Monterey Branch Line

A new branch north to Castroville was constructed by the new owners and the western portion converted to standard gauge with the Hotel Del Monte opening the following year.

[1][2] The Salinas River bridge was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake — reconstruction time as well as the closure of Fort Ord in 1993 left almost no activity on the line, and it was abandoned soon after that.

[3] Restoration of Del Monte-like service to Monterey had been identified as early as the Caltrans 1984–89 Rail passenger development plan.

TAMC has put forward plans to rebuild the line and commence a rail service between Monterey and Castroville.

[6] As of 2024[update], Monterey–Salinas Transit plans to construct a busway on the former Monterey Branch Line between Marina and Sand City.