Four double Sprinter trains will run on the half hour throughout the day Friday, dropping off and picking up passengers at the Cleveland Street transit center in Oceanside. (File Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle - Staff Photographer) REGION: Sprinter gears up for Fourth of July crush
Train capacity tiny compared with expected volume
By PAUL SISSON - Staff Writer | ∞
Four double Sprinter trains will run on the half hour throughout the day Friday, dropping off and picking up passengers at the Cleveland Street transit center in Oceanside. (File Photo by Jamie Scott Lytle - Staff Photographer) OCEANSIDE ---- This Fourth of July, the new Sprinter light rail line will provide another path to Oceanside's crowded beach-front festivities, but transit officials warn that the train can carry only a fraction of the estimated 200,000 people expected to flock to the city's painfully popular fireworks show.
Sarah Benson, a spokesperson for the North County Transit District, said four double Sprinter trains will run on the half hour throughout the day Friday, temporarily stopping service at 9 p.m. when the fireworks show begins at the end of the Oceanside Municipal Pier.
While all eyes are on the fireworks, Benson said the district will move four trains into Oceanside, pulling them into the Cleveland Street transit center platform two at a time, so they'll be ready to depart once the last fireworks bloom overhead.
Benson said the four double trains will be able to haul about 3,500 passengers per hour, less than 10 percent of the total expected to attend Oceanside's festivities.
The transit district owns enough Sprinter vehicles to field six double trains, but Benson said the layout of the east-west rail line ---- which has limited sections of double track ---- cannot accommodate all six trains running simultaneously.
"We are going to do as much as we can to move people, but we also want to warn riders to expect delays of up to one hour," Benson said. "Our system is not like the San Diego Trolley, where they can line up 20 trains after a Chargers game and move them all at once."
With so many people expected to head down to the Oceanside beach front Friday, and with an unknown number planning to ride the Sprinter to get there, transit officials said extra safety measures will be taken.
David Papworth, director of security for the transit district, said Tuesday that there will be a transit employee aboard each train, and security will also be heightened at the Oceanside Transit Center which houses the Sprinter's westernmost station.
"We will have measures in place to make sure it is safe and orderly," Papworth said.
Benson said that after the fireworks the four double trains will make the 53-minute trip east to Escondido and turn around, heading back to Oceanside.
"We are prepared to run the service as late as midnight, but we think that the crowd will probably start to thin out sooner than that," Benson said.
Because the district expects standing-room-only crowds Friday on the Sprinter, officials urged riders to leave behind bulky items like coolers, body boards and beach chairs.
"It's probably not the best day to bring your bike, especially if you are hoping to get on a train eastbound after the 9 p.m. fireworks," Benson said.
Papworth agreed. He said his security officers will exercise discretion in deciding whether to allow riders with bulky items onboard.
"That is something we're going to play by ear as the day goes on," Papworth said. "But it's definitely good advice to be as compact as possible."
The security director added that a staging area will be created in the Coaster ticketing area just north of the Sprinter station at the Oceanside Transit Center where riders can line up and wait for a train.
"We will not allow everyone onto the platform all at once, so we will have a staging area where people can wait to board after the fireworks are finished," he said.
For information visit http://www.gonctd.com/
Contact staff writer Paul Sisson at (760) 901-4087 or psisson@nctimes.com.
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Help wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:45 PM:I am disbled and trying to find a NCTD outlet to purchase my bus pass. According to NCTD the majority of the stores such as Vons and Longs are not carrying the passes this summer due to all of the kids out of school. This is the first summer they did this. The disabled bus passes didn't increase in cost so they should of been made available while NCTD wait for the balance of the new passes to be printed. As it stands now I am being shaken down for a day pass every day until I can find someone to take me to a transit center to purchase a bus pass.
Ask wrote on Jul 2, 2008 3:47 PM:Are you spamming the boards now trying to drum up an article?
Osider wrote on Jul 2, 2008 3:53 PM:Please dont come to Oceanside. We have enough riff raff already not needing anymore inlanders.
Response to Osider wrote on Jul 2, 2008 6:36 PM:Are you saying to leave my sales tax dollars outside of Oceanside. I am sure the North County Times and their advertisers like that one. And by the way, Oceanside is the armpit of North County.
Help found wrote on Jul 2, 2008 7:39 PM:To help: If you are already paying for a day pass, then use it to go to any of the centers and buy your other pass. Ok, now you've been helped so get back to the article.
Stephan wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:24 PM:Benson said. "Our system is not like the San Diego Trolley, where they can line up 20 trains after a Chargers game and move them all at once."
Again the poor design of this billion dollar system has shown itself. First the transit people want to ban bicycles on the Sprinter because they are taking up too much space (kind of defeats the whole purpose of having a green transit system in my opinion).
Now we hear that the system is not designed to actually accommodate the traffic that the San Diego Trolley can handle. That begs the question... why didn't they model the system after the trolley which appears to be much more efficient despite being built dozens of years ago?
I think we got took by whoever designed this expensive experiment.
What wrote on Jul 2, 2008 8:46 PM:Boy, testy posters today. I think I'll join the fun. Hey Osider Oceanside is one big pit and you are welcome to it. Here's a headline from a year ago. "Three stabbed during Oceanside celebrations" Here's the link. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/07/05/news/top_stories/2_13_741_05_07.txt
Karl wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:05 PM:Help
[-] wrote on Jul 2, 2008 1:45 PM:
Help, if the Ed here would be so kind as to hook us up I would be more than happy to help you get to the transit center to purchase your pass.
Enough Riff Raff wrote on Jul 2, 2008 10:27 PM:What- there are a lot more than those three stabbings. Oceanside should be known as the stab city.
I support the Sprinter and Coaster 100% but I would need to be locked up to either go to the Oceanside Pier Fireworks or allow my kids to go there.
Dennis wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:05 PM:Yes more bike space is needed. Why dont they make them big seats fold up ? It would be easy ! They fold up on the Bus's Have a Happy Fourth !!
Escondodo wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:29 PM:Having seen the "fireworks" in Oceanside for two years in a row and finding them completely underwhelming, I am happy to stay inland. Besides, it was cold there most of the day today. Inland can't be beat for warm weather. You can have those inferior fireworks that Oceanside throws together.
Senior Rider wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:06 AM:NCTD cannot process needed Sprinter Service/Breeze Bus Service for regular riders let alone accomodate a Special Event.
Not perfect but ok wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:11 AM:Face it, the Sprinter is not without it's hiccups and it is to be expected of a young system. As the system pays down the debt service and revenue increases from increased ridership, the system can explore the implementation of double track in single regions. Metrolink (The O'side, OC, LA) line only recently changed some of their own single track to double and they've been around for 16 years. Like everything, it will improve, but takes it will take time.
To "Enough Riff Raff", O'side is much better than it was 15 years ago in terms of crime and gang activity. Read the last sentence of my previous paragraph.
Carlsbox Resident wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:40 AM:Wow. Oside gang festival. Sounds like alot of family fun! …. Darn- I have to want my dogs nails that evening and will have to miss it.
How are we to know wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:40 AM:if it is fireworks or an off duty San Diego Police Officer firing his gun at a citizen?
Hey anybody wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:42 AM:know, maybe an insider, why NCTD pulled the new breeze/sprinter schedule books that was to go from June 15th to July 31st? Gee that must of cost them (us) a fortune. Luckily I have mine and will be able to sell it on Ebay. ;)
Ole wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:59 AM:We will bring our children, Oceanside will provide the gang bangers. I think I will just stay in Escondido, thank you.
Safe SD County wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:51 AM:"I think I will just stay in Escondido"
What are you thinking??? Escondido is worse than Oceanside! If Oceanside is the armpit of SD County, which it surely is, then Escondido is a place far stinkier. As far as the sprinter... It is a huge waste of money; our elected officials should have invested the money into a railway that follows I-15 from Temecula/Murrieta down to San Diego. This move would be far more effective than adding lanes to the freeway as they have been doing the last 10 years.
LOL wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:54 AM:I guess thousands of people love flocking to the "armpit". I'll bet that more than 2/3 of the crowd at Oceanside's beaches on the 4th will be non-residents! Since we are in the spirit of bringing up old stuff, lets revisit other stabbings around the county that didn't involve Oceanside or the 4th of July....
-Man stabbed four times in Carlsbad
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/07/news/coastal/carlsbad/23_03_4512_6_07.txt
-Teen stabbed in Rancho Bernardo
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2008/01/10/news/inland/rb/19_30_381_9_08.txt
-Man who stabbed two at Del Mar restaurant gets jail, probation
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10/07/news/coastal/del_mar/19_14_2610_5_07.txt
-Woman stabbed outside her Solana Beach apartment
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/24/news/coastal/sb/23_38_422_23_08.txt
Pirate wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:20 AM:Oceanside isn't a bad city and the people are really nice here. It's the major influx of people who have no money, don't spend a dime here and think they can be rowdy because it isn't their town that cause all of the problems. Frankly the City needs to cancel this very expensive event and focus on other things that provide cash shoppers in our town- like building some great restaurants and shops downtown!
The Sprinter ROX wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:27 AM:I ride the sprinter almost everyday and its GREAT! You meet people who can solve any and all the world's problems. Just yesterday a booze-smelling man (maybe it was Dick Cheney)just coming home from work (and a stop at the pub apparently) settled the Arab-Israeli Conflict with his erstwhile chum. There are also people on the sprinter who are so important that they NEED to talk on the cellphone all throughout their commute. Boy, they must be important! Me, I'm a nobody, all I do is sit and look out the window mind. Gosh, its great to be around such movers and shakers.
Insider wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:03 AM:To the person wanting to know why NCTD pulled the schedules....well, they didn't. They have been available on all buses I've been on everyday since before this current bid started, and that includes yesterday. They may be a short period prior to August 10 when they will not be available, as that is the start date of the new bid. Schedules will change then, and a new rider's guide will be published. And for Stephan, we don't have 20 trains or a stadium, so why would we pattern our system after San Diego's?
Osider wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:21 AM:We dont need your tax dollars one bit because, you really dont spend anything on the local business anyways, you bring your own goods. As far as Oceanside been an armpit, AT LEAST WE HAVE THE OCEAN!! Please just stay home and dont come to our beaches because, all you do is trash them anyways with no respect for the ocean. STAY INLAND!
One good thing about wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:20 PM:armpits there is always deoderant:)
To LOL wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:23 PM:Yes but the stabbings you mentioned, were they done on purpose or were they accidential? I am willing to bet they were accidential.:)
As the drivers of NCTD wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:41 PM:say, the true test if the Sprinter will succeed will begin in September when the children will be back in school and not riding the Sprinter.
Safe SD County wrote on Jul 3, 2008 2:16 PM:Oceanside is an armpit. Anybody that thinks that the inlanders are responsible for making Oceanside an armpit verifies the credibility needed to live there. Inlanders travel to the sea side city a couple times during the summer. That leaves ten months for the residents to maintain the scum the city is known for. Have a great time at your 'Gangfest', Oceanslime.
Umm.. wrote on Jul 3, 2008 4:48 PM:Of course they can't line up 20 Sprinter's. they don't have that many. The Sprinter is also not ground level accessible like the trolley, so the platforms are designed for four boarding spots. But why can't you send two of them in line- to where one moves forward, lets the other load up and then the two of them continue on. I don't mean connected either, separate drivers. That way the two of them use the same "spot" on the single rail sections. That would quadruple the capacity on the system. If it's anything like the fiasco that opening day was, I don't trust NCTD to get me out of the beach area after the festivities are over.
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