NCTD Unveils New Bi-level Trainsets at COASTER 30th Celebration

2/27/2025

The North County Transit District (NCTD), Oceanside, CA, kicked off the celebration of COASTER’s 30th Anniversary with the recent launch of new COASTER passenger cars. The ceremony featured a public tour of the new trainsets.

COASTER, then called Coast Rail Express, took its first trip Feb. 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 Shawn M. Donaghy, chief executive officer. “Today, we celebrate the COASTER turning 30. As our communities continue forward, we are excited about what the next 30 years will bring.”

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.