SPRINTER
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| SPRINTER | |
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| Locale | North San Diego County, California, United States |
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| Transit type | Light rail |
| Began operation | March 9, 2008[1] |
| System length | 22 mi (35 km) |
| No. of stations | 15 |
| Daily ridership | 7,836 daily [2] |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge) |
| Reporting marks | SDNR |
| Operator(s) | Veolia Transportation |
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The SPRINTER is a light rail line operating between Oceanside and Escondido, California, United States. The service uses the pre-existing 22 miles (35 km) Escondido Branch trackage of the San Diego Northern Railroad. Station platforms were constructed for the line’s fifteen stations [1] serving the cities of Oceanside (western terminus), Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido (eastern terminus). The line provides service to Palomar College and California State University, San Marcos.
The Sprinter is operated by the North County Transit District of Oceanside, the area's public transit agency. The agency also operates the San Diego Coaster and Breeze Bus. Sprinter service is operated with Desiro-class diesel multiple units (DMU) manufactured by Siemens in Germany, where they are widely used by main-line regional railways. Twelve married pairs of Siemens VT642 Desiro DMUs were delivered to the Escondido Transit Center in August 2006. The vehicles were in acceptance testing in California during the early part of 2007. At Oceanside Transit Center, the Sprinter connects to three commuter rail lines (the COASTER, the Metrolink Orange County Line, and the Metrolink Inland Empire-Orange County Line) and Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner regional rail line.
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[edit] History
The Sprinter is the first passenger train service of any kind along the Escondido Branch since the Santa Fe Railroad discontinued passenger service in 1946. The Vista and Escondido stations are the only extant stations from that era of service. The construction cost amounted to $477 million, significantly more than an early estimate of $60 million, made in 1993.[citation needed]
Construction on the SPRINTER track, stations, and facilities was scheduled for completion in December 2007. The Sprinter was scheduled to be previewed on December 28, 2007, with full runs beginning on January 13, 2008.[2] However, the line was delayed until January 27 due to safety concerns.[3] Many have doubted the reliability of the safety gates at level crossings. The reliability of the safety gates was associated with poor rail conditions and the extremely lightweight Desiro-class diesel multiple units. The DMU has historically been known for its inability to be detected by road crossing electronics, when new rail is being used. After months of use, rail conditions generally improve through grooving of the rail.[3] On January 25, it was announced that the Sprinter's opening was postponed again, this time to March 9.[4] The delays were caused by multiple issues. The California Public Utilities Commission did not certify the rail line until March 7, 2008, just 2 days before service began. It was also reported by North County Times that part of the problem involved the platforms at Escondido Avenue Station. Due to its shared right-of-way with freight trains serving businesses in Escondido, the Sprinter platforms had to be set back from the tracks a sufficient distance to provide enough room for employees riding on the sides of freight cars. Because the DMUs are considerably more narrow than the freight trains, gangways were designed into the station that fold up after end of service to allow the larger BNSF trains to pass through. At the eastbound side of the Escondido Avenue platform, the tracks curve so sharply that a gap exists between the outside edges of the gangway and the side of the DMU. The California Public Utilities Commission has stated that such a gap is unsafe, and as a result, the Eastbound platform at Escondido Avenue is not used at this time. Until an appropriate fix has been completed, NCTD shuttles passengers needing to disembark there from the station prior to Escondido Ave.
On March 11 2008, just two days after the first passengers were carried, a westbound Sprinter train struck a man who was laying on the on the tracks under a bridge in Escondido. It was not immediately clear if the the man was aware of the approach of the train. However, the man, who was covered by a sleeping bag at the time he was struck, spoke of suicide while in the emergency room.[5]
[edit] Criticism
The SPRINTER has encountered some dissatisfaction in northern San Diego County. For example, business owners in Oceanside have attributed flooding to SPRINTER, since its construction raised railroad beds and narrowed creeks. The flooding occurred in November 2007 and January 2008.[6]
Some have also criticized the limited schedule, especially since the last westbound trains for Oceanside depart Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College before 8pm.[7]
Ridership numbers, however, continue to climb. According to a North County Times article, the Sprinter's ridership numbers reached just under 8,000 people per day, as of March 20th.[8]
[edit] See also
- San Diego Public Transportation
- Press Article from San Diego Union Tribune [3]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Burge, Michael. "Passenger train sprints into service", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2008-03-10. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Sisson, Paul. "Sprinter ridership nudges toward 8,000 passengers", North County Times, 2008-03-20. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
- ^ a b Burge, Michael. "Sprinter could start on Jan. 27", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2008-01-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Burge, Michael. "Sprinter won't ride the rails until March 9", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2008-01-25. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Burge, Michael. "New Sprinter train hits man lying on tracks; legs severed", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2008-03-12. Retrieved on 2008-04-09.
- ^ Sherman, Lola. "Businesses flooded along Sprinter rail line", San Diego Union-Tribune, 2008-01-09. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Kovrig, Neill. "Sprinter already a disappointment", North County Times, 2008-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
- ^ Sisson, Paul. "Sprinter ridership nudges toward 8,000 passengers", North County Times, 2008-03-20. Retrieved on 2008-06-09.
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