New train in town

Big day for San Diego mass transit: the debut of a new commuter rail line called Sprinter, as reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune:

Seventy people rode into history yesterday aboard the inaugural run of the Sprinter, the new passenger train that connects Oceanside and Escondido.

Passengers applauded as the first train pulled away from the platform at the Escondido station at 4:33 a.m., and applauded again when it completed its round trip about two hours later.

So many people turned out on the Sprinter's first day that by noon the trains were 20 minutes behind schedule, and the North County Transit District added an extra train to keep up with the crowds. By midday the two trains were filled to the 450-person capacity and a third train was put into service, said Sarah Benson, a district marketing representative.

“It seems like every train is crowded,” said transit district spokesman Tom Kelleher.

Sprinter is supposed to provide "east-west" mobility for San Diego County (most trains now go north-south).

Comments

[Bob Zwolinski]

Tom, thanks for the correction! My bad! How could I have made such a horrible mistake?
The last thing on my mind is paying homage to anything remotely connected to the BRU!
I recall when DMU technology was proposed for the EXPO line for the 1984 Olympics, to shuttle folks from USC to UCLA venues. Had they initiated it back then, there most likely would have been a few more lines in L.A. County by now.

[Paul]

San Diego is slowly putting "Free" way expansion to sleep. After the 15 "managed lanes" are completed, the 5 and the 805 will be getting their own set of High Occupancy Toll lanes. Hopefully they'll continue creating rapid bus routes, expanding commuter trains and the trolley.

[Tom A.]

Bob: I think you mean DMU (diesel-multiple unit); BRU (Bus Riders' Union) is, as we all know, the Antichrist when it comes to improving rail transit here in the L.A. Basin.

But yeah, it makes you wonder how much cheaper and quicker lines like the Expo and either of the Gold Line extensions could be built if they didn't have to worry about installing the overhead wiring and related infrastructure and just ran DMUs (at least for the first few years; adding the wiring and switching to electric LRVs would always be an option when funding became available).

[Bob Zwolinski]

The “Sprinter” is a good thing! I’m sure it will be a great success!
A 22-mile rail line for under $500 million is pretty darn good.
Why we’re not utilizing the same BRU technology on available rail ROWs up here in L.A. County is unfathomable.
Way to go NCTD!