REGION — Pedestrian deaths along San Diego County’s railroad tracks reached an all-time high in 2024, data indicate, a trend consistent with national statistics as transit and law enforcement professionals seek solutions to make rail corridors safer.
In San Diego County, the number of pedestrian rail fatalities — incidents in which someone was struck and killed by a train or trolley — has ebbed and flowed over the years but has overall experienced a gradual increase, with annual deaths reaching a previous high of 19 in 2018.
However, data from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office going back to 1997 indicate that last year saw the highest number of pedestrian rail fatalities on record, with a total of 30 deaths in 2024.
Of these incidents, 23 were ruled as suicides, and seven were ruled as accidental, making 2024 the year with the highest number of pedestrian rail suicides on record as well.
Twenty-five of the 30 fatalities last year took place on the North County Transit District right-of-way, which manages the tracks from the San Diego Santa Fe Depot up to the northern county line with Orange County, as well as tracks between Escondido and Oceanside. Five deaths occurred on the San Diego Metropolitan System right-of-way.
NCTD CEO Shawn Donaghy told The Coast News the district makes efforts to prevent train-related deaths in any way possible, including educating people on the dangers of the tracks and pursuing infrastructure improvements to make the rail safer.
The issue of suicides on the rail, Donaghy said, is especially troubling and shines a light on the need for mental health support on a larger level.
“Any time that we have a loss of life along the rail line, especially a suicide situation, there’s just an emotional attachment to the situation itself. We really want to make sure our community has the resources it needs to not make that decision,” Donaghy said.
Solana Beach City Councilmember Jewel Edson, who served as board chair of NCTD in 2024, said NCTD also works with the larger Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo-San Diego (LOSSAN) rail corridor and the county’s Behavioral Health Services department to help prevent these tragedies.
“LOSSAN has installed signage along certain sections of the corridor that contain suicide prevention messages, and NCTD has engaged with county Behavioral [Health Services] to direct those who may be struggling with mental health issues to supportive resources,” Edson said.
Pedestrian rail fatalities along the NCTD right-of-way are investigated by the Sheriff’s Transit Enforcement Unit, which works directly with the district to determine what happened and interview witnesses. They also work with the Medical Examiner’s Office, which ultimately determines the cause and manner of death.
Despite the often public nature of pedestrian rail fatalities, information about these incidents is not shared as widely as other fatal accidents. In early 2024, the Sheriff’s Office announced that it would no longer issue press releases regarding rail deaths if apparent suicides to prevent the risk of copycats.
As a result, less than half of these incidents in 2024 were actually reported publicly by the Sheriff’s Office at the time.
“We do not want people who may be in crisis to see a release and believe this may be a viable option to harm themselves,” sheriff’s spokesperson Kimberly King said.
Increasing fatalities are not unique to San Diego County or even California. Nationally, the number of annual pedestrian rail deaths has increased from 470 in 2007 to 715 in 2023, per the National Safety Council.
Statewide, California saw 182 rail trespassing deaths in 2024, the most out of any state, according to data by Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rail safety education.
Education and infrastructure
While crossing the tracks outside of designated legal crossings is considered to be illegal trespassing, pedestrians and bikers regularly cross various portions of the rail throughout North County, mostly due to convenience.
To combat this, NCTD focuses on educating people about the dangers of being close to the rail through signage, online resources, and presentations in conjunction with Operation Lifesaver.
Aside from people crossing the rail unsafely to get to a destination faster, Donaghy said NCTD has seen an increase in unhoused people setting up camp near rail tracks. While it can contribute to their sense of safety, he said, it can create a dangerous situation.
When engineers see an encampment or someone who appears to be homeless along the railway, NCTD will notify the sheriff’s Traffic Enforcement Unit so that officers can encourage the individual to move away from the tracks and connect them with resources, Donaghy said.
Another way to increase safety is improvements in the rail infrastructure itself.
NCTD has been actively working for years on projects to make the rail safer for pedestrians in various cities, with a focus on adding grade-separated crossings, trenching tracks, or both. However, these projects typically require years of planning and cost millions of dollars.
Solana Beach, one of the few cities with no rail pedestrian fatalities last year, has had its tracks trenched below Lomas Santa Fe Drive for around 25 years, with a pedestrian crossing bridge that makes it much more difficult for pedestrians to come in contact with the tracks.
A similar project is in the planning stages in Carlsbad. Last summer, the city allocated $5.2 million toward design studies for trenching and double tracking in an MOU with NCTD and SANDAG.
The project, expected to cost around $560 million, would lower the tracks about 30 feet below street level from around Carlsbad Village Station in northern Carlsbad down to Tamarack Avenue near Agua Hedionda Lagoon, with overpasses built for pedestrians and bikes.
“We talk about grade crossings, fencing and general signage we would like to see, and how can we promote some of these things while being conscious of the geographic or neighborhood issues that could exist being close to the rail line,” Donaghy said.
These conversations with cities can be fraught, sometimes due to concerns about reducing coastal access. The city of Del Mar was involved in a yearslong battle with NCTD after the transit agency pushed to install fencing that would prevent access to the blufftop tracks in 2022.
A lawsuit from the California Coastal Commission ultimately blocked the project.
Grade-separated crossings from the bluff down to the beach are set to arrive in the coming years as a condition of SANDAG’s Del Mar Bluffs Stabilization Project, but funding still needs to be identified.
Pedestrian undercrossings have been added in Encinitas along the tracks but are largely missing in Leucadia. In 2022, the city added around 2.3 miles of wooden post-and-cable fencing along the rail line in Leucadia, but residents have repeatedly called for more safe crossing options in the area.
Donaghy said there isn’t a simple solution to making the rail safer for pedestrians due to the varying needs at different parts along the rail right-of-way. For this reason, working with each city individually is essential to move the needle and improve safety.
“From a system perspective, the unique part about rail is, it’s not always a one-size-fits-all solution,” Donaghy said.
Emotional toll
Donaghy said the emotional impact of these fatalities on train engineers, those responding to the scene, and other transit staff cannot be overstated. As the number of instances rises, there is a concentrated focus on supporting employees.
NCTD has a critical incident stress plan to support employees who witnessed or were involved in responding to critical incidents, such as deaths or injuries of individuals on the rail. This plan also seeks to assist employees who may experience general stress reactions, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of these types of catastrophic incidents.
When a critical incident occurs, NCTD managers immediately identify employees who witnessed or were involved in responding to the incident so that an Employee Assistance Program representative can contact them. These employees are given temporary relief from work duties and offered employer-provided counseling.
“I’ve seen, unfortunately, more than my fair share of incidents that have occurred over 25 years,” Donaghy said. “The human element is the big piece for me. The thing that I care about the most is our employees; knowing that they’re supported.”
Resources
Operation Lifesaver outlines several safety recommendations for those living or walking near train tracks:
- Only cross at designated safe crossing areas
- Always expect a train, even if you can’t hear one, as trains are quieter than you might think
- Refrain from looking at your cell phone or listening to headphones to stay alert.
- Stay at least 15 feet from the tracks, as many trains overhang the tracks.
- Stay away from railroad bridges, trestles and tunnels
- Be aware that trains may be coming from both directions at any time
- Never go around flashing lights or lowered gates at a railroad crossing
- Use extra caution when crossing railroad tracks on a bike, with a stroller or a wheelchair
If you or someone you know may be thinking about suicide, call 9-8-8 or the county’s Access and Crisis Line at (888) 724-7240. For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 9-8-8 and press 1. Individuals can also access the Crisis Text Line by texting SAVE to 741741 to speak with a trained helper.
Warning signs of suicide can include the following: talking about wanting to die or looking for a way to kill oneself; talking about feeling hopeless, in unbearable pain, or being a burden to others; acting anxious, agitated or recklessly; withdrawing or becoming isolated; or displaying extreme mood swings.
If someone is showing these signs, do not leave the person by themselves, and contact one of the resources above. You can also take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a mental health or medical professional.
