NORTH COUNTY -- Once down and out like the team it serves, the Chargers Express Bus will make a special run Saturday to carry fans to Qualcomm Stadium.

Early in the season, the federal government forced the North County Transit District to quit running the popular game buses, claiming that private industry had expressed interest in offering the same service. But private operators did not materialize and the feds finally gave the transit district the green light to resume making game-day runs for the remainder of the season.

Encinitas City Councilman Jerome Stocks, who represents his city on the transit board, said Friday he's glad North County Chargers fans won't have to wait in long lines to get into Qualcomm's massive parking lot for Saturday's play-off game against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Express buses, he noted, have their own separate entrance.

"It was very frustrating when we were forced to stop running it, and it's very wonderful that we were able to get the feds to change their mind," Stocks said.

The situation was doubly frustrating because the Chargers Express Bus service, which makes multiple stops at pick-up points along Interstates 5 and 15, was one of the district's only services that actually broke even.

Rider fees cover only about 20 percent of the cost of operating normal North County Breeze bus service and only about 50 percent of the bill for Coaster commuter trains.

Stocks said the service is difficult for a traditional charter company to operate, because it relies on an unknown number of customers simply showing up on game day. By comparison, he noted that charter companies generally count on renting full buses to specific groups of people.

"They found that nobody, no charter (company), was willing to take that gamble of renting the bus and then hoping they could fill the seats with warm bodies," Stocks said.

A round-trip bus ride on the Express costs $12 for adults and $4 for kids age 12 and younger. One-way trips are also available at half the round-trip price. All fares must be paid in cash upon boarding. Fare boxes accept only $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills and do not give change.

Buses for Saturday's game will leave as much as two hours and 15 minutes before kickoff to insure that fans arrive at least 40 minutes before kickoff. Based on the game's 5 p.m. kickoff time, buses should leave North County destinations on the following schedule:

Interstate 5 (arrives at Qualcomm 40 minutes prior to kickoff)

- Oceanside Transit Center, 2:45 p.m.

- Plaza Camino Real, 3 p.m.

- La Costa Park & Ride, 3:20 p.m.

- Birmingham Park & Ride, 3:40 p.m.

Interstate 15 (arrives at Qualcomm 60 minutes prior to kickoff)

- Escondido Transit Center, 3 p.m.

- Felicita Plaza, 3:10 p.m.

- Beethoven & Bear Valley Parkway, 3:25 p.m.

No senior or disabled discounts are available for Chargers buses. All return trips leave Qualcomm 20 minutes after the game's final play.

Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.