Train Chatter

An Amtrak passenger train operating from San Diego to Los Angeles Sunday night, September 27, experienced a delay near Sorrento Valley that may have been due to an engine fire.

At about 8:45 p.m., a train dispatcher from the Metrolink San Diego subdivision asked Amtrak train number 595, via a railroad radio frequency, if they needed the fire department to respond. A crewmember from the train reported they were near the Sorrento Valley train station. A few minutes later, the dispatcher told train personnel that the fire department was on the way.

An elderly male passenger at the Solana Beach train station who was traveling to Fullerton said an employee at the station announced that, “Train 595 had a major mechanical problem and would be delayed. There will be another train in about an hour and it should be about on time."

Shortly after 9:00 p.m., the station employee announced that train 595 and 597 would “hook up together” and go to Los Angeles as one train. At about 9:50 p.m. he made an announcement stating, “All passengers should go to track two for Orange County and Los Angeles stations. The train left San Diego at 9:30 and should arrive shortly after 10:00.”

Checking the status of the train at 1:45 a.m. Monday morning, an employee from a sales office near Philadelphia said, “Train 597 left Solana Beach at 10:58 p.m. and arrived in Los Angeles at 1:23 a.m., over an hour and 20 minutes late.” She had no information as to whether there was an engine fire.