The Sprinter light rail that connects San Diego's inland North County with the coast finally opened for business Sunday. After 30 years of planning, three years of construction, months of delays, and almost $100 million in cost overruns, the commuter train drew crowds of curious passengers on its first day. KPBS reporter Alison St John checked it out.
The sleek diesel powered trains, common in Europe, are the first of their kind in the United States. So many passengers showed up to try it out that by the afternoon, platforms at Oceanside and Escondido were jammed. North County Transit district had to add an extra train, which threw the schedule out, but gave everyone a chance to climb aboard
Conductor: Good afternoon and welcome to the crouch street Sprinter Station, we have an inbound train and you can see the train has a large number of passengers already on it so please…”
It was standing room only when the train pulled in, but that didn't daunt one former New York resident who's been waiting for public transport to take off in San Diego.
Frasier: I'm excited, I've been waiting for this a long long time.
Gayle and Jerry Frasier were among the passengers who poured off the train.
Frasiers: It was great. It was delightful.
The Frasiers hope to use the Sprinter for work eventually but they also expect to see more people using it for fun to get to the coast.
Frasier: You live in Escondido, hop on with your surf board and go tot the beach.
Will Sheers is a senior. He can see the benefits of going in the other direction, to the Escondido Center of the Arts.
Sheers: People who want to go to Escondido --I'd like to get out there and see some of these shows you know.
The Sprinter also has a loop to take students and faculty to Cal State San Marcos.
Conductor: Stand clear of the door please, train will be departing.
The Sprinter leaves every half hour on weekdays, once an hour on weekends. North County Transit District's goal is 11,000 passengers a day.
Alison St John KPBS News.
