OCEANSIDE–North County Transit District (NCTD) will implement bus replacement service along the length of its Sprinter route, which was suspended midnight, March 9 in order to perform necessary maintenance repairs. The express buses – named 618 Sprinter Express and 620 Sprinter Express – will operate between Oceanside and Escondido.
The schedule is as follows:
Monday – Friday Schedule
618 Sprinter Express–This service will operate between Oceanside Transit Center and Vista Transit Center and will stop at the following Sprinter stations; Coast Highway (Oceanside Blvd. and Coast Hwy.), Crouch St., El Camino Real, Rancho Del Oro, College Blvd., and Melrose Dr. Eastbound service will start at Oceanside Transit Center at 4:35 a.m. It will operate hourly until 10:18 p.m., Monday– Thursday. On Fridays it will operate until 12:18 a.m. Westbound service will begin at Escondido Transit Center at 4:35 a.m. and run hourly until 10:14 p.m., Monday-Thursday. On Fridays, service will operate until 12:14 a.m.
620 Sprinter Express–This service will run between Oceanside Transit Center and Escondido Transit Center. It will stop at Vista Transit Center, Palomar College Transit Center, and Cal State San Marcos (Craven Circle). NOTE: This express route will be serviced by charter coach buses. Eastbound service will start at Oceanside Transit Center at 4:10 a.m., running every 30 minutes for most of the day (15 minutes during a.m. and p.m. commute periods) until 9:40 p.m. On Fridays it will operate until 12:40 a.m. Westbound will start at Escondido Transit Center at 4:15 a.m., with service every 30 minutes for most of the day (15 minutes during a.m. & p.m. commute periods) until 9:45 p.m. On Fridays it will operate until 11:45 p.m.
Saturday Schedule
618 Sprinter Express–Eastbound service will begin at Oceanside Transit Center at 5:33 a.m. and run until 12:09 a.m. Westbound will start at Escondido Transit Center at 5:03 a.m. until 11:42 p.m.
620 Sprinter Express–Eastbound service will start at Oceanside Transit Center at 5 a.m. and end at 12:40 a.m. Westbound will begin at Escondido Transit Center at 4:45 a.m. and end at 11:45 p.m.
Sunday Schedule
618 Sprinter Express–Eastbound will start at Oceanside Transit Center at 5:33 a.m. and end at 9:09 p.m. Westbound will start at Escondido Transit Center at 5:03 a.m. and end at 9:42 p.m. Note: Because Breeze 318 does not operate on Sundays, 618 Sprinter Express will operate every 30 minutes between approximately 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
620 Sprinter Express–Eastbound starts at Oceanside Transit Center at 5 a.m. and runs until 9:40 p.m. Westbound starts at Escondido Transit Center at 4:45 a.m. and runs until 9:45 p.m. Additionally, Breeze routes 305 and 318 continue to serve areas surrounding the Sprinter route.
In addition to the Ticket Vending Machines at the Sprinter Stations, NCTD passengers can pay cash. It is suggested that passengers bring exact change or allow sufficient time to reload Compass Cards at customer service centers. Customers can also reload Compass Cards at any San Diego County Albertson’s grocery stores. Sprinter tickets will be accepted for all Breeze bus services.
Starting Monday, customers can also look for the “Blue Crew,” NCTD staff and volunteers clad in blue shirts who will be at all Sprinter stations to help passengers make their way onto the alternative routes that will take them to their destination.
The express routes will be run using a combination of Breeze buses and charter buses the agency has contracted to supplement both existing fleet size and the number of drivers available to drive the express bus routes.
The Sprinter service interruption will allow NCTD and their contractors, Veolia and Bombardier, to repair the friction braking system – one of three braking systems on the light rail’s braking system. Rotors inside these central brakes were exhibiting accelerated wear patterns. NCTD’s guiding principle is passenger safety, and the agency is taking every prudent measure to ensure the safety of its riders while at the same time continuing to serve the transit public.
NCTD encourages riders and the community to monitor the website at www.GoNCTD.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/goNCTD and Twitter @goNCTD for the schedules, maps, and latest service announcements.
