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).