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Sprinter Rail: Northern San Diego, CAIn the US, Veolia Transportation played a central role in the planning and recent startup of the Sprinter, a new 22-mile regional rail line in Southern California. We helped our client develop infrastructure and integrate the new service with other existing rail and bus services. We researched the experience our German colleagues had with the same vehicles and fully briefed our client. Veolia Transportation is responsible for operations, dispatch, equipment maintenance and revenue protection for the Sprinter “hybrid” light rail service. We employ 44 staff who operate 12 diesel multiple unit light rail vehicles on an existing freight rail line, and transport some 2.5 million people each year. Our client, the North County Transportation District (NCTD), provides integrated transportation services for the rapidly growing communities of North San Diego County. Our client’s challenge prior to launch was to create a rail transit “spine” that could serve the major destinations in the area and connect with the existing commuter rail service to San Diego and Los Angeles. The new passenger equipment had to be approved for operations by state and federal transportation regulators, and had to be designed to coordinate with existing commuter rail operations, local bus service and three colleges in the area. We worked with our client to develop new operating procedures to satisfy regulatory requirements for equipment. We conducted many tests to ensure optimal system performance for a flawless start-up, and designed an operating plan to support expanded weekend service to accommodate passenger demand. The project also benefited from the close cooperation between our American and German teams. The German team contributed their wealth of experience to the tendering process, the operation and maintenance of the Siemens diesel multiple units, and to setting up the training program. This has proven to be a major advantage for our client. Veolia Transportation’s main objectives are to:
Since Sprinter’s launch in late 2007, ridership on the 15-station line is far exceeding projections. We have designed expanded weekend operating plans to accommodate demand. The early success of the service has prompted a plan to extend the line’s southeastern limit to Southern Escondido and to increase train frequency. We leveraged our worldwide experience to implement light rail near San Diego.
This massive project required experience with diesel multiple units, high capacity equipment common in Europe but so new to North America that regulatory approvals were needed before operations could start.
Launched in early 2008 with much fanfare and excitement, the Sprinter trains have become very popular and ridership goals have already been exceeded. Daily ridership is projected to grow by over 50% by 2030, with trains departing every 15 minutes. Veolia Transportation proved to be the right partner for the North County Transit District (NCTD). We have extensive experience with DMUs in Europe, and were able to use our expertise to shepherd use of the equipment through a complicated regulatory approval process in advance of the launch. Working with NCTD, we developed operational plans, and then tested and verified all systems in advance to ensure flawless start-up of the new operation. We also helped integrate the Sprinter’s schedule with existing commuter rail and fixed route bus services in the area. 
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