The North County Transit District recently approved the purchase of 12 Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) light rail vehicles from German-based Siemens Transportation Systems. The self-propelled SPRINTER vehicles cost $50 million.

The state-of-the-art mid-sized diesel vehicles are scheduled to take their first run by late 2005/early 2006 when the new 22-mile rail line, which will run from Oceanside to Escondido, begins service along the SR 78 corridor. The low emission, diesel rail cars will hit top speeds of 55 miles per hour.

Vista councilmember and NCTD Board Chairwoman Judy Ritter was pleased to announce the bus purchase and report on progress to begin construction on the $351 million rail line. “This vehicle and the new rail line will be unlike anything North County residents have ever seen before. I’m very pleased that we chose to move the project another step forward,” said Ritter, who also serves on the SANDAG Board. The SPRINTER will offer a future of mobility, connectivity, and freedom for North County residents by linking people to the BREEZE bus system and with COASTER, AMTRAK and Metrolink trains in Oceanside as well as future bus rapid transit (BRT) along I-15.

Project Manager: Ellen Roundtree
(619) 699-6960