Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The agreement provides for the implementation of new procedures for communicating critical information between Veolia, its maintenance subcontractor, Bombardier Transportation and NCTD, and the early identification of risks within Sprinter operations and maintenance.

Follows the completion of extensive safety testing, the review of replacement parts, and inspections of the overall vehicle and railroad infrastructure by the FRA and the California Public Utilities Commission.

The agency hopes to receive replacement parts by late April and install and test them in May, but requires regulatory approvals before it can return any of its trains to service.

Launched in 2008, the SPRINTER has become the backbone of east/west public transit in North County, serving 15 stations along a 22-mile route from Escondido to Oceanside. The rail line has seen record-breaking ridership in recent months, with averages of over 10,000 passengers per weekday.

The two-year contract extension calls for Veolia Transportation to manage the Sprinter service through December 2014 with an additional 18-month extension — with the board’s discretion — through June 30, 2016. The original contract with Veolia was approved by the agency in April 2006.

All Sprinters are powered by a 3.0-liter BlueTEC diesel engine and all versions are equipped with a number of Mercedes-Benz safety features — ESP stability and rollover control, ABS anti-lock brakes, Brake Assist and traction control.

Engineers reconfigured the layout using Vogelsitze passenger seats that are thinner in design.

The 11-passenger vehicle boasts a six-cylinder Mercedes diesel engine, as well as many features regularly found in a traditional luxury motorcoach, such as plush seats with seat belts; premium viewing passenger windows; deluxe entertainment system with DVD/Video; reading lights; a custom rear luggage area and wheelchair capability.

The Shuttle Van now joins the Cargo Van, Passenger Van and Chassis Cab.

Greg Martin has more than 19 years of fleet and commercial vehicle sales experience and a strong track record in inside/outside sales; new business development; training; and commercial and municipal finance.