Coaster (rail service)
| COASTER | |
|---|---|
| File:COASTER logo.png | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Central, Northern, and Coastal region of San Diego County, California |
| Transit type | Regional rail |
| Number of stations | 8 |
| Daily ridership | 6,000 boardings as of 2006 |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | February 27, 1995 |
| Operator(s) | TransitAmerica |
| Reporting marks | SDNR |
| Technical | |
| System length | 41 mi |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) |
The San Diego Coast Express Rail, or COASTER, is a Regional rail service administered by the San Diego Northern Railway (SDNR), a subsidiary of the North County Transit District (NCTD) and was operated by Amtrak. Beginning in July 2006, TransitAmerica, a subsidiary of Missouri-based Herzog Transit Services, began a five-year, $45 million contract. The Coaster services the central and northern coastal region of San Diego County, California, with eight regular station stops in San Diego, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. Service operates primarily during weekday peak periods, but limited weekday midday, Friday evening, and Saturday service also exists. Special evening service is provided when the San Diego Padres play Monday-Thursday evening home games.
History
 |
Revenue Coaster service began February 27, 1995. Money 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.
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. [1]
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 miles of mainline track, as well as the 22-mile Escondido Branch that will be served by the Sprinter beginning in 2007. The Coaster commuter train runs on 41.1 miles of the mainline.
NCTD maintains two rail yards. One is shared with the San Diego Trolley at 12th & Imperial in Centre City San Diego. It is used to store trainsets 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.
Station stops
| Station | Rail Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | |||
| Oceanside | COASTER
SPRINTER beginning December 2007 | ||
| Carlsbad Village | COASTER | ||
| Zone 2 | |||
| Carlsbad Poinsettia | COASTER | ||
| Encinitas | COASTER | ||
| Solana Beach | COASTER
Pacific Surfliner | ||
| Zone 3 | |||
| Sorrento Valley | COASTER | ||
| Zone 4 | |||
| Old Town San Diego | COASTER
Pacific Surfliner | ||
| Downtown San Diego (Santa Fe Depot) |
COASTER
Pacific Surfliner San Diego Trolley | ||
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 inspectors (often between the Solana Beach and Sorrento Valley stations). Discounted ten-ride tickets and monthly passes are available. Seniors, the disabled, and youth discounts are also available. All tickets and passes include transfer agreements with regular NCTD buses (the "Breeze") and Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and Trolleys. Coaster and Amtrak also have a Rail 2 Rail program that permits Coaster monthly pass holders and Amtrak ticket holders to use either service within the area covered by their pass or ticket. As of December 2006, regular one-way fares are as follows:
- Within one zone: $4.00
- Within two zones: $4.50
- Within three zones: $5.00
- Within four zones: $5.50
While tickets are not checked on all trips, penalties for riding the Coaster without a valid ticket include a fine of up to $250. Riders cannot purchase tickets onboard the train.
Fleet
| Builder | Type | Purchased | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM-EMD | F40PH-2C | 1994 | 2101-2105 |
| GM-EMD | F59PHI | 2001 | 3001+3002 |
| Bombardier | Bi-Level Coach | N/A | 28 |
Most trains run with 5 coaches.
Bike rider information
'24xx' series coaches have space for 6 bikes (4 on north end, 2 on south end).
'25xx' 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 Trolley at Old Town and Centre City San Diego.
Riders can use free Coaster Connection shuttles at Sorrento Valley to access employment centers in Sorrento Valley, Sorrento Mesa, Torrey Pines, and University City. Coaster Connection shuttles also provide residents with access to the Coaster in Encinitas and Carlsbad. The VA Hospital, UCSD, and area employers also provide shuttle service to the Sorrento Valley station.
In Centre City and Old Town, commuters can connect with MTS Trolleys and buses, including The Flyer from Centre City to Lindbergh Field.
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. A new station is planned for the University City area, at Nobel Drive in the Golden Triangle. NCTD and other public agencies have expressed interest in tunnelling through Golden Triangle to avoid the circuitous route through Miramar. Plans to double track more of the NCTD-owned mainline are also being considered.
See also
External links