NCTD Completes Insourcing of Rail Equipment Maintenance, Train Operations

The North County Transit District (NCTD) announced the completion of the insourcing of its rail equipment maintenance and train operations functions.

The transition brings the primary functions of the district’s commuter rail and hybrid rail services under its direct management, including nearly 100 rail operations and maintenance employees. 

“This transition will allow NCTD to have a direct and proactive relationship with the employees performing train operations and maintenance of equipment who work to support our goals,” said Matthew O. Tucker, NCTD executive director. “Our vision is to build a solid team culture, create new efficiencies, continuously improve safety, and provide the highest quality service for our customers.” 

Under the new model, NCTD assumes rail equipment maintenance and train operations functions, including personnel performing the primary functions of train operations and maintenance of equipment for COASTER and SPRINTER services as well as preventative maintenance, minor reactive maintenance, and work order requests. Maintenance-of-way functions will continue to be outsourced.

NCTD operates COASTER commuter rail service and SPRINTER hybrid service that provides public transportation to approximately four million passengers annually in a typical year. The COASTER commuter rail service consists of seven locomotives and 28 bi-level passenger rail coaches covering 41 directional miles through eight stations from Oceanside to downtown San Diego. The SPRINTER hybrid rail includes 12 diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains covering 22 directional miles through 15 stations between Escondido and Oceanside.  

NCTD is designated as a rail common carrier by the Surface Transportation Board based on the movement of interstate commerce on the tracks and the Railroad of Record by the Federal Railroad Administration. The district is responsible for safety and maintenance of the entire San Diego portion of the Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN), which includes more than 82 directional miles of railroad right-of-way from the San Diego-Orange County border to downtown San Diego. The corridor supports NCTD’s rail service, BNSF freight services, Metrolink regional rail service, and LOSSAN’s Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train.