NCTD Coaster

Coaster route map (with other commuter lines included)

The San Diego Coast Express Rail, or COASTER Vorlage:Reporting mark, is a commuter rail service that operates in the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County, California, United States. The service is operated by TransitAmerica Services on contract with North County Transit District (NCTD). The service has eight stops and operates primarily during weekday peak periods, with additional weekend and holiday service.

History

San Diego Northern Railway (SDNR) purchased the tracks used by COASTER from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1994. NCTD created the subsidiary San Diego Northern Railway Corporation in 1994 and dissolved it in 2002. Revenue COASTER service began February 27, 1995. Funding for right-of-way acquisition and construction costs came from TransNet, a 1987 measure that imposed a 0.5% sales tax on San Diego County residents for transportation projects. NCTD originally contracted Amtrak to provide personnel for COASTER trains. On July 1, 2006, TransitAmerica took over the day-to-day operation of the commuter train, based on a five-year, $45 million contract with SDNR. TransitAmerica is a subsidiary of Missouri-based Herzog Transit Services.

The COASTER carried 700,000 passengers during its first year of operation. By 2004, it was carrying 1.4 million passengers annually. Approximately 40% of weekday commuters detrain at Sorrento Valley. NCTD owns Vorlage:Convert of mainline track, including the Vorlage:Convert on which the COASTER travels.

NCTD maintains two rail yards. One is shared with the San Diego Trolley at 12th and Imperial in Centre City San Diego. It is used to store train-sets during the midday. The other, located north of Oceanside at Stuart Mesa on Camp Pendleton, is shared with Metrolink. This is where the main maintenance facility is located.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed on board the COASTER during certain hours for riders who are of the legal drinking age.

Station stops

Station	Rail Services
Zone 1
Oceanside Transit Center	COASTER Pacific Surfliner Metrolink SPRINTER
Carlsbad Village	COASTER
Carlsbad Poinsettia	COASTER
Encinitas	COASTER
Solana Beach	COASTER Pacific Surfliner
Zone 2
Sorrento Valley	COASTER
Zone 3
Old Town San Diego	COASTER Pacific Surfliner (Limited Weekend Service) San Diego Trolley
Downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot)	COASTER Pacific Surfliner San Diego Trolley

Route Description

Stuart Mesa to Oceanside

All COASTER trains start from the Stuart Mesa COASTER Yard, where all of the trains are kept overnight and repaired, just north of the Oceanside Transit Center, the northern terminus of Coaster trains. The train travels over the San Luis Rey River, under the I-5 freeway, and past Fallbrook Junction. The train passes Fallbrook Yard and heads for Oceanside, where COASTER service begins.

Oceanside to Carlsbad Village

After leaving Oceanside, the train passes through a few crossings. The SPRINTER tracks that run next to the Coaster tracks curve inland, as the train passes a wye. The COASTER curves away from the Pacific Ocean, crosses Buena Vista Lagoon, and arrives at the Carlsbad Village Stop.

Carlsbad Village to Poinsettia

After leaving Carlsbad Village, the train travels through three more crossings in Carlsbad. It then crosses Agua Hedionda Lagoon, passes by a power plant, and crosses Cannon Road. It passes houses and a water treatment plant before arriving at the Carlsbad Poinsettia station.

Poinsettia to Encinitas

After leaving Poinsettia, the COASTER crosses the Batiquitos Lagoon, with a view of the Pacific Ocean, and then travels under and bridge to arrive in Leucadia, just north of Encinitas. The train goes through a grade crossing before arriving at the Encinitas stop.

Coaster F40PH-2C #2103 at Encinitas station.

Encinitas to Solana Beach

Upon leaving Encinitas, the train travels through two grade crossings and then begins traveling parallel to Highway 101, facing the Pacific Ocean, while passing Swami's Beach. The train then passes another grade crossing, Cardiff by the Sea, and a lagoon before arriving at Solana Beach.

Solana Beach to Sorrento Valley

After leaving Solana Beach, the train passes a lagoon and the Del Mar Race Track, and then rolls through a short siding in Del Mar. It passes the abandoned Del Mar Surf Station and another crossing. After travelling on the Del Mar Cliffs, beside the Pacific Ocean, it heads inland. The train passes the Soledad Lagoon and office buildings in Sorrento Valley before stopping at the Sorrento Valley station.

The Coaster and Amtrak station at Solana Beach.

Sorrento Valley to Old Town

After leaving Sorrento Valley, train passes a grade crossing, climbs Miramar Hill, passes the Miramar Wye, then descends Miramar Hill. The train passes through Rose Canyon and later arrives at Old Town.

Old Town to Downtown San Diego

After stopping at Old Town, the train passes through several crossings before arriving at Santa Fe Depot. There, passengers can transfers to the MTS trolley system, MTS Busses, and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner trains headed north. After passengers debark at the Santa Fe station, COASTER trains go either to a small storage yard south of the Convention Center for the day or pick up passengers for the next northbound train.

Ticketing

The cost of COASTER tickets is based upon the number of zones traveled (see map). Tickets must be purchased before boarding and are checked by roving fare inspectors. Monthly passes are available. All tickets and passes include transfer agreements with NCTD BREEZE buses and monthly passes include transfer with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and Trolleys. As of January 2012, regular one-way fares are as follows:

• Within one zone: $4.00
• Within two zones: $5.00
• Within three zones: $5.50

With proof of eligibility, senior citizens (ages 60 and over), people with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders receive a 50% discount on the above fares.

Riding the Coaster without a valid ticket may result in a penalty fare of up to $250. Riders cannot purchase tickets on board the train.

Schedule

More than 20 COASTER trains run on weekdays, with additional service on the weekends. Traveling the entire COASTER route takes about an hour.

Compass Card

In September 2008, SANDAG introduced a new contactless "Compass Card", made possible by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. The "Compass Card" allows passengers from MTS and NCTD to store regional transit passes and cash value on a rewritable RFID card. Customers can purchase passes and add cash value on the Internet or at any ticket vending machine. Prior to boarding a train, customers tap their Compass Cards on the ticket validator located on the train platform. The LED display on the validator then lights up with lights resembling that of a stoplight, and the LCD display shows text regarding the passenger's fare account.

Fleet

Coaster F40PHM-2C locomotive #2104 with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner #572 behind it at Solana Beach Station, California

Builder	Type	Purchased	Numbers
Morrison-Knudsen	F40PHM-2C	1994	2101–2105
GM-EMD	F59PHI	2001	3001–3002
Bombardier	Bi-Level Coach	see below	see below

Trailer numbers are 2201–2208 (1994), 2401–2406 (1997), 2501–2504 (2003)

Cabcar numbers are 2301–2308 (1994), 2309–2310 (2003)

Most trains run with 5 coaches. However, as of July 2008, a 6th coach has been added to half of the weekday trains due to an 8% jump in ridership from the previous year.

Bike rider information

2401–2406 series coaches have space for 6 bikes (4 on north end, 2 on south end).
2501–2504 series coaches have space for 6 bikes (all in the south end of the coach).

Connecting rail and bus transit services

The COASTER connects with Amtrak at Oceanside, Solana Beach, and San Diego. It also connects with Metrolink at Oceanside. The COASTER connects to the San Diego Trolley and buses at Old Town and Santa Fe Depot in San Diego, including to the Lindbergh Field. It connects with BREEZE buses at all North San Diego County station stops.

Future prospects

The COASTER remains stable for the foreseeable future. San Diego County voters extended the TransNet sales tax through 2038, which includes some funds for track upgrades. Plans to double track more of the NCTD-owned mainline are also being considered. There are also plans of extending COASTER service to Camp Pendleton and the Convention Center, as well as interest in rebuilding the station at Del Mar to serve the racetrack and fairgrounds.

Yards

The COASTER has 2 storage yards. The main storage yard is in Stuart Mesa, just north of the Oceanside station stop. This is where cars are stored for the night and trains are serviced. A small yard beside the San Diego Trolleys' yard is for weekday train staging.

See also

• Transportation in San Diego County

External links

• Official NCTD site
• 511sd.com—New site for sdcommute.com
• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

References

Vorlage:Coaster (San Diego) Vorlage:Public Transportation in Greater San Diego Vorlage:USCommRail Vorlage:California railroads