Coaster (rail service)

Coaster (stylized in all caps) Template:Reporting mark is a commuter rail service in the central and northern coastal regions of San Diego County, California, United States, operated by the North County Transit District (NCTD).

The Template:Convert commuter rail line features eight stops, with a travel time of about one hour and one minute end-to-end. The service operates seven days a week except nights, with slightly greater frequency during weekday peak periods.

Coaster first entered service on February 27, 1995, and has since grown in ridership and capacity. In Template:American transit ridership, the line had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership, or about Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridership.

History

The North San Diego County Transit Development Board was created in 1975 to consolidate and improve transit in northern San Diego County. Planning began for a San Diego–Oceanside commuter rail line, then called Coast Express Rail, in 1982.<ref name="history">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=history /> The Board established the San Diego Northern Railway Corporation (SDNR) – a nonprofit operating subsidiary – in 1994.<ref name=history /> SDNR purchased the Template:Convert of the Surf Line within San Diego County plus the Template:Convert Escondido Subdivision (later used for the SPRINTER) from the Santa Fe Railway that year.<ref>Template:Cite news Template:Open access</ref>

Coaster service began on February 27, 1995.<ref name="history" /> NCTD originally contracted Amtrak to provide personnel for Coaster trains.<ref name="trains mag">Template:Cite web</ref> In July 2006, TransitAmerica Services took over the day-to-day operation of the commuter train, based on a five-year, $45 million contract with NCTD.<ref name="trains mag" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Bombardier Transportation replaced TransitAmerica as Coaster's operator.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In December 2018, NCTD achieved full implementation of positive train control along the entire Coaster route, making it one of only four railroads in the United States to achieve full implementation of this technology without needing an extension beyond 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Future

File:COASTER Train Torrey Pines New Bridge.jpg

A Coaster train passes over a new concrete bridge (as part of a bridge replacement project) near Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

San Diego County voters extended the TransNet sales tax through 2038, which includes funding for rail track upgrades. By the early 2010s, numerous improvements such as added double track and bridge replacements were in various stages of construction and design.<ref name="APTA-talk">Template:Cite conference</ref> As part of the broader North Coast Corridor project, approximately $1 billion is planned to be spent on new segments of double track between San Diego and Orange County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Limited-use stations at the San Diego Convention Center and the Del Mar Racetrack for use during major events have been planned, and is expected to complete construction of the stations in late 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A northward extension to Camp Pendleton was also proposed in 2011.<ref name="history" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the early 2020s, officials recognized the need to move the tracks away from the encroaching erosion of the Del Mar bluffs. Planning and design of a rail tunnel under the city are ongoing, with an estimated completion date of 2035.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> By 2024, SANDAG narrowed down the Del Mar bluffs bypass to three routes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the routes would tunnel under the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which was opposed by the local community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Service

More than 20 Coaster trains run on weekdays,<ref name="COASTER">Template:Cite web</ref> with additional service on the weekends.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of April 3, 2017, Coaster also added Friday Night service with trains running until a quarter after midnight. More weekend services operate during summer months and when there are special events, such as home games for the San Diego Padres. In March 2020, all weekend trains and some weekday trains were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic; however, weekend service was reinstated on May 29, 2021.

Stations

File:San Diego commuter rail map.png

Coaster route map (with other commuter lines included). This does not show routes of the San Diego Trolley.

Zone	Location	Station<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Connections
1	Oceanside	Oceanside Transit Center	Template:Rint Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner, Template:Bus icon Thruway 1 Template:Rint SPRINTER Template:Rint Metrolink: Orange County Line, Inland Empire–Orange County Line Template:Bus icon BREEZE: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route Template:Bus icon Greyhound Lines
	Carlsbad	Template:Stl	Template:Bus icon BREEZE: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route
		Template:Stl	Template:Bus icon BREEZE: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route
	Encinitas	Template:Stl	Template:Bus icon BREEZE: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route
	Solana Beach	Template:Stl	Template:Rint Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Template:Bus icon BREEZE: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route
2	San Diego	Template:Stl	Template:Bus icon NCTD COASTER Connection: Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route, Template:NCTD route
3		Old Town Transit Center Template:Rint	Template:Rint Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Template:Rint San Diego Trolley: Green Line, Blue Line Template:Bus icon MTS: Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route
		Santa Fe Depot	Template:Rint Amtrak: Pacific Surfliner Template:Rint San Diego Trolley: Green Line, Blue Line Template:Bus icon MTS: Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route, Template:SDMTS route
Planned		Unnamed Downtown Coaster Station (2027)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Rint San Diego Trolley: Green Line

Fares and ticketing

The cost of Coaster tickets is based upon the number of zones traveled (see map). Fare collection is based on a proof-of-payment system: 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 BREEZE buses and monthly passes include transfer with the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) buses and Trolleys. On January 20, 2011, NCTD implemented a fare reduction, which to increased ridership on Coaster and so was made permanent in September 2011. Template:As of, regular one-way fares are as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Within one zone: $5
• Within two zones: $5.75
• Within three zones: $6.50

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

Pronto Fare System / Former Compass System

Coaster, along with all other NCTD and MTS services, utilizes the new Pronto contactless fare system introduced in September 2021 by INIT Systems and SANDAG; the Pronto system succeeded the first-generation Compass Card system."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a replacement for the original "Compass Card," the Pronto fare system allows for a tap-on, tap-off approach, so riders on Coaster can tap-on when entering the station platform (using one of the station's validators), and tap-off when arriving at the destination stop, in order to deduct the correct fare.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, unlike other NCTD and MTS services, Pronto users for Coaster are required to purchase Day or Monthly Passes prior to riding due to different electronic ticket requirements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> These passes along with general Pronto cards can be physically purchased at Pronto ticket vending machines at NCTD facilities, or in customer service centers; electronic versions can be purchased through the website or through the mobile applications.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Coaster previously utilized the aforementioned contactless "Compass Card", made possible by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. The "Compass Card" allowed passengers from MTS and NCTD to store regional transit passes and cash value on a rewritable RFID card. Customers would have purchased passes and added cash value on the Internet or at any ticket vending machine. Prior to boarding a train, customers tapped their Compass Cards on the ticket validator located on the train platform. The LED display on the validator would then light up with lights resembling that of a stoplight, and the LCD display showed text regarding the passenger's fare account.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new Pronto system now used expanded upon many of the design concepts previously employed with the Compass Card system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ridership

Coaster carried about 514,450 passengers during its first year of operation,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and ridership rose steadily in the years that followed. In 2019, Coaster ridership was approximately 1.4 million people, with an average number of 4,200 weekday boardings.<ref name="APTA 2019 Q4">Template:Cite web</ref> The Coaster served Template:American transit ridership riders in Template:American transit ridership,Template:American transit ridership and currently carries Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridership.Template:American transit ridership

Approximately 40% of weekday commuters detrain at Sorrento Valley.Template:Citation needed

Rolling stock

Builder	Type	Purchased	Quantity	Numbers	Image
Locomotives
Siemens	SC-44 Charger	2018–2020	9	5001–5009	File:Santa Fe Depot 5004.jpg
Passenger Cars
Bombardier	BiLevel coach	1994	3	2201, 2203, 2208	File:Phase I Livery COASTER 2205.jpg
		1997	6	2401–2406	File:Phase II Livery COASTER 2402.jpg
		2003	4	2501–2504	File:COASTER 2504.jpg
		2020	8	42101–42108	File:NCTD Coaster Coach Car 42105.jpg
	BiLevel cab car	1994	8	2301–2308	File:COASTER 2306.jpg
		2003	2	2309–2310	File:COASTER 2310 V2.jpg
		2020	3	421-423	File:COASTER 423.jpg

File:Coaster F40PHM-2C 2101.jpg

Coaster 2101, an F40PHM-2C, at Sorrento Valley Station shortly before it was retired.

File:NCTD Bombardier Bi-level.jpg

The top deck of an original Coaster Bombardier Bi-Level coach. The seat materials will be refurbished, with electrical outlets also to be added.

In June 2018, the North County Transit District (NCTD) Board approved the purchase of five Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotives to replace their existing five F40PHM-2C locomotives that were remanufactured by Morrison-Knudsen, with $10.5 million of the estimated $53.9 million cost earmarked from statewide gas tax and vehicle registration fees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June 2019, the NCTD Board approved the purchase of two additional SC-44 locomotives to replace two EMD F59PHI locomotives; they are due for delivery in late 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In September 2020, the NCTD Board approved the purchase of two more SC-44 Chargers, for a total of nine; planned for delivery in April 2023, they will be used to expand service.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Deliveries of the first five Siemens SC-44 Charger locomotives took place from August–October 2020; they began revenue service on February 8, 2021,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> the same day Coaster retired their five F40PHM-2C locomotives. Two locomotives were donated; 2103 to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, and 2105 to the Southern California Railway Museum.<ref name="railfan.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2020, Bombardier began to overhaul the legacy BiLevel equipment at a minimum rate of four cars per year; all 28 cars are planned to be overhauled and repainted into the new livery by 2026.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The coach overhaul improvements include upgraded door systems, installation of LED light fixtures, seat cushion replacements, installation of electrical charging outlets, and suspension maintenance improvements.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2020, the NCTD Board approved the purchase of eleven new Bombardier BiLevel passenger cars (consisting of eight coaches and three crash-energy management cab-cars) that will be used to add two trainsets to regular service and support SANDAG expansion upon delivery in late 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The base order also includes options for 27 additional cars, but such options have not currently been exercised.<ref name="ut 7/20">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2018, NCTD announced that they were seeking public opinions and input on a re-brand of the agency, and ran online polls for the public to vote on a new livery for Coaster equipment. The new livery, chosen by Siemens in late 2019, is being applied to the overhauled coaches and to new equipment.<ref name="ut 7/20" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2023, the NCTD board voted to sell five older bilevel cars to the Utah Transit Authority, and to sell two Charger locomotives (possibly to Caltrans or Metrolink). The funds will be used for operations or capital projects, including planned conversion to zero-emissions equipment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Yards

NCTD maintains and utilizes two rail yards for Coaster. The main maintenance and storage yard, located at Stuart Mesa on Camp Pendleton, just north of the Oceanside Transit Center. This is where trains are serviced, maintained and stored for the night.Template:Citation needed From the service's inception in 1995 until 2020, NCTD used Tracks 25, 26 and 27 of the MTS 12th and Imperial yard to store trains during midday.

See also

• Commuter rail in North America
• List of United States commuter rail systems by ridership
• Transportation in San Diego County

External links

• Coaster – official NCTD site