Sprinter nears the finish line

Railway Age, Sept, 2007

West Coast Rail Constructors completed track laying last month for the Sprinter diesel light rail line, giving North County Transit District (San Diego) officials confidence to predict that the 22-mile line will open between Oceanside and Escondido as scheduled by Dec. 31. If final inspections show the trackwork was installed to specification, WCRC stands to earn part of a $3 million bonus for finishing the job on time.

NCTD Capital Projects Manager Don Bullock said the contractor will be eligible for the entire incentive payment if ownership of the line is transferred to the agency by Oct. 1 as planned. Meanwhile, the California Public Utilities Commission certified the braking system for the line's Siemens Desiro DMUs following extensive testing with simulated full passenger loads.