Amtrak Surfliner Crosses New Batiquitos Lagoon Bridge
The inaugural run marks progress on a $166 million double-tracking project along the LOSSAN rail corridor in Southern California.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Bird Watching
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Amtrak's Surfliner made its inaugural run across the new concrete rail bridge at Batiquitos Lagoon on Monday, while crews began dismantling the 1940s wooden trestle it replaces. The Batiquitos Lagoon Double Tracking project, which costs $166 million, is 75% complete.
Why it matters
The new bridge adds a second track that increases service frequency and capacity along the LOSSAN corridor, and it allows one track to be taken out of service for maintenance while trains use the other. The project also protects nesting habitat for the endangered California least tern, a species that was listed as endangered in 1970.
The project has a total cost of $166 million and is 75% complete, with a projected completion in spring 2026. The status of least tern nesting numbers at the lagoon since construction paused remains unreported.
The players
Amtrak Surfliner
The Amtrak Surfliner is a passenger rail service operating along the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo corridor in California.
SANDAG
The San Diego Association of Governments is the regional planning agency for San Diego County that conducted the pre-construction environmental analysis for the project.
The details
Crews are building a parallel bridge to carry the second set of tracks, using wider spans that allow more water to flow through the lagoon. Construction was paused during the migratory birds' breeding season, and an abandoned nest with eggs shows endangered least terns used the area last breeding season.
Timeline
The original wooden trestle bridge was built in the 1940s.
The California least tern was listed as endangered in 1970.
By 1974, an estimated 582 nesting pairs of California least terns remained in the state.
SANDAG conducted an environmental analysis in 2024 ahead of construction.
The Amtrak Surfliner made its inaugural run across the new bridge on Monday, November 9, 2026.
Roadmap
The project reflects the broader effort to balance Southern California's rail expansion with protections for the California least tern, listed as endangered in 1970. Eventually the entire LOSSAN corridor is expected to be double-tracked, extending a pattern of capacity upgrades along the coast.
Riders on the Surfliner and other LOSSAN corridor trains should expect more frequent service once double tracking is complete. Residents near Batiquitos Lagoon may notice construction activity through spring 2026 as the parallel bridge is built.
The takeaway
Watch for the spring 2026 completion date if you ride the Surfliner or plan trips along the coast, since added capacity can change schedules and travel reliability. Birders visiting the lagoon should respect seasonal nesting closures that protect endangered least terns.
Further reading
Readers interested in the nesting shorebirds at the lagoon can explore more on Bird Watching.
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