Oceanside, Calif.’s North County Transit District (NCTD) kicked off the celebration of the COASTER's 30th Anniversary with the launch of new COASTER passenger cars.
The ceremony featured a public tour to inaugurate the new trainsets.
California's NCTD Marks 30 Years of Commuter Rail
The COASTER, then called Coast Rail Express, took its first trip on February 27, 1995. Over the past 30 years, the service has evolved to offer 192 trips per week.
February 23, 2025
NCTD is continuing the celebration later this month with free rides, giveaways, commemorative 30th anniversary smart cards, and more.
Photo: NCTD
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Bringing Commuter Rail to San Diego
The COASTER, then called Coast Rail Express, took its first trip on February 27, 1995. Over the past 30 years, the service has evolved to offer 192 trips per week.
"The partnerships we’ve forged at all levels of government are one of the critical pieces of NCTD’s continued success each and every day,” said NCTD CEO Shawn M. Donaghy. “Today, we celebrate the COASTER turning 30. As our communities continue forward, we are excited about what the next 30 years will bring.”
Growing COASTER’s Reach
NCTD has advanced several critical projects to improve the COASTER service since its inception, including several infrastructure projects and the new COASTER passenger cars unveiled today.
“For decades, SANDAG has proudly partnered with NCTD to deliver real transportation options for commuters,” said SANDAG Chair Lesa Heebner. “Today’s milestone represents a significant investment in the future of the LOSSAN rail corridor and is part of our ongoing commitment to improve transit options and boost ridership across the region.”
The new COASTER bi-level cabs and coaches feature:
Crash energy management protection system.
Enhanced monitoring system for determining issues on each coach.
Improved door operations for heightened safety of passengers and crew.
Increased security for locomotive engineers when operating the train.
NCTD is continuing the celebration later this month with free rides, giveaways, commemorative 30th anniversary smart cards, and more.
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