach farther inland.
And San Clemente’s railroad is directly in the firing line.
In September, waves overtopped the tracks, damaged protective rocks, and forced temporary closures of Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink service.
Related: Watch: Seawall Collapses at Iconic SoCal Hotel Amid Massive Surf
“We have had some real challenges in the last three years in particular,” Orange County Transportation Authority spokesperson Eric Carpenter told ABC7.
Crews have been reinforcing the shoreline with massive boulders, repairing damaged slopes, and exploring additional sand replenishment.
But those are temporary defenses against an increasingly formidable opponent.
According to the Los Angeles Times, officials are considering relocating the railroad inland, a project previously estimated to cost more than $5 billion.
“It will be complex. It will be expensive. It will be long-term in nature,” OCTA chief executive Darrell Johnson said.
The state expects to begin studying relocation options before year’s end. Meanwhile, more than $300 million has already been invested in coastal rail protection.
And with potentially powerful winter storms still ahead, the battle to keep one of America’s most scenic train rides on the tracks is far from over.
Related: California Surf Goes Absolutely Berserk as Monster El Niño Swells Arrive (Photo Gallery)
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