Rail Travelers Face Major Route Disruptions During August Bridge Replacement

Rail travelers in California will experience significant disruptions in August as Union Pacific begins a critical bridge replacement project north of Goleta, impacting major routes for two weeks. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The 16-day construction effort, starting August 1 and ending August 16, will replace the 127-year-old La Cañada Honda Bridge over Honda Creek in northern Santa Barbara County. State grants and Union Pacific funds will cover the project.

Rail Travelers and Pacific Surfliner Service Changes

Pacific Surfliner service to San Luis Obispo will be suspended beyond Goleta during the closure. Thruway buses will replace trains northbound 761 and 779 and southbound 774 and 794 between Goleta and Santa Barbara. Other Surfliner trips will continue as scheduled, starting and ending at Goleta.

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Travelers should expect longer journeys because alternative transport options require coordination. Amtrak urges riders to check updated schedules and prepare for delays during this infrastructure upgrade.

Rail Travelers Impacted by Coast Starlight Adjustments

The Coast Starlight route will operate only between Seattle and Emeryville during the outage. Southern California passengers heading to the Pacific Northwest must connect via San Joaquins at Martinez or use Stockton-Sacramento bus transfers.

However, the single Bakersfield-Sacramento San Joaquin trip does not align with Coast Starlight departures in either direction, making flexibility essential. Passengers should allow extra time and plan carefully to avoid missed connections.

This project aims to improve long-term reliability and safety for California’s rail network. While the short-term inconvenience is significant, officials emphasize that modernized infrastructure will support more efficient rail operations in the future.

Source: www.trains.com

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