Sprinter Light Rail Train

i was pleasantly surprised to find that a light rail line exists in this area. everything is new and pretty clean. a lot of the stations are in convenient locations with parking. you can transfer to other trains and buses, especially at the oceanside and escondido terminuses. trains only come every 30 minutes in both directions, so it’s quite a wait if you miss one. they seem to be on time. wifi is advertised on the trains, but i couldn’t get it to work. unfortunately, it attracts the stereotypical people you expect to see on public transit — somebody tried to pressure a guy near me into buying a pair of jeans. the line was built to accommodate existing development instead of the other way around, so it is slow and winding in some places. the platforms don’t have even partially enclosed areas, so you can be pretty cold and exposed in the winter. i think one glass booth per station would be a good investment — something like what muni has in SF.

Love how easy using the train is for work. You can multi task by working and commuting simultaneously!!! And with business class you get a free drink in the way back!!!

Took the Sprinter with my boys from the Palomar Station to Oceanside Transit Station. $ 4.00/each roundtrip. The beach and pier are within walking distance from the train station.
The Sprinter itself is air conditioned and pretty clean. They also offer free Wi-​Fi onboard.
I highly recommend taking the Sprinter with your kids if you just want to explore Oceanside, the beach, the pier, or grab some lunch. It was nice to not have to drive on a Sunday and just relax and look out the window.
The ticket machine takes credit cards and cash although they recommend small bills if you are paying cash since it doesn’t refund more than $ 10.00.
Overall a great experience. We will definitely do this again over the summer.

You learn something new every day. For example, you are not able to buy tickets online like you can with the coaster. Officer Puente who explained that to me was respectful and pretty by the book. He was understanding and I bought my ticket when I got off.
All in all, semi-​clean way to get around North County. I’ve never had any complaints.

Employs the rudest drivers imaginable.
On Dec 22 on the Oceanside Sprinter headed to Escondido I assisted my handicapped mother onto the sprinter. As I attempted to leave the doors closed on me. I asked the driver to let me off, as I was not a passenger. He ignored me, pointed to a sign that said you shouldn’t talk to the driver. He would not open the doors and prompt took off, leaving me no choice but to get off at the next stop… miles from where I had parked.

My first time riding the sprinter. I have only ridden the coaster or amtrack. This is cheap fairly safe travel. I paid $ 2 from San Marcos to the main station all the way in O’side. I was happy to take it because the
A/​C was bumping inside and it was 100 degrees outside. I can tell this is reliable transpiration for people without cars.

WOW! Is all I can say! I was very skeptical riding the sprinter but it’s SO nice! Clean, AC, nice scenery, not a lot of people, inexpensive, & comfortable! Definitely recommend it and saves on gas!

6÷24÷2014 9:30 pm The North bound train from San Diego arriving the Poinsettia Station Carlsbad stopped and the doors DID NOT OPEN, so the Passengers including a group of Students ages 12 — 16 were forced to stay on the train to the next stop.
This is a serious SAFETY ISSUE and a problem that should be fixed TODAY

The schedule isn’t bad and the train is pretty well maintained. Unfortunately, the vast majority of patrons fall into one or more of the following categories:
1. Transients/​addicts;
2. The mentally ill (often related to #1);
3. [fill in ethnicity] trash; and/​or
4. Community college students (which isn’t categorically bad).
The crazy thing is they all have bicycles. And opinions — loud and frequently unreasoned ones.
Then again, it’s public transportation; public transportation that connects the populations of Oceanside and Escondido. What can I expect?

I rode the sprinter both ways to see the scenery and experience the ride. It is a very good deal of $ 2 one way or $ 5 for a day pass. It takes about 56 minutes to go the complete distance from Oceanside transit center to the Escondido transit center. It is clean, comfortable, and very relaxing. I would definitely recommend it. It is faster to drive but if you are going to something close to a stop or the beach, it is definitely worth it. Leaving Oceanside, I saw many families with beach gear heading home. The beach is walking distance from the Oceanside stop. In Escondido you can connect with different bus services. Same thing in Oceanside with the addition of the Metrolink, Amtrak, and Greyhound. Noticed security at the main transit stops in Escondido, Vista, and even 3 security personal at the Oceanside sight. Easy, cheap, and fun way to get across North County.

The sprinter is my life saver for sure! love it!

This is a really nice train! Food is not allowed onboard which is understandable because it’s very clean inside.
The price is $ 5 per adult and free for kids 5 and under, so it was a good deal for my family of small children.
We took this train for fun on a Saturday. We rode from Escondido to Oceanside (end to end). It took an hour for the whole ride. Of course, it would’ve been faster if we drove, but it was more for a fun day train ride anyway.

I take the Sprinter very frequently. It’s incredibly clean, and the interior is aesthetically pleasing. It’s the most pleasant train I’ve taken, overall.
The passengers on the very early trains seem the most professional, clean and opposite of creepy, as they’re mostly people on the way to work. Later on in the day there might be the occasional discomfiting passenger, but less often than on buses, and I’ve never felt actually unsafe while on the Sprinter.
The price is reasonable, and it is easy to make connections with buses. The train is almost always on time, to the dot.

Took this the other day from inland and was amazed by how fast it was and how clean it was. Super awesome how it brings me rite to my house on the beach and is not that expensive. Would suggest anyone from inland wanting to go to the beach for the day should take this and not drive since parkin is a nightmare at times in oceanside

I just started riding the Sprinter regularly and I really like it. It goes from the Escondido transit center to Oceanside in less than an hour and it’s clean. There is room for bikes, backpacks and it’s clean.
it’s nice when I want to visit breweries in Vista (the stop is really close to Backstreet Brewing and Mother Earth), or visit friends in Oceanside (also close to Stone’s tap room and Breakwater Brewing).
At $ 5.00 for a full day pass (discount for seniors and disabled people) it’s a great deal. So if you have a plan or just feel like riding a train, this is a great opportunity to do so.

If your are looking for a fun little outing for the kids try a ride on the sprinter. I love to take the kiddos and ride the sprinter to the beach for the day. The price is fair and the kids love it. the only thing is you want to get back before dark or there can be some scary people who get on.

Great fun ride for kids, just $ 2 for one-​way trip — my kids looooved it.
We rode from Escondido to O’side. Had an afternoon of fun at the beach play structure, lunching at the main drag and then took a ride back. The kids were dog tired and immediately went to bed when we got home. I just got to alternate this ride with the famous toy train ride at Balboa Park. Sprinter is very safe (mainly college students), relaxing and no-​hassle, fun. As a parent, I appreciate one-​hour each way of just watching the world and not worrying about the kids (they themselves are so engrossed looking outside.)
.. .and the rhythmic sounds of wheels talking to the tracks is so hypnotic, i’ts a concert on wheels.

Might as well review the Sprinter since I have about 30 minutes to kill a couple times a week. I have ridden the Sprinter off and on over the past two years, sometimes out of convenience and other times out of necessity. Either way, it is a great way to get to work, as it drops me off right at the corner of the CSUSM campus, and I either walk or use the shuttle bus to get to my office.
The Sprinter has an awesome AC, and it’s a welcoming feeling to walk in when it’s hot and humid outside. I tend to ride in the morning and afternoon «rush» hours, so I to run into more students and worker bees heading off to their respective places of employment. While I occasionally run into an uncomfortable character, I think it is a safe and easy way to get around, and if you are like me you can get some work done on the laptop. Or a couple of Unilocal reviews to post later. Either way, $ 2 one-​way or $ 5 All day pass gets you on and off this bad boy.

I’m not a commuter, just a weekender.
This is good old fashioned cheap fun on a weekend if you have a small child that loves trains. Started the trip at Nordal Station and went down the line and back. We stopped off at the Vista Main station for some lunch at Sonic Burger.
I never felt unsafe riding the sprinter, even though it cuts though some bad areas. The main stations have armed officers. And on the way back there were two officers checking tickets. Even if they weren’t there (the guards) I would still feel safe. Though I wasn’t riding the sprinter at night. There are cameras everywhere, and there was someone monitoring the cameras at all times (we were overhearing the officer’s radio).
— Only issue was where do you sit if you have a stroller? My wife on a different trip was harassed by a bicyclist who stated that the open area was for bikes and cripples only. What a jerk. I’ll have to find out more info on where the strollers go. Maybe they have to be packed and stowed?
Try it! Grab lunch somewhere along the line.

North County has a new east-​west mobility link between Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido: the SPRINTER rail line. This investment in our community is significant; it’s one of the largest public works projects this region has seen. The SPRINTER makes North County a nicer place to be, here’s why:
The SPRINTER runs 22 miles along the Highway 78 corridor effortlessly transporting passengers to work, school, shopping centers and other activities.
Riders have the freedom to read, work or relax as these European-​style light rail vehicles sprint to the 15 stations.
With significant population growth coming, we’re all worried about congestion and the resulting pollution. The SPRINTER will reduce traffic by eliminating hundreds of cars and will offer North County residents a green alternative.
The predictable, reliable service is easy to use, practical and consumer friendly. It’s easy to reach North County’s top destinations using the BREEZE bus system, which serves all fifteen stations. Additionally, the COASTER trains connect with the SPRINTER in Oceanside.
The SPRINTER also encourages transit-​oriented development in the cities along the route, a prospect that supports the principles of Smart Growth.
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SPRINTER rides are priced by either one-​way trips or Day Passes (no zones like the COASTER). Tickets are sold through station TVMs for one-​way trips, Day Passes and $ 54 monthly passes (Senior/​Disabled/​Medicare, Youth and other regional passes must be purchased at Customer Service windows). SPRINTER TVMs are similar to those machines currently being used at San Diego Trolley and COASTER stations.
Tips
SPRINTER TVMs accept cash, debit cards and credit cards (Visa and Mastercard only). Exact change is not required, but TVMs give a maximum of $ 10 in change. Click here to learn more about SPRINTER fares.
Before you purchase your ticket, find your departure time using the schedule. One-​way tickets expire two hours after purchase, Day Passes expire at the end of the day.
Day Passes and monthly passes purchased from SPRINTER TVMs can be used on both the SPRINTER and the BREEZE buses. Tickets and passes are non-​refundable and non-​replaceable. SPRINTER TVMs do not sell COASTER tickets.
You must have your ticket in hand when boarding the train. Arrive at your station ten minutes before your train departure time.
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Only bad thing about the Sprinter is that it only travels from Oceanside to Escondido.