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Sprinter (rail service)
open-in-new
<p>Sprinter (stylized in <a href="/facts/All_caps/ASFdydxp">all caps</a>) is a <a href="/facts/Hybrid_rail/w8CF3418">hybrid rail</a> (<a href="/facts/Light_rail/5Sr1FjHu">light rail</a> with some features similar to <a href="/facts/Commuter_rail/5AzytgF3">commuter rail</a>) service operating in the <a href="/facts/North_County_(San_Diego_area)/Xq1Ruloj">North County</a> area of <a href="/facts/San_Diego_County%2c_California/xIFTfn92">San Diego County</a> between the cities of <a href="/facts/Escondido%2c_California/ypveyqIg">Escondido</a> and <a href="/facts/Oceanside%2c_California/vqXaUV9h">Oceanside, California</a>, United States. The service uses the 22-mile (35 km) <a href="/facts/Escondido_Subdivision/zLXRBqgU">Escondido Subdivision</a> of the San Diego Northern Railroad. Station platforms were constructed for the line's fifteen stations serving the cities of Oceanside, <a href="/facts/Vista%2c_California/l3PlIn92">Vista</a>, <a href="/facts/San_Marcos%2c_California/qN91Brhx">San Marcos</a>, and Escondido. The line provides service to <a href="/facts/California_State_University%2c_San_Marcos/efd16ql5">California State University, San Marcos</a> and <a href="/facts/Palomar_College/15wRHTqx">Palomar College</a>. Sprinter service operates every 30 minutes and is targeted towards students and commuters. </p><p>Sprinter is operated by the <a href="/facts/North_County_Transit_District/cEuE9AT3">North County Transit District</a>, the area's public transit agency. The agency also operates the <a href="/facts/Coaster_(rail_service)/7enIQeHH">Coaster</a> <a href="/facts/Commuter_rail/5AzytgF3">commuter rail</a> service and the Breeze transit bus services. At <a href="/facts/Oceanside_Transit_Center/5qls7wRj">Oceanside Transit Center</a>, Sprinter connects to three commuter rail services (Coaster and the <a href="/facts/Metrolink_(California)/7KaCg7uG">Metrolink</a> <a href="/facts/Orange_County_Line/FJQ919vP">Orange County</a> and <a href="/facts/Inland_Empire%25E2%2580%2593Orange_County_Line/t9JwpFnK">Inland Empire–Orange County</a> lines), as well as to <a href="/facts/Amtrak/cHtG5Ub3">Amtrak</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/Pacific_Surfliner/l4BmRLpY">Pacific Surfliner</a></i> <a href="/facts/Inter-city_rail/1KGsHKVC">inter-city rail</a> service. </p><p>Just after the <a href="/facts/COVID-19_pandemic/0xTsh7Ut">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, ridership for Sprinter declined by 46 percent (fiscal year 2020-21), according to <i><a href="/facts/The_San_Diego_Union-Tribune/mwJReonQ">The San Diego Union-Tribune</a></i>. During the pandemic, it is assumed ridership was dramatically reduced as many worked or went to school from home. </p>