San Diego Coaster
Encyclopedia
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, United States. The service is operated by TransitAmerica Services on contract with North County Transit District
North County Transit District
The North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States...
(NCTD). The service has eight stops, in San Diego, Solana Beach
Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Solana Beach is located at ....
, Encinitas
Encinitas, California
Encinitas is a coastal beach city in San Diego County, California. Located within Southern California, it is approximately north of San Diego in North County and about south of Los Angeles. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 59,518, up from 58,014 at the 2000 census. Encinitas is...
, Carlsbad
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
, and Oceanside
Oceanside, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Oceanside had a population of 167,086. The population density was 3,961.8 people per square mile...
. Service operates primarily during weekday peak periods, but limited weekday midday, Friday evening, Saturday, and seasonal Sunday service also exist. Special evening service is provided when the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
play Monday–Thursday evening home games.
History
San Diego Northern Railway (SDNR) purchased the tracks used by Coaster from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
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. Money for right-of-way acquisition and construction costs came from TransNet
Transnet
Transnet SOC Ltd is a large South African rail, port and pipeline company, headquartered in the Carlton Centre in Johannesburg. It was formed as a limited company on April 1, 1990. A majority of the company's stock is owned by the Department of Public Enterprises, or DPE, of the South African...
, a 1987 measure that imposed a 0.5% sales tax
Sales tax
A sales tax is a tax, usually paid by the consumer at the point of purchase, itemized separately from the base price, for certain goods and services. The tax amount is usually calculated by applying a percentage rate to the taxable price of a sale....
on San Diego County residents for transportation projects. NCTD originally contracted Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
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, USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
45 million contract with SDNR. TransitAmerica is a subsidiary of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
-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 62 mi (99.8 km) of mainline track, as well as the 22 mi (35.4 km) Escondido Branch that is served by the Sprinter, which began service in March 2008. The Coaster commuter train runs on 41.1 mi (66.1 km) of the mainline.
NCTD maintains two rail yards. One is shared with the San Diego Trolley
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
at 12th & 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
Metrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
. This is where the main maintenance facility is located.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages is allowed on board the Coaster for riders who are of the legal drinking age.
Station stops
| Station | Rail Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | |||
| Oceanside Oceanside (Amtrak station) Oceanside is a station on Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner passenger train route located in Oceanside, California. It is located at the Oceanside Transit Center, which is also the northern terminus of the San Diego Coaster, the southern terminus of the Metrolink Orange County Line and Inland... |
Coaster Pacific Surfliner Pacific Surfliner The Pacific Surfliner is a Amtrak regional passenger train route serving communities on the coast of Southern California between San Diego and San Luis Obispo.... Metrolink Metrolink (Southern California) Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track.... Sprinter |
||
| Carlsbad Village Carlsbad Village (NCTD station) Carlsbad Village is one of two passenger rail stations serving the city of Carlsbad, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route. It is the last station on the line before reaching the northern terminus at Oceanside.... |
Coaster | ||
| Carlsbad Poinsettia Carlsbad Poinsettia (NCTD station) Carlsbad Poinsettia is one of two passenger rail stations serving the city of Carlsbad, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route.-External links:*... |
Coaster | ||
| Encinitas Encinitas (NCTD station) Encinitas is a passenger rail station serving the city of Encinitas, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route.-External links:*... |
Coaster | ||
| Solana Beach Solana Beach (Amtrak station) Solana Beach is a large railway station on Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner passenger train and on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route route located in Solana Beach, California. The Pacific Surfliner is the second most travelled railway in the United States, with only... |
Coaster Pacific Surfliner |
||
| Zone 2 | |||
| Sorrento Valley Sorrento Valley (NCTD station) Sorrento Valley is a passenger rail station serving the Sorrento Valley neighborhood of the city of San Diego, California on North County Transit District's COASTER commuter rail route. 40% of COASTER riders detrain at Sorrento Valley due to the universities, businesses, and the proximity to... |
Coaster | ||
| Zone 3 | |||
| Old Town San Diego Old Town Transit Center The Old Town Transit Center is an intermodal transportation station located in the Old Town neighborhood of San Diego, California.-History:The Old Town Transit Center was built in the early 1990s, and the San Diego Trolley was extended here in 1996. In 1997 the Blue Line was extended into Mission... |
Coaster Pacific Surfliner (Limited Weekend Service) San Diego Trolley San Diego Trolley The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ... |
||
| Downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) Union Station (San Diego) Union Station in San Diego, California, also known as the Santa Fe Depot, is a train station built by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to replace the small Victorian-style structure erected in 1887 for the California Southern Railroad Company. The Spanish Colonial Revival style station is... |
Coaster Pacific Surfliner San Diego Trolley |
||
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 goes over the famed steel bridge that crosses the San Luis Rey RiverSan Luis Rey River
The San Luis Rey River is a river in northern San Diego County, California. The river's headwaters are in the Cleveland National Forest near Palomar Mountain. The river drains into the Pacific Ocean on the northern end of the city of Oceanside. The river is over long and drains...
and then goes under the I-5
Interstate 5
Interstate 5 is the main Interstate Highway on the West Coast of the United States, running largely parallel to the Pacific Ocean coastline from Canada to Mexico . It serves some of the largest cities on the U.S...
freeway. The train turns toward the ocean and passes Fallbrook Junction. The train passes a small yard, not used anymore, and then heads for the town of Oceanside. At Oceanside, the train is then in service. The train picks up passengers in Oceanside, its first stop.
Oceanside to Carlsbad Village
The trains leaves Oceanside and passes through a few crossings south of the station. The SprinterSprinter
Sprinter can refer to:in sport:* a person who participates in Sprint running* a cycling sprinter* Open-wheeled Sprint car racingmotor vehicles:* the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter , a cargo van...
tracks that run next to the Coaster tracks curve inland, as the train passes a wye
Wye
Wye is a historic village in Kent, England, located some from Canterbury, and is also the main village in the civil parish of Wye with Hinxhill...
. It passes CP Longboard, and curves away from the Pacific Ocean. The train then crosses Buena Vista Lagoon, and then shortly after, stops at the Carlsbad Village Stop, the train's 2nd stop.
Carlsbad Village to Poinsettia
After leaving Carlsbad Village, the train rolls through a straight section of track with three more crossings, in the quaint town of Carlsbad. It then crosses Agua Hedionda Lagoon. The train passes by a power plant with a spur rail, that is not used anymore, and crosses Cannon Rd., at high speeds, then through and through CP Farr, on approach to Carlsbad Poinsettia station stop. The train passes by some houses, and a water treatment plant, and then stops at the Carlsbad Poinsettia Station. It stops at Poinsettia and then rolls on south past CP Ponto.Poinsettia to Encinitas
After picking up or dropping passengers off at Poinsettia, the Coaster train crosses the Batiquitos Lagoon, with a view of the Pacific Ocean, and then travels under and bridge. The train is now in Leucadia, just north of Encinitas. At high speeds, the train blasts through a grade crossing, and then stops at the Encinitas Coaster station.
Encinitas to Solana Beach
The train then rolls through two grade crossings, and then passes CP Swami. The train then runs next to Highway 101. This view faces directly towards the Pacific Ocean, as the train passes Swami's Beach. The train then passes CP Cardiff and then yet another grade crossing at high speeds as it approaches Cardiff. The train passes Cardiff by the Sea and rolls through a lagoon. The train then rolls through CP Craven and into Solana Beach. The ride into Solana Beach from CP Craven to CP Valley, is mostly below street level in a ditch.Solana Beach to Sorrento Valley
After leaving Solana Beach, the train passes CP Valley, crosses a lagoon, past the famed Del Mar Race Track, and then rolls through a short siding in Del Mar with CP Crosby on the north end and CP Del Mar on the south end. It passes the abandoned Del Mar Surf Station and then passes another crossing. After travelling on the Del Mar Cliffs, beside the Pacific Ocean, it heads inland. The train rolls through the Soledad Lagoon, and then behind some office buildings in Sorrento Valley. The train then rolls through CP Torrey, stops at Sorrento Valley.
Sorrento Valley to Old Town
After the stop the train passes a grade crossing and rolls past CP Pines. It then travels through Mirimar hill that's full of sharp curves. Trains are limited to 25 MPH here. At the top of the hill, the train passes CP Cumbres and the Miramar Wye, and then races down a long siding on the straighter south side of Miramar Hill. It then slows as it reaches CP Elvira. After passing through Rose Canyon, the train starts to pick up speed as it approaches CP Morena. It continues traveling at high speed through CP Tecolote and then slows as it approaches CP Friar and stops at Old Town.Old Town to Downtown San Diego
After stopping at Old Town, it passes through several crossings before passing through CP Ash and arriving at Santa Fe Depot. The train is then out of service. On Weekday and morning trains, the Coaster train can also go to a small storage yard for the day beside the San Diego TrolleySan Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
yard and the SDIV yard, next to Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
.
Ticketing
The cost of Coaster tickets is based upon the number of zones traveled (see map). Tickets must be purchased before boarding, and will occasionally be checked by roving fare inspectorsRevenue Protection Inspector
Revenue Protection Inspector or Revenue Protection Officer is the job title given to staff who patrol different forms of public transport issuing penalty fares to passengers who travel without a valid ticket. These titles are principally used in the United Kingdom...
(often between the Solana Beach and Sorrento Valley stations). Monthly passes are available. All tickets and passes include transfer agreements with regular NCTD buses (the "Breeze") and monthly passes include transfer with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and Trolleys. As of January 20, 2011, 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.
While tickets are not checked on all trips, penalties for riding the Coaster without a valid ticket include a penalty fare
Penalty fare
On the United Kingdom's public transport systems, a penalty fare is a special fare charged at a higher than normal price because the purchaser did not comply with the normal ticket purchasing rules...
of up to $250. Riders cannot purchase tickets on board the train. Monthly passes are available for between $120.00 to $165.00. With proof of eligibility, youth (ages 6–18) monthly passes are $82.50, while senior, disabled and Medicare monthly passes are $41.25.
In January, 2011, Coaster introduced lower fares to encourage more customers to take the train.
Monday to Friday (Weekdays)
Coaster runs thirteen daily southbound trains (Oceanside to San Diego) and thirteen northbound (San Diego to Oceanside) weekdays, Monday to Friday. Three Coaster trains, the morning trains, then are stored in the MTS Trolley yard, just south of the main San Diego Depot. In the afternoons, the trains come back to the station, load, and then continue on its normal route. On Friday and Saturday nights, Coaster operated an additional four trains to accommodate Friday night crowds during the summer months. Coaster stops this service when the Fall timetable switches.Saturday and Sundays (Weekends)
Saturdays have limited service, with six southbound and six northbound trains in the summertime. In time Fall and the Winter, the weekend Saturday trains go down to 4 trips Southbound, and also 4 trips Northbound. On April 4, 2011, Coaster introduced a limited 4-roundtrip Sunday/holiday service during the summer season. This then was extended to be year round. Special service to Padres games is available in the summertime. Special Service for Special Events, such as the Carlsbad Street Fair, also have more trains running on the weekend.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 MTSSan Diego Metropolitan Transit System
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is the public transit service provider for Central, South, Northeast and Southeast San Diego County, in the United States. MTS operating subsidiaries include the San Diego Trolley, Incorporated , and San Diego Transit Corporation...
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. When a customer boards a bus they simply tap their Compass Card on the "Validator", usually located near or on the farebox. The LED
LEd
LEd is a TeX/LaTeX editing software working under Microsoft Windows. It is a freeware product....
display then lights up with lights resembling that of a stoplight, and the LCD display shows text regarding the passenger's fare account. When boarding rail vehicles the Validators are located on the platform, and the same process is performed to board the train. This program is still in the pilot testing phase, and SANDAG hopes to have all bus passengers using the Compass Card by the end of 2009.
Fleet
| Builder | Type | Purchased | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morrison-Knudsen | F40PHM-2C EMD F40PH -Amtrak NPCU Conversions:In later years, as Amtrak's F40PH fleet was being replaced by the newer GE Genesis-series locomotives, Amtrak converted a number of the retired units—generally ones with major mechanical problems limiting their value in the resale or lease marketplace—into "Non-Power... |
1994 | 2101–2105 |
| GM-EMD | F59PHI | 2001 | 3001–3002 |
| Bombardier Bombardier Transportation Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany.... |
Bi-Level Coach Bombardier BiLevel Coach Bombardier BiLevel coaches are bilevel passenger cars designed to carry up to 360 passengers for regional railways. These carriages are easily identifiable; they are double-decked and are shaped like elongated octagons.-History:... |
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 MetrolinkMetrolink (Southern California)
Metrolink is a commuter rail system serving Los Angeles and the surrounding area of Southern California; it currently consists of six lines and 55 stations using of track....
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
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
. The Sprinter line connects Oceanside, California to Escondido, California. Riders can use buses from the Sorrento Valley station to access employment centers in Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa
Sorrento Mesa, San Diego
Sorrento Mesa is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located in the northern part of the city, east of Interstate 805, on the mesa overlooking Sorrento Valley. University City lies to the south, the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve to the north, and Mira Mesa to the east...
, Torrey Pines, and University City. The VA Hospital
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
, the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
, and some area employers also provide shuttle service to and from the Sorrento Valley station at peak times. NCTD provides "Breeze" bus service connecting with the Coaster at all North 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 CenterSan Diego Convention Center
The San Diego Convention Center is the primary convention center in San Diego, California. It is located in the Marina district of downtown San Diego near the Gaslamp Quarter, at 111 West Harbor Drive...
, as well as interest in rebuilding the station at Del Mar to serve the racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack
Del Mar Racetrack is an American Thoroughbred horse racing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego. Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: "Where The Turf Meets The Surf." It was built by a partnership...
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 all of the cars are stored for the night, and where the trains get serviced. A small yard beside the San Diego TrolleySan Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
s' yard is for staging of trains for the day, but only is used during the weekdays. Three trains are parked there during the day.