COASTER - Fares & Passes

this page contains:
Fares & Passes Overview | Where to Get Them | Day Tripper Program | Employer Transportation Services

Click here to download the PDF Rider Alert for:
New Fares for NCTD Services, Effective July 1, 2008
Cambios en tarifas para los servicios de NCTD

A COASTER monthly pass is the region's most cost-effective transit pass! Your monthly COASTER pass allows unlimited rides on the COASTER train, North County BREEZE buses, SPRINTER light rail trains, MTS buses and San Diego Trolley. The COASTER / AMTRAK Rail2Rail Program is discontinued, effective July 1, 2008.

COASTER tickets and passes are sold from ticket vending machines (TVMs) located at any of the COASTER stations, at our Customer Service windows in Oceanside or by phone. No tickets are sold on the COASTER train. Tickets and passes must be purchased before boarding the train and must be presented to the COASTER conductor, sherriff or transit security officer upon request. Ticket Vending Machines accept credit cards, debit cards and cash.

Senior is age 60 and older. Seniors and individuals with disabilities may be asked to show proof of eligibility aboard train. People with disabilities may call NCTD Customer Service at (760) 966-6500 to inquire about obtaining a Reduced Fare I.D. card. Medicare Recipients must show Medicare Card for reduced fare.

About One-Way Trip Tickets		About Round Trip Tickets
Also known as an individual ticket, a one-way trip is valid for one passenger for two hours. The ticket is automatically validated at time of purchase from a Ticket Vending Machine. One-way tickets must be used on the day of purchase. This ticket contains an "Expires" timestamp.		Round Trip tickets are convenient if you are traveling there and back on the same day. A round trip ticket is printed on one pass and can be used all day long. This ticket contains a "must use by" timestamp. Round Trip tickets must be used on the day of purchase. Discounted 10-trip tickets are no longer available for advance purchase.

NOTE: Passengers may not pre-purchase COASTER one-way and round-trip tickets for use on a future date. Multiple tickets for groups may be purchased in one transaction from the TVMs, but all tickets must be used on the day of purchase.

If you have a valid transfer, Trolley ticket or monthly pass from a participating bus or Trolley line, you are eligible to receive a discount. You'll save $2 off a one way COASTER ticket or $1 off a Senior/Disabled ticket when you purchase a "Transfer from Transit" COASTER ticket from the TVM. Retain your valid transfer, Trolley ticket or monthly pass from the participating bus or Trolley line. Show it and the discounted COASTER ticket to the conductor upon request.

Validated COASTER tickets may be used for a free transfer to BREEZE buses, the SPRINTER light rail trains, MTS buses, and the San Diego Trolley when used within 2 hours of purchase. Retain your COASTER ticket and show it to the transit operator when boarding.

LIFT Transfer
To transfer from a "LIFT" paratransit vehicle, obtain an inter-agency transfer ticket from the driver. Show this transfer to the COASTER conductor upon request. This transfer ticket is good for a one-way train trip at no additional charge.

You can buy your COASTER Monthly Pass at a ticket vending machine (TVM) located at any of the COASTER stations or by phone.

COASTER monthly passes allow you to use the COASTER, all NCTD BREEZE buses, the new SPRINTER light rail trains, San Diego Transit buses, San Diego Trolley and MTS buses as many times as you want during the month shown on the ticket. COASTER monthly passes are not valid on ADA services (LIFT & MTS Access), MTS Dial-A-Ride and special event bus services.

The COASTER / AMTRAK Rail2Rail Program is discontinued, effective July 1, 2008.

COASTER Monthly Passes are good only for the calendar month designated and expire on the last day of the month. The passes go on sale the 16th of the month before you plan to ride. For example, you can buy a July pass anytime between June 16th and July 15th - for travel in the month of July only. Passes are non-transferable. COASTER Monthly Pass and ticket prices are subject to change.

Tickets are priced by zones, but you purchase your pass from the TVM based on the stations you will be traveling to and from. The pass is good only between the stations listed on the pass. For example, if your ticket says "Oceanside to Sorrento Valley" it includes travel between the Oceanside, Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad Poinsettia, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Sorrento Valley stations. Using this example, the price of this monthly pass will be for travel between three zones.

Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection Surcharge - Effective September 1, 2008

$1.00 for each ride on the Sorrento Valley Coaster Connection (SVCC) service ($0.50 for passengers with Senior/Disabled/Medicare card).

$40.00 COASTER monthly pass supplement for unlimited rides each month on the SVCC (Senior/Disabled/Medicare: $10.00 and youth: $20.00).

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Where to Get Your Tickets and Monthly Passes
Tickets and passes are available by mail, phone order and at COASTER station ticket vending machines (TVMs) by cash or credit card. Call 760-966-6500 (Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) to request a pass by mail or phone order. No tickets or passes are sold on the COASTER train. Visit the Coaster How To Ride page to learn more about the TVMs.

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Classroom Day Tripper Program
A special discounted one-day pass is available for students (up to 18 years of age) and chaperones traveling as a group at non-peak hours on weekdays or on any Saturday COASTER train. For information, call 511 or visit Transit.511sd.com.

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Employer Transportation Services
RideLink representatives can provide transportation information to employers regarding COASTER train and general transit use. Employers have the opportunity to provide up to $110 to employees who commute (IRS code 132(f)). The employer may receive both federal and state deductions from business income taxes. For more information, call 511 and say "RideLink".

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