Santa's COASTER Express 2009
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On Saturday, December 5 NCTD invites you to hop aboard a charity train ride featuring a special appearance by Santa Claus. Trains will run at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. from the Oceanside Transit Center. Tickets for $4 must be purchased beginning Monday, November 16 at 8 a.m. at 810 Mission Ave., Oceanside.

Frequently Asked
Questions

When will Santa's COASTER Express pick up and drop off
at the Oceanside station?
NCTD is running two separate Santa Trains on Saturday, Dec. 5. The first train will leave the Oceanside Transit Center at 10:00 a.m. and will arrive back at the station around 11:30 a.m. The second train will leave the Oceanside Transit Center at 1 p.m. and will arrive back at the station around 2:30 p.m.

How much does the train ride cost?
Customers of all ages must purchase tickets in advance for $4 each. Customers will not be allowed to board the train without a ticket.

Do I need to purchase a ticket for children under the age of five?
Yes, all customers must have a ticket, including infants.

When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets will be sold beginning Monday, November 16 at NCTD's Customer Service office at 810 Mission Ave in Oceanside (760-966-6500). Tickets must be bought in cash and a maximum of 6 tickets will be sold per individual. The Customer Service office is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Who can ride Santa's COASTER Express?
Anyone! This event is recommended for families with children between the ages of 3 and 10.

Can I choose the train car I am assigned to?
Tickets are assigned to specific COASTER cars so that seat availability is adequate. Groups should request placement in the same car when purchasing tickets. We can not guarantee that large groups will all be placed in the same COASTER car.

Are the other COASTER trains running on Dec. 1 free or discounted?
No, the eight regularly scheduled COASTER trains require regular fare and Santa will not be riding these trains.

Can I take the Santa Train to get to other stations?
No, the train will not stop at any of the other COASTER stations. This special Santa train is meant to be a leisurelypaced, abbreviated round-trip experience rather than a destination train. Santa's COASTER Express will only pick up passengers at the Oceanside Transit Center.

How long will the train run?
Each train ride will run for about an hour and a half, round trip.

What will the money raised go to support?
Every dollar raised through ticket sales for this charity train ride will go to support North County's Community Resource Center. In 2008, NCTD donated $5,000 to the Community Resource Center to support their Holiday Baskets program. Learn more about this organization at www.communityresourcecenter.org.

When should I arrive at the Oceanside Transit Center?
Customers should plan on arriving at the station at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time to secure parking.

Will my children be able to sit on Santa’Äôs lap?
How much time will my child be able to talk with Santa?
Mr. and Mrs. Claus will not be seated on the train; rather, they will be walking through the train greeting the children. Mr. and Mrs. Claus will do their best to interact with each child, but "Santa time" is not guaranteed.

Can I get photos with my children and Santa?
Customers are welcome to take their own photos, but we can't guarantee that Santa will have time to sit and pose with every child on board.

What activities are planned for the train ride?
Santa's COASTER Express will feature decorated train cars and holiday music. There will be holiday handouts for the children. Volunteers will also be passing out Operation Lifesaver railroad safety information.

What happens if it is raining?
Santa's COASTER Express will run, rain or shine! Can I bring food on Santa's COASTER Express? No. NCTD is asking customers not to bring food to help keep Santa's COASTER Express train cars clean.

Are there restrooms on the train?
Yes, one in each car.

Can we bring on strollers, baby carriages or bikes?
We are asking customers to leave strollers, carriages and bikes at home or in their cars since there is limited space on the train.

Can mobility devices easily get on the train?
Yes, customers using mobility devices, canes or walkers should plan on boarding the train using the mini-high ramp located on the south end of the platform. Disabled passengers should request car #1 when purchasing tickets.


Click here to download the Flyer


Click here to download the Frequently Asked Questions

Padres COASTER Train Service
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COASTER trains run for every home Padres game, including special trains on Sundays. Padres fans can reach the ballpark stress-free and without traffic by riding the COASTER to downtown San Diego's Santa Fe Depot, then transferring for free to the San Diego Trolley (with a valid round trip COASTER ticket) for the quick ride to the Gaslamp Quarter station. When leaving PETCO Park after the game, fans can use their round trip COASTER ticket for a free Trolley ride to Santa Fe Depot.

The COASTER will serve the Friday, April 3 Padres/Angels exhibition game.
Click here to view the COASTER schedule.

A special train will operate on April 6 Padres home opener.
A southbound train will operate for the Monday, April 6 Padres home opener which begins at 4:05 p.m.

Train # 650 Oceanside Transit Center Carlsbad Village Carlsbad Poinsettia Encinitas Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Old Town (San Diego) Santa Fe Depot (San Diego)

Departure times 1:50 pm 1:56 pm 2:02 pm 2:08 pm 2:14 pm 2:24 pm no stop at this location 2:55 pm

The return northbound train will leave Santa Fe Depot (San Diego) 50 minutes after the game or special event is over.

What you need to know about the return trip
The COASTER special late-night return train from downtown San Diego will operate every Monday through Thursday evening for Padres home games. These special trains will depart downtown 50 minutes after the final out of the game or special event with an absolute departure time of 12 midnight regardless of extra innings.

After Friday and Saturday night games, including the Friday, April 3 exhibition game, fans can catch the regularly scheduled late night northbound COASTER train which departs Santa Fe Depot at 10:45 p.m. If Friday/Saturday night games run past 9:55 p.m., the northbound return train will leave 50 minutes after the final out of the game, with an absolute departure time of 12 midnight.

There will be no late night COASTER service for weekday afternoon games beginning at 12:35 p.m.

Saturday Games
The COASTER spring/summer schedule features expanded Saturday service, with six southbound and six northbound trains. The schedule conveniently allows for Padres fans to reach the ballpark for a 7:05 pm. Saturday game. The suggested southbound train leaves Oceanside at 4:33 p.m. on Saturdays, making all stops along the route, and arrives downtown at 5:35 p.m. For the return trip, fans can catch the regularly scheduled Saturday late night northbound COASTER train which departs Santa Fe Depot at 10:45 p.m. If Saturday night games run past 9:55 p.m., the northbound return train will leave 50 minutes after the final out of the game, with an absolute departure time of 12 midnight.

Sunday Games
A special southbound train will run from Oceanside beginning at 11:05 a.m. for Sunday home games beginning at 1:05 p.m. This train will make all stops along the COASTER route, arriving at Santa Fe Depot at 12:08 p.m. The return northbound train will leave from downtown San Diego 50 minutes after the game is over.

Tickets
It is recommended passengers purchase a round-trip ticket for their travel, which includes transfers to the San Diego Trolley. Tickets are available at North County COASTER stations from ticket vending machines. Discounted COASTER fares are available for seniors (ages 60 or older) and persons with disabilities. Passengers should arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled train departure time to find parking and purchase tickets.

Click here for COASTER fares.
Click here for COASTER station locations.

PETCO Park Discount: Transit Tuesdays
The Padres have partnered with local transit agencies to offer transit riders a discount on Tuesday Padres tickets just for riding public transit to the game. Passengers simply show their valid transit ticket (San Diego Trolley, COASTER, day pass or monthly pass) at PETCO Park and receive $6 off all tickets to Tuesday games priced $12 and above (excluding Right Field Pavilion and Western Metal Supply Building rooftop bleachers). In addition, monthly pass holders can buy Tuesday game tickets in advance at the Padres Advance Ticket Windows at the stadium. Transit Tuesdays run through August, 2009.

Click here for more information from the SD MTS web site:
http://www.sdmts.com/Marketing/padrespromotion.asp

COASTER Classroom Day Pass Program
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Attention teachers: the Classroom Day Pass program is a great way for students to learn how to use public transit while seeing the fun sites around San Diego. Discounted round trip fare on selected COASTER trains only of $3.00 per person is available for groups of 15 or more students/chaperones. There is a maximum of 135 student and adults per group and not all trains are available at the group rate. Travel must be conducted 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and is available all day on Saturdays (COASTER trains do not operate on Sundays).

For booking information, call the Day Tripper Hotline: (619) 233-9558 at least 14 days in advance. Trips must be confirmed by the day pass coordinator to qualify for the Classroom Day Pass discount.

Click here to learn more from the SDMTS web site.