I have lived here many years but only taken the Coaster a handful of times. I was going down to Petco park for a Padres game and decided to give it a try. It is about an hour from Oceanside to the San Diego Santa Fe depot (about 20 minutes more than driving by car at 1030 am). There was an option for a day pass for $15 to take the Coaster down and back, but also to be able to use the Trolley as well. That was a good deal. Avoid a ticket and tap your Pronto card everytime you get on to a train or trolley. You get down to the Santa Fe Depot and you walk over to the trolley line and take the green or blue, green has less stops and it only takes like 10-14 minutes. The conductors do come by to check your tickets, so just make sure you tap your Pronto card everytime you get on to a train or trolley. I was able to leave the game with 2 outs to go and run to the trolley which was running late, and at about 407 got us over to the Santa Fe depot at 418 and we had to run to the Coaster that was leaving at 420 but we made it, even when I stopped to tap my pronto card. Enjoy the photos. read more

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I've ridden the Coaster several times previously and always considered it the best train system along the California coast, but I rode it again recently and the Wi-Fi was out. Although, I had ridden it 2 days previously, and the Wi-Fi was out then also, on my next ride, I asked the conductor and he acted as if he wasn't aware of that and would report it. Also, at least 1/2 the bathrooms were out of order. That's a problem. I hope that's not a sign of deterioration. read more

What is the one question that comes to mind when you think of trains and the ones that you see from the movies? There have been so many trains and those trains that have stared in the major motion pictures from the many that stared in the Total Recall and the Superman movies that you see Superman come to save the trains and there are those that are used for business and commercial traffic giving you the most beautiful trip that can be the best vie4ws and the many stops when the train stops through. If you have the answer its one train that services, the many coastal cities and the ones that are a walk to the beach. Yes, the Coaster is one train that has two levels which you can sit on the top level and the bottom level and sit have the best views and when you go to the second level you get the wide view you can eat lunch on board you have to clean up the area where you're sitting at. There is one thing that the Coaster Train doesn't allow is alcoholic drinks of any kind that is a $250.00 fine that you are found on board with open containers. The Coaster train has changed and the cleanup and the remodel it began with no alcohol on board yes, many people thought it was cool to drink on board, but it's not allowed. The remodel of the trains was to change the seats and clean floors yet with the many cars that are still being used they do have some of the older cars that show the age of wear and tear. What is the best day when you have a great doctor's appointment? Yes, the day is called over the hump day to take the 101 buses to the city of Oceanside and the many stops in between to see some of the many locations in the many cities on the way up to Oceanside. There are so many things that you can discover when you take the Coast Bus of the 101 that makes many stops even including the coaster stations along the way. Catching the bus at the UTC Transit center the 101 bus that takes you up through the La Jolla area and the many Campuses of UCSD. The trip is one of the best because with many buses take you to transit center the 101 Bus takes you straight up the coastal highway with the trip the City of Oceanside along the way to the transit and train stations. The train ride that takes you through the many cities on the way back to San Diego with the train ride that takes a little over an hour when you leave the Oceanside Transit Center with the Coaster Train and the Amtrack that share the same tracks the train has to slow when the Amtrack approaches the coaster has to slow and stop and wait for the Amtrack to pass by. The Coaster Train is one of the best rides with the many stations you can also buy tickets for the shorter trips that you may take from San Diego or from the city of Oceanside. Going on the 101 buses from the UTC Transit Center taking that to the many areas and locations along the way you can visit the many areas between the stations. The Coaster Ride from the Oceanside Transit Center is one smooth ride that you can sit back relax and take time to go over work that you may have taken home for many that do take home. The low-cost prices with the many stations that you can transfer over to the many buses take you to the many areas and the Inland cities. As a Yelp Elite Reviewer, the day was one of the best to take the 101 Bus. And have the whole day and still be able to get back to National City certain bus routes do stop at certain times there were many places in the Oceanside and the Carlsbad area that I had never been to before. The many services and buses that service the many areas south of Oceanside and the Encinitas which has so many places to visit and spend the day. Happy Travels to one and all its a great day for a train ride. read more

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It always breaks down or has some sort of issue. If it rains we're really screwed because it takes forever to fix. Now they want to raise prices, for what??? You're always late, do better. read more

Alberto NCTD wheelchair accessibility saved our day!!! His lift stopped working. We had already been waiting 2 hrs due to a miscommunication. He opened the hood to the engine and fixed the problem. Back on track. Thank you Albert! You rock! read more

We rode the Coaster twice on consecutive days.  The first trip was literally a five-minute jaunt from Carlsbad to Oceanside.  The next day we took the Coaster from Carlsbad to the Santa Fe Depot downtown on our way to a Padres game.  That trip took a solid hour. The first trip to O'Side was great.  We bought tickets at the kiosk at the Carlsbad Coaster Station.  The train was on time, we hopped on and five minutes later we were in Oceanside.  The train was not crowded at all and we were able to sit just about anywhere.  Much cheaper and more convenient than a Lyft or Uber.  It was great. On the second trip to the Santa Fe Depot we found ourselves on a very packed train.  We found seating for the four of us on the second floor of the train car.  It was two seats on either side of a little table.  As we travelled down the coast, with each stop more people climbed aboard.  By the time we arrived at our destination it was standing room only. The ride itself was quite pleasant.  The views along the coast are great.  It affords one the opportunity to see some backcountry that can't been seen form the interstate, so that's pretty cool.  It was an hour from Carlsbad to downtown, but it was a quick hour.  There were quite a few stops along the way, but they were brief. After the game we made our way back to Santa Fe Depot.  For the ride home the Coaster was packed with tired, but happy campers celebrating a Padres victory.  Once again the cars were standing room only.  Becky found a seat, the last one, I stood next to her.  Our companions were in a different car altogether. The beauty of starting in Carlsbad is that you have the pick of seats because the train starts in Oceanside.  On the way back, however, it is a free-for-all, so you get what you get.  Even though I was standing it was still a quick hour return trip.  The seating on the cars was perfectly comfortable.  Certainly much better than the trolley.  The cars also have small bathrooms should the need arise.   We were visiting our friends who in live in Carlsbad and they use the Coaster quite a bit.  In fact our friend commutes to work on the Coaster on the days she has to go to the office. We found it to be a comfortable, fun and affordable way to travel. The NCTD could improve on signage.  We had the luxury of travelling with seasoned Coaster riders.  I could see how a novice could easily be overwhelmed and confused.  That would really be my only critique. read more

What a great way to visit San Diego and beat the traffic. We left from Oceanside. Figuring out the ticket was pretty easy. Seniors are only $6.50 round-trip. Coaster was on time and the gentleman checking tickets pleasant. The Coaster was clean and the ride smooth. No problems at all. Aug. 4, 2023 read more

I love the coaster because if I'm riding it then it means I'm going somewhere to have a good time. So I'll get to the point there's plenty of parking, security is tight, they have an ATM on the premises and the coaster is pretty clean for the most part. The coaster has two levels and there is enough space to be comfortable. There are a few restrooms but no bar onboard for all you boozers. If you want the best view then you must sit at the top. There's no security on the coaster so beware also they don't always check your tickets. I like the coaster and can't wait to ride again. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California

This convenient way to zip downtown and all parts South make it a reg part of my week. All the conductors are awesome, but Jaron really stands out cuz of his ppl skills. Try catching one after a Padres game you'll a blast read more

Went down to SD for a girls trip and it was my first time on the Coaster! Parking: There is plenty of free parking at the Oceanside station. Tickets:Tickets were easy to get through the machines, although the lines do get backed up closer to the time the train is supposed to depart. Wait Times: No complaints about boarding/departing. We got round trip tickets to and from SD, and both times the train left on time. Be sure to get there at least 10 minutes beforehand to grab a good seat. Seats: The seats are decent and fairly clean. We sat at the ones with the tables and they sit 4 people. Facilities: The bathrooms were diiiirty. Ughh. Try to use them at the first station, because they get worse the more stations you stop at. Overall, we had a blast! It was nice to be able to day drink and not worry about parking in downtown SD or driving later. Also, the scenery is pretty nice as your right along the coast the majority of the time and can see the ocean. read more

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We had so much fun taking the train down to San Diego!! The train was clean and on time. There was plenty of seating and the views were awesome! Nikko loved it as it was his first train ride. I loved it because he was so adorable riding the train. The stops were pretty quick all the way down to SD so we made pretty good time. The trip was an hour. We used that time to enjoy a nice lunch and showed up full and ready to have a fun filled day. The round trip price was 11.00 and Nikko was free. I can't wait to take the train down again read more

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Put up some signs already. Also the high today was 70 for like an hour and it was at least 80 inside the train on the northbound trip. Hot tired Padres fans were crowded into standing room only. You can do better. Love the ease of the Pronto app but it leaves you guessing as to where to go and the transfer process. read more

Parking was a little hard to find in this parking lot. We decided to take a short 45 minute train ride south.... the seats were fairly comfortable. Oh, we had to ask a nice lady inside the small building on how to purchase the tickets and where to board.... it was past the parking lot, way to the right, etc. Never would've found it without her directions. When we came back and drove off... the place was crowded with cars trying to leave.... we waited s few signals and most of the cars left. It's like leaving a baseball game and everyone's trying to get out at the same time. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Outside - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California

The workers aren't the issue, the riders are; specifically bums. Of late they've been riding the train. The coaster needs to kick off non paying "customers". Once more of the unhoused discover their free ride they'll colonize the train. read more

My review is for the Holiday Express Train! This was our first year going with our almost-1 and almost-3 year olds and it was a blast! Definitely get there early as the line gets long quickly and if you're even 1 minute late they will not wait for you (broke our heart to see a mom with pajama'd kids running toward the train as it took off!) While you wait there is a live school band playing, photo ops and lots of friendly transit workers all dressed up to greet the kids. Lots of characters walk through the train and take the time to talk to each kid and pass out letters for Santa, pens and a book to read along together: The entertainment was endless from start to finish. There is really no bad seat since the characters stop in each compartment whether you're upstairs or downstairs. My boys had an amazing time: lots of claps, giggles and wide-eyed wonder, and my husband and I also had a wonderful time. It was 100% worth the money to buy us each a ticket (yes, even the baby!) and we will definitely make this a yearly tradition. read more

NCTD to small to care: They forever change bus\train schedules so they don't match up with the morning worker commuters. Its without a doubt some of the dumbest planning ever. The blatant lack of awareness will lead to more people saying fuck that i'm driving from now on. Add star Raymond A Thu, Nov 9, 2017 at 5:25 PM To: NCTD Rider Reports creports@nctd.org You guys really do not give a F about your customers or completely incompetent. On Monday, October 30, 2017, Raymond A wrote: Hello - Is this query not worth an educated reply? On Friday, October 13, 2017, NCTD Rider Reports creports@nctd.org wrote: Dear Mr. Acosta, Thank you again for taking the time to contact North County Transit District. I am contacting you to confirm receipt of your complaint. We are looking into this matter now and will respond as soon as possible. NCTD Customer Service Team 810 Mission Avenue | Oceanside, CA 92054 | 760.966.6500 From: Raymond A Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2017 5:31 PM To: NCTD Rider Reports creports@nctd.org Subject: 444 bus Hello - why was the schedule changed making it tougher to get to the train on time? Is there a gr8 lack of customer care in the nctd world? read more

I transfer to this train at Oceanside from the Metrolink so I can get to Carlsbad. The train arrives at Carlsbad Poinsettia station at 7:35 but for some inexplicable reason, the connecting bus which only runs twice a day (and originates here) leaves at approximately 7:31. I complained to their customer service but nobody ever responded or got back to me. Also the first time I took the Coaster, it ran about 7 minutes late so any chance of catching the connecting 444 bus was nil. I had to Lyft the rest of the way for $9.50. But hey, the train has Wifi and you can connect from Metrolink by showing your ticket. read more

POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE: I have always enjoyed taking the Coaster from Carlsbad Village down to the Santa Fe train station. This past week I stopped by the CB Village station to buy 5 tickets a week in advance of a trip I intend to take with my family. As soon as I purchased the tickets from the machine, I read on the back that the tickets are for same-day use only. There was nothing on the machine to indicate that tickets cannot be used at a later date. Nor does the machine ask for a date of intended use. My mistake for making an assumption that I could buys tickets for a later date. I immediately called NCTD advising them of my situation. I was not looking for a refund. I simply wanted a credit ($65) to be applied towards the tickets I needed a week later. At their request, I even emailed pictures (front & back) of the unused tickets. NCTD refused a refund or a credit. Pretty 'un customer friendly' policy if you ask me. Now, reluctantly, I'll purchase another 5 tickets. read more

First, the good: It's relatively cheap, it's clean, it's always on time, the stops are very short, and there's almost always a seat available. And the best part: For about 8 glorious minutes, you get to glide seemingly inches along the edge of a cliff while experiencing 180 degree views of the Pacific. It is simply magnificent and usually, the incessant yapping of the passengers diminishes during this stretch between Del Mar and Encinitas. The bad, if you want to call it that: The passengers, whose familiarity with one another apparently compels them to make the same inane small talk, day after day, week after week. "Another Monday." "At least it's not Monday." "It's humpday." "Almost Friday." "TGIF." "How are you?" "Work sucks. I can't wait for Friday." There's the recovering alcoholic who is compelled to announce to the entire train car, "I'M A RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC." Great. Then, I won't feel guilty about not sharing my beer with you (yes, you can drink on the train). There's the bleached-blonde squinty-eyed surfer who, in his marijuana-drenched drawl, has to point out the different surfing spots, day after day, week after week: "There's Piiiiipes. There's Swaaaaamiiii's. There's...." Ok, buddy, we got it. You surf, you smoke a little (or a lot of) weed, you eat bean and cheese burritos. We got it. The Coaster is really a commuter train. It has none of the grit and therefore, none of the color, of the New York subway or the Chicago El, for example. You don't have to avoid eye contact and you won't get stabbed. In the end, it has only one purpose--getting your ass to work on time--and it does it perfectly. read more

I love train travel, something about its nostalgic time of exploration just excites me. The coaster is a great way to explore San Diego without having the added pains of driving.I have discovered some new places and would not have if I drove to my destination. I appreciate the amenities the coaster provides.The train is usually clean,roomy enough for all my cargo,has a bathroom, tables to eat or work on, free WIFI (which i never have time to use because the stops are so fast or I get distracted by the beautiful scenery) you are even allowed to moderately drink alcohol. The conductors, staff, and security officers are friendly (well at least to me). I always double check the schedule of the train with whomever staff is standing outside and they are always helpful about that. The security officers make me feel safe riding on the train at night and day because that is when most of the action takes place (drunken bums getting kicked off). Don't get freaked most of the people are normal commuters that keep to themselves. The prices are affordable. Round trip for adults 6 & older is $8-11 depending on which 3 zones you are riding from and out of. One way tickets are $4-5.50. Kids under 5 are free. Discounts are given to seniors,disabled,medicare,military, and students of course. This also Includes free transfer to SPRINTER or BREEZE all day. For commuters the monthly pass is $120-165 for adults, $82 youth, senior $41 sold at Albertsons. The coaster has helped me get to a lot of events hassle free like to the fair and races at Del Mar (saves me the $ and burden of parking), to the beaches (saves me from cleaning sand out of my car), to old town for the tequila tastings and Dia De La Muerta (day of the dead), to eat and join in the Festa in Little Italy (food coma), to the street fairs in Carlsbad /Encinitas (saves my car from getting dinged) and other assorted events Downtown. I hope that in the near future more coaster stations and trains are added to expand service to the airport, balboa park, and inland locations.Yes, there is the SPRINTER for service areas inland in NOCO but we need more expansion to encompass most of San Diego. I also wish they would extend their hours later on the weekend for people who want to go to concerts or party downtown (to save us all from drunk driving/drivers) although this probably won't happen because who wants to clean up potential vomit, trash, deal with disorderly conduct or pay for that type of security. Oh well wishful thinking. I am just happy we have an efficient train system running in San Diego! The coaster stations are clean, and provide bathrooms, and snack stalls. Parking is available free of charge at all stations except downtown San Diego at Santa Fe Depot, where metered parking is available. At the Oceanside Transit Center overnight parking is allowed for up to 72 hours except in the new parking structure. (over 72hours up to 2 weeks a parking permit is required from a NCTD officer) At the other stations overnight parking is allowed (except at Old Town) for up to 24 hours only, no long term parking is allowed. Vehicles appearing to be abandoned are subject to tow. Drivers leave autos at COASTER stations and transit centers "at their own risk." NCTD is not responsible for vandalism or theft. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Coaster Views - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California

I would like to say that I am very happy that I was able to take the coaster today. From the start there was friendly smiles coming from all over the place. The families that are here on the coaster were very friendly. The moments and memories that were shared on the coaster will last a life time. Thank you very much NCTD read more

This station is very easy to use and close to my workplace. I have dropped my husband off here for him to take the coaster down to work many times. It's very convenient for us to carpool and he takes the coaster the rest of the way down to work. There's a shuttle his work has that picks him up from the coaster station at his stop so there's no need for a car for him. Some days, he just drives home if he has to work late, but it's very convenient for us. Tons of parking, though on Del Mar Opening Day, it was tough to find a spot. Tickets can be purchased on your phone or kiosks, pretty convenient! read more

As the price of 91 octane gasoline reaches one arm and one leg (although you do get to pick which arm/leg) the Coaster turns out to be an awesome alternative to driving my car to work. The trains always run on time, are quick, quiet and clean. A round-trip ticket from the Poinsettia station (Palomar Airport Rd.) to the Sorrento Valley station is $10, I then board a free shuttle to the UCSD campus and the whole trip takes about 45 minutes. Round trip in my car would be about 60 miles, cost me 2.5 gallons of gas = $11.50 (without paying for a campus parking permit) and would take 35-40 minutes. No traffic, no speeding tickets (I tend to drive fast) and more money in my pocket. I only wish I had been taking the Coaster before the gas crunch. read more

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I'm a fan of trains, in general, and the Coaster is great. We can catch it in Oceanside after taking the Sprinter from Escondido and it's handy to get back and forth from downtown San Diego. The times I've ridden the Coaster, it has been very on time and they don't wait around for people! the biggest problem I see is that the schedule is too limited. Example is Saturdays they return north at 6:50 pm and then the next train north isn't until 10:45 pm! That's a huge gap! I can see the two hour gaps, even though I think one hour would make a lot more sense, but if you wanted to go downtown for dinner, forget it. Not going to happen unless I don't want to arrive home until after midnight!. The trains are nice. They have decent bathrooms. I feel secure on them and they are continually improving the tracks. It's a great concept and one sorely needed, but I'd seriously use it a lot more often if they had more trains running a tighter schedule. I hope they work on this! read more

Went to the Padre Opener..... Gotta say... LOVED the fact we all took the coaster! You can drink on the way down... get there safely, meet a lot of cool new people and have great fun with your friends! It was sooo nice not to deal with the stress of traffic! Wooowhoo! It was a nice smooth scenic ride! read more

Recommend! Surprisingly easy and comfortable. Easy to buy tickets at the kiosk at the train station. Cost was very reasonable and they have senior discounts. Trains were on time. Trip took less than an hour. We didn't have to find and pay for parking. We didn't have to drive in rush hour traffic. We boarded a bus right outside the station and headed to balboa park and downtown for the day. We even took it to the airport. The website made it easy to plan our routes. Bus drivers were all kind, patient and helpful with tourists. My smartphone maps showed all the train and bus stops. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California

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It's everything you'd ever want or need, in a train trip. Ease, convenience, economy, safety, comfort and beautiful scenery! The schedule is about to change, back to the way it was... Yaaayy!! Tickets are easy to buy and redeem, on the APP. I get a roundtripper, every week, just to enjoy visiting downtown!! It goes from Oceanside to Old Town and the Santa Fe station. Comfortable seats in air conditioning, a few tables for laptops/reading/food, big beautiful windows. The trains are spotless, even the bathrooms. Conductors are wonderful, very informative, polite and professional. They have monthly passes for commuters, and connections to the Surfliner, Trolley and Bus lines. The train is ALWAYS on time!! read more

5*s to the Coaster! This has to be one of the most convenient ways to get to Downtown San Diego from Oceanside or the North part of the city. A bit pricey - yes at $9 round trip and that is only from Santa Fe Station (Downtown) to Sorrento Valley but still - you'd probably spend more than that on gas and parking downtown. Trains run Mo - Sa with specials on Padres game days/nights and certain weekends "kids ride free." Check their website above for all the details, schedules, and fares. Overall a very well-run, quick, and clean service. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Coaster Train (from gonctd.com) - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California

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All I can say is that this train is so much better a riding experience than Amtrak: less crowded, behaving passengers that took a shower in the past 24 hours, better record of on-time departures/arrivals, and one quarter the price. It appears that a significant number of Yelpers giving low ratings have little experience with riding trains in many other American cities. Overall, train service elsewhere is often not-so-good, and nowhere is it perfect all the time. The only problem with this train service is that you must come on board with a valid ticket; otherwise, you may end up with a different kind of ticket raising the price from $5.50 per coastal ride to $400! read more

First trip with my kids on the train and the AC not working. AWFUL trip home. Felt like we were in an oven all the way home

My family's experience with the Coaster was absolutely horrible!!!!! We planned a day trip from Oceanside to San Diego on Sunday, figured we'd enjoy the scenery and have a nice day out in the city with the beautiful weather. We checked the schedules online before making the trek to the station, and got there with about 15 minutes to spare. We asked a serviceman where to go for ticketing and he directed us to a machine similar to the ones I used frequently for BART and CalTrain while living in San Francisco. He let us know the train would be arriving shortly and we should hurry to get our tickets. Roundtrip from Oceanside to SD was $13 for Sunday, which was reasonably priced compared to the services I frequented in NorCal. We payed for 5 people, which came to $65. We grabbed our tickets and hurried over to the station. Unfortunately we didn't learn until the Amtrak train had pulled up that the Coaster had already come and gone, and that it was the *only* Coaster train on Sunday. Apparently the website, serviceman, and ticket machine had been wrong. They sold us tickets for a train that was never going to come. We weren't alone in this, as there was a small crowd of maybe 20 people that had all done the same exact thing. No problem, we figured we'd head over to the admin building and either get a refund or exchange them for a different day. Come to find out the tickets are only good for two hours after purchase and there are NO refunds OR exchanges. Essentially they sold us a ticket we couldn't use and walked away with $65 of our hard-earned money. I can *maybe* understand if we had bought the tickets beforehand and missed the train. But that wasn't the case. There was never a train coming at all. I feel absolutely cheated by this. They basically just told us to fuck off. On BART, ticket values are stored on the card, so if you pay at least you can use it at some point. CalTrains run all the time, and if a train isn't coming the machines won't sell you a ticket. The Coaster on the other hand just takes money, even if you can't use the ticket at all. And there is nothing posted on any of the machines or ticketing screens that mentions no refunds or exchanges and that tickets must be used within two hours of purchase. No wonder public transportation in Southern California is failing! I'm going to continue to fight this, and I wouldn't recommend that anyone ride The Coaster. Period. read more

Taking the train from Del Mar to see a SD Padres game can be great!! -- if you don't necessarily want to get back home OK. Being a commuter train, they don't necessarily run trains late at night -- but for nights when the Padres are playing at PETCO, they run special, extra trains. It's even on their official schedule!! (link here: http://www.gonctd.com/coaster#coaster) It's a great, scenic ride down the coast. There's just one quick connection on the trolley to get you to PETCO Park and you are at the game! Don't have to worry about traffic, parking, or any of that! However, after the game and the fireworks, we hustled back to the depot only to find that the train had ALREADY LEFT. It says specifically on their schedule: "Train departs 50 minutes after end of game or fireworks show," and we made it there in just under *30* minutes from the end of the fireworks. We weren't the only ones left behind, either... dozens of other groups were also hanging around the train station looking lost, waiting, or asking about the train. We tried to call and complain, but there's only answering machines to speak to after-hours. After waiting around the station for another 45 minutes to make sure the train wasn't just running late, we gave up. It cost us over $70 to take a taxi back to the Del Mar station. Wish we'd had just driven to the game and paid for parking instead! I called back later during business hours, and they said we had to write a letter and send in our tickets in order to give us a refund. After a few weeks, they finally sent me back two free tickets to ride the Coaster again. WTF!?! I was supposed to be given a *refund*. I don't live in San Diego; what am I gonna do with free Coaster tickets? Even if I did live in SD, I would not be taking the Coaster again after that experience!! read more

What a terrific means of transportation between North County and Downtown San Diego, and points between! The pros: It's easy to purchase tickets from the Ticket Vending Machines, online, or through the new mobile apps. You can avoid the "parking lot" otherwise known as I-5, and the associated stress of driving. With the cost of gas these days it's cheaper than driving. (Especially if you are age 60+ and qualify for the Senior rate - $5.50 Round Trip between Oceanside and Old Town or Downtown.) Convenient connections to other public transit - Sprinter, Breeze, MTS. There is drinking water and a restroom at the front of each car. Food and beverages are allowed. Free Wi-Fi. And it works! There is plenty of free parking at the Oceanside Transit Center, if you are headed south. The cons: It's public transportation so it can be crowded and passengers can get noisy. Very noisy. Limited schedule on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays. Less than half the number of trains that run Monday through Friday. Passengers boarding mid-route may have difficulty finding seats and there is no passage between cars. Overall I much prefer taking the Coaster to driving. So far my experience has been that it runs on schedule, or within a few minutes. It stops at the Santa Fe Depot in Downtown San Diego, which is within easy walking distance of the Embarcadero, Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy. The Old Town Transit Center is just across the street from Old Town State Park. I would very much like to see one or two more trains added on the weekends and holidays - it would be so much more convenient and ridership seems to merit it. read more

Not the most efficient rail system but at least the ride is nice. If you work near a station, then you're losing money everyday by not taking it to work. The train doesn't run as often as other commuter rails I've been on. But I'm not giving them the 3-star because they don't measure up against NJ Transit, I'm giving them the 3 because there's no stop at either airport (SAN & CLD). What's the point of having a train that runs along the coast and not have it stop at Lindbergh? What's the deal San Diego transit authority? Who's the planner that dropped the ball on this one? Droppin balls... read more

Still 5 stars!! 8 of us all took the Coaster from Carlsbad to Santa Fe Station. How can it not be 5 stars to not have to drive all the cars to accommodate that many of us and then find parking, praying the whole time we don't lose any out of town family guests! Clean, safe, fun and the view is such a de-stresser! Great people watching- for everyone in our car anyway - to say my family is entertaining is an understatement. We had a couple people change seats to sit closer to us just to witness the silliness. Bonus... they allow adult beverages, as long as you behave! or at least entertain the other passengers :-) read more

I used to take the Coaster to work EVERY DAY for three years. I made great friends... the Staff is EXCELLENT and you can't beat the STRESS FREE ride! Watching the ocean every day on the one side of the train, then looking over to the freeway side and the TRAFFIC JAMS always brought a smile to my face! I was in HEAVEN! The only drawback is that once you're at work, you're dependent upon your co-workers to drive all the time if you want to go out to lunch etc. You're kinda stuck (unless you take the bus to your destination). Another MAJOR PERK... at the end of your work day, YOU GET TO LEAVE WORK!!!!! Everyone knows you take the Coaster, so all you have to say is, "I have to go or I'll miss the train!" EVERYONE says, "Oh... you better go... hurry and don't be late!" lol... WOW... I get to go and they are stuck there! DARN! ; ) read more

Took the Coaster down to Old Town for a walk-around and lunch (see: my grim review of Casa Guadalajara restaurant!) and found it to be a nice alternative to driving. I LIKED: the clean cars and relatively normal passengers. It is NOT like commuting in DC (almost as grim as eating at Casa Guadalajara) because most folks are happy to be employed and seeing sunshine on a regular basis. Sharing the cars with the surfers was fun, too, and my kids got a kick out of seeing them wrestle the boards onto the cars and tenderly stack them in a corner. The ride was fast and about 50 minutes. Both ways were right on time. I also liked the free parking at the Oceanside station. I DISLIKED: the narrow leg space-- I'm not a giantess, but I've got long legs, and I had to sit diagonally so as not to knock knees with the equally leggy guy across from me. I also think that $13 for a 1-day round-trip ticket is a bit on the high side. I was thinking $10 or so would be a better incentive to get some-time riders to become all-the-time riders. But who the hell asked me, right? Overall, the Coaster is fun, easy to ride, and a calming experience. The views are stellar, and it is fun to wave 'bye-bye' to all of the folks stuck in traffic. read more

The coaster, the coastal train that goes from Oceanside to Downtown San Diego. I have taken the Coaster much more this year to get to Padres games, downtown and the Del Mar Racetrack. You can't beat the convenience and relaxation factor of this train. You can bring food/alcohol on the train, which is awesome as you now have a legal manner in which you can drink all the booze you can in less than an hour it on the way to downtown. And it is really cool to jet down to San Diego without having to worry about parking issues when the I-5 is moving 30mph. It is safe, as I see teams of 2-5 armed security guards cruising through during the ride. Depending on where you are going, you may pay somewhat less that the $6 one way/$12 round trip-ticket from end to end. I love this thing. BONUS: If you ride the Coaster to Padres games, you can use the trolley for free with a round-trip ticket. And they always check your stub before you get on after Padres games. read more

I have taken the coaster many many times, from going to padres games, date night in down town or old town, the Del Mar Races, bar hopping in Encinitas, visiting a friend in PB... It truly is the best way to get around San Diego. Mainly because you can drink on the train, it's $5.50 to go from carlsbad village to down town, takes about 40 minutes which is as long or shorter than what it would take in a car with traffic. It's cheap, easy, relaxing, you can start the party early, and you have amazing views of the ocean on your way up and down. What's not to love? And now you can buy your ticket on the app/online and skip the line, even better! The only thing I would improve is later train times on the weekend, but we still make it work :) read more

Scenic rail service between San Diego and Oceanside CA with stops at the communities along the way. While primarily for commuter tourist and locals also take advantage of this convenient and inexpensive transport. The cars are clean and well maintained. The staff is helpful. Relax and enjoy the ride. read more

NCTD Coaster Train - Coaster pulling into the train station at Oceanside CA - Public Transportation Near Me - Oceanside, California