SoCal's famed coastal railroad may have to move to survive rising seas. How could it happen?

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Set us as preferred The famed railroad line along the San Clemente coast has found itself on the endangered list amid a relentless assault from rising seas and punishing surf.Transportation experts have long spoken about the possibility of relocating the tracks in the area, but the California State Transportation Agency is expected to launch a study before year’s end examining what would go into potentially moving the rail line, according to Darrell Johnson, chief executive of the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Johnson said the study would likely take at least several months to complete.Transportation planners previously said it could cost more than $5 billion to move the tracks inland.

California Sections of railway in coastal Orange County have repeatedly shut down for landslides, coastal erosion and rockfalls.Another stormy winter is coming.“It will be complex.

It will be expensive.It will be long-term in nature,” Johnson said about the study.

“We’re very pleased that later this year the state of California is expected to kick off that study.We expect a lot of public engagement with that, and examining the options to frankly respond to these challenges that we’re experiencing right now.”The stretch of track along the San Clemente shoreline has long offered picturesque views of sandy beaches and lapping ocean waves for passengers traveling between Los Angeles and San Diego.

Commuters on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner can enjoy a snack while taking in the sights, at a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket.But over the years, landslides, coastal erosion and rockfalls have also threatened the stability of what’s officially known as the LOSSAN Corridor (short for Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo) in parts of coastal Orange County.In September, high tides and powerful wave activity from Hurrican...