it is proposed that the currently inadequate single-tracking from San Diego going north and up along the Pacific coastline (literally for a piece) to Oceanside CA is to be double-tracked (with some grade separations and quiet zones), as is the current Sprinter tracking between Escondido CA and Oceanside (amongst other non-rail projects, as expected !).
Those who know this coastal route are aware of the difficulties that have faced the quite busy coastal single-track, since it is partially along a narrow and potentially unstable beach bluff for several miles, thence through the cities of Del Mar (whose citizens have also rejected a tunnel option), Solana Beach (w / Amtrak terminal), Encinitas, Cardiff, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. This now-single-track hosts the California Surfliner, the Coaster, and I don’t know how many freight consists each day.
But, at least these measures are on someone’s agenda, albeit up to forty (40) years out. I found no detail re: the (alleged) HSR, which is supposedly mostly inland, perhaps along Interstate 15.
From Google Earth, the RoW looks like it maybe once was double-tracked; I rode the train when it was ATSF back in 1962, but I don’t recall. Was it, and if so, why would relaying the 2nd track be such a “problem” for Del Mar, etc.?
I don’t live anywhere near Del Mar CA, so don’t know the details of its citizen concerns re: double-tracking, tunnel, et al. Currrent subject of considerable anguish there is the proposed reinstallation of a depot (albeit seasonal and quite modest, several miles north of the original now-closed Del Mar Depot) at the Del Mar Racetrack, said depot ca. 20 feet from a homeowner.
The biggest obstacles to overcome in double-tracking the Surf-line is in crossing the several lagoons between Sorrento Valley and Oceanside. The problem is meeting environmental requirements as the geology isn’t all that bad, since any construction will impact wetlands.
The two places where the line is close to unstable beach bluffs is in Del Mar between the North Torrey Pines Road overpass and Power House Park, and in Cardiff from just north of Birmingham to just south of Santa Fe. The Del Mar section is the only place in San Diego County other than just north of San Onofre where there is no road between the tracks and beach. The Cardiff section had the siding re-instated several years ago, but Highway 101 is between the edge of the bluffs and the tracks.
I’d like to see a tunnel connecting Sorrento Valley with Rose Canyon, bypassing the Miramar hill. This would easily shave several minutes off the north county to downtown time.
The AT&SF “Surf Line” has always been single-track, except for a few short stretches of two-tracks, like at Miramar Hill. The line decades ago had more sidings, though. Where those sidings were pulled up it may look like there previously had been double- or two-tracks, but rest assured, the historic line has always been single-track. Only in recent times have the now commuter owners two-tracked portions of the route.