Oceanside Transit Center


The Oceanside Transit Center, usually referred to as simply Oceanside, is a major railway interchange in Oceanside, California, serving both intercity and suburban/commuter services. The station is used by Amtrak on the route of its Pacific Surfliner service between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. It is also a terminus for two different regional transit operators - Metrolink, the commuter rail operator for the Los Angeles area, has two of its services, the Metrolink Orange County Line and Inland Empire-Orange County Line, that terminate at Oceanside, while the North County Transit District, the operator for most of the public transport in North San Diego County, has its COASTER and SPRINTER services also terminating at Oceanside. Oceanside Transit Center is also served by Greyhound Lines, numerous BREEZE buses, and is also the terminal for RTA's Bus Route 202 to Temecula and Murrieta. COASTER and Metrolink trains going out of service will head to Stuart Mesa but due to the small facility, some Metrolinks set will either be kept at the nearby Fallbrook Yard or stored on an empty track south of the station.
Of the 73 California stations served by Amtrak, Oceanside was the fifteenth-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 800 passengers daily.

History

Oceanside Transit Center was built in 1984, and serves as a replacement for a 1946-built Santa Fe Depot, which was torn down in 1988. The former station was itself a replacement for an 1886-built Santa Fe Depot.

Platforms and tracks

Amtrak, COASTER, and Metrolink trains may stop on Platform 1, Platform 2 or Platform 3.

Expansion

To enhance the regional transit service, this station had major expansion including building a third track and platform in the middle of the existing tracks, extending all platforms, and adding a passenger walkway. Construction on the project began in 2016, the third platform opened in May 2017, and Platform 1 reopened November 20.