Carlsbad Poinsettia station

Carlsbad Poinsettia station is a commuter rail station in Carlsbad, California that is on the NCTD COASTER commuter rail line. The station serves the Poinsettia and La Costa communities of Carlsbad, and is the southernmost of the two COASTER stations in Carlsbad, the other being Carlsbad Village station about four miles to the north. It is also located about four miles away from the LEGOLAND California Theme Park and five miles from McClellan-Palomar Airport; there are transit services that are provided for transport to those destinations.

Carlsbad Poinsettia
The renovated station in April 2020 with the new platform extensions, realigned tracks, upgraded signage, lighting fixtures, benches and canopy shelters.
General information
Location	6511 Avenida Encinas Carlsbad, California
Coordinates	33°6′33″N 117°19′9″W
Owned by	North County Transit District
Line(s)	NCTD San Diego Subdivision[1]
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Connections	NCTD BREEZE: 444, 445
Construction
Parking	Yes
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Fare zone	1
History
Opened	February 27, 1995 (1995-02-27)[2]
Rebuilt	2020
Services
Preceding station North County Transit District Following station Carlsbad Village towards Oceanside COASTER Encinitas towards San Diego
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Carlsbad Village toward San Luis Obispo Pacific Surfliner 2013–2018 Encinitas toward San Diego
Location

History

A Pacific Surfliner train passing through the station in 2013

The station opened along with the other COASTER stations when rail service began on February 27, 1995, servicing the southern communities of Carlsbad in contrast with Carlsbad Village station.

On October 7, 2013, the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner began stopping at four COASTER stations: Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad Poinsettia, Encinitas, and Sorrento Valley.^[3] Amtrak dropped service to Carlsbad Poinsettia and Encinitas on October 9, 2017, due to low ridership.^[4]

With increasing ridership and a demand for expansion, the station underwent a thirty-four million dollar renovation beginning in May 2018.^[5] The platforms were lengthened to 1,000 feet (300 m) to accommodate longer trains, and were also raised for accessibility and easier boarding. A pedestrian underpass was constructed (replacing the two at-grade pedestrian crossings at either end of the platforms) and fencing was placed between the tracks, allowing two trains to pass through the station at one time. In addition, the tracks and platforms were realigned slightly west of their old locations, and new signage and canopies were installed. The project was completed in February 2020.^[6]

References

1. SMA Rail Consulting (April 2016). "California Passenger Rail Network Schematics" (PDF). California Department of Transportation. p. 26.
2. Bradley, Jr., Tom (February 26, 1995). "High Hopes Ride Aboard Coaster". The North County Times. Oceanside, California. pp. B1, B8. Retrieved March 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Adds Four New stops" (Press release). Amtrak. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
4. Diehl, Phil (September 21, 2017). "Amtrak to discontinue two stops, add one". San Diego Union Tribune.
5. Puterski, Steve (May 3, 2018). "$34M Poinsettia Station project breaks ground". The Coast News Group.
6. Puterski, Steve (February 27, 2020). "Local officials celebrate Poinsettia Station improvements". The Coast News Group.

External links

Media related to Carlsbad Poinsettia station at Wikimedia Commons

• COASTER Stations