At Long Last, The SPRINTER is Running
After many delays, the North County Transit District announces that The SPRINTER rail line will begin operation on March 9, 2008.
The SPRINTER runs 22 miles along the Highway 78 corridor. Riders can board and exit at 15 stations that run between Oceanside and Escondido:
Why a train that only runs 22 miles?
One reason that the SPRINTER was developed was to eliminate some of the congestion between Escondido and Oceanside. This includes many local college students. Perhaps more significantly, the SPRINTER will carry Escondido residents to the Oceanside trains (COASTER, Amtrak and Metrolink), which carry passengers South to San Diego and North to Los Angeles, and from there, throughout the country.
SPRINTER Schedule
The SPRINTER will run 64 trips daily (weekdays). Passenger service will run seven days a week; weekday service every 30 minutes in each direction, from approximately 4 am to 8 pm. Weekend trains will operate every hour in both directions.
The SPRINTER rail line is 53 minutes travel time from end to end. The average time between stations is only 3-5 minutes, traveling at a maximum speed of 55 mph.
SPRINTER Trains
These trains are smaller and much quieter than the COASTER, with a maximum capacity of 452 passengers. A good deal of additional information about the train can be found on the SPRINTER fact sheets page.
Connection to Buses
The BREEZE bus system will serve all fifteen SPRINTER stations. Passengers can also reach Greyhound through the Oceanside station, and a future Bus Rapid Transit project planned in Escondido.
Rates
The SPRINTER will feature an affordable flat fare. Day passes and monthly passes will be used interchangeably on the BREEZE buses and SPRINTER rail line. A one-way trip will only cost $1-2, and day passes will run $2-4, with children 5 and under riding free. Think of the gas savings!
Discounts on monthly passes are available for Seniors, persons with disabilities, personal care attendants, Medicare cardholders, and college students.
Parking
Free parking lots are available at all stations except the Cal State San Marcos Station. (Check with the San Marcos Civic Center for parking options and time limits at the parking garage located near the Civic Center station.)
Tags: escondido, oceanside, san marcos, sprinter, vistaRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Tourism/Travel
6 opinions for At Long Last, The SPRINTER is Running
Jennifer Hart
Mar 6, 2008 at 8:19 am
No where can I find a time schedule for the Sprinter. gonctd.org printed in the NCtimes, not working website.
Carole A. Lane
Mar 6, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Thanks for asking, Jennifer. The schedule can be found at http://www.gonctd.com/sprinter_schedules.htm.
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Katherine
Jul 5, 2008 at 6:19 pm
looked up the sprinter schedule and could get it online….whuts up with that?
Katherine
Jul 5, 2008 at 6:20 pm
oooops CAN NOT find it online….how can I plan from downtown to oceanside and then Vista without a planned schedule?
Carole A. Lane
Jul 8, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Katherine,
Basically, the SPRINTER operates from approximately 4:00am to 9:00pm Monday through Friday with service every 30 minutes in both directions. On Saturdays and Sundays, service runs every hour.
The Eastbound schedule is at http://www.gonctd.com/sprinter_schedule_east.htm.
The Westbound schedule is at http://www.gonctd.com/sprinter_schedule_west.htm.
Let us know how you like the ride.
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