PROJECT DESCRIPTION

NCTD constructed a rail fixed-guideway system known as the "Sprinter" carrying passengers between the cities of Oceanside and Escondido on the existing 22-mile Escondido Branch Line, an active freight railroad line, with a new loop extension in San Marcos. The Sprinter utilizes diesel driven, self-propelled, light rail vehicles known as a diesel multiple units (DMUs).² Sprinter's DMUs are manufactured by Siemens AG.

The Escondido Branch Line is also used by BNSF for freight service several nights a week. Freight train operations and light rail passenger train operations are not permitted to occur simultaneously by policy agreement between the FRA and the FTA. Both federal agencies require that these two distinct operations occur separately at different times in a 24-hour period.³

NCTD constructed 15 stations with high level platforms for the Sprinter passenger line. Twelve of these high level station platforms are designed with retractable gangways, two are designed with permanent extensions, and one is designed with retractable gangways and permanent extensions. The retractable gangways and permanent extensions serve to bridge the four-inch plus gap between the high level station platforms and the Sprinter DMU vehicles allowing passengers to walk safely from the station platform into the DMU car. The following table lists the high level platform stations with gangways and permanent extensions.

STATION NAME	RETRACTABLE GANGWAY RAILING CLEARANCE	PERMANENT EXTENSION RAILING CLEARANCE
Oceanside Transit Center Station		19 inches
Coast Highway Station	9 inches
Crouch Street Station	9 inches
El Camino Real Station	9 inches
Rancho Del Oro Station	9 inches
College Boulevard Station	9 inches
Melrose Station	9 inches
Vista Transit Center Station	9 inches
Escondido Avenue Station	9 inches
Buena Creek Station	9 inches
Palomar College Station	9 inches
San Marcos Civic Center Station	9 inches
California State University San Marcos Station		19 inches
Nordahl Road Station	9 inches
Escondido Transit Center Station	9 inches, East Platform	19 inches, West Platform

The retractable gangways are lowered just prior to Sprinter revenue service. The gangways must be raised prior to freight operations to meet the greater side clearance requirements of GO 26-D applying to freight service. All stations have retractable gangways with side railings except those with no freight operations, i.e., the Oceanside Transit Center Station, the California State University San Marcos Station, and the west high level station platform at the Escondido Transit Center Station. These three stations have railings on the high level station platforms with openings at boarding areas to protect passengers from falling into the trackway below.

BACKGROUND

On February 4, 2008, Commission Staff (staff) inspected the Sprinter high level station platform-mounted railings to ensure adequate dynamic envelope clearances between the outside of the DMU vehicle and the high level station platform. The side clearances between the Sprinter car body and the high level station platform-mounted railings ranged from 17 to 20 inches at the Escondido Transit Center Station eastbound high level station platform, the California State University San Marcos Station eastbound and westbound high level station platforms, and the Oceanside Transit Center Station westbound high level station platform. The railing clearances ranged from 9 to 12 inches at the Escondido Transit Center Station westbound high level platform, the Escondido Avenue Station westbound high level station platform, the Crouch Street Station westbound high level station platform, and the Coast Highway Station westbound high level station platform. On February 4, 2008, staff informed NCTD's Executive Officer and NCTD's Project Manager that the railings were not in compliance with the safety requirements of GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1).

GO 143-B Section 9.06 (b), (c), (1), Clearances, states:

b. All clearances shall be measured from the dynamic envelope of the outermost surface of the largest vehicle on tangent track. The spacing of tracks and structures shall be increased proportionately for curved track to provide the minimum clearances specified in this part at all locations. Minimum clearances shall be such that no contact can take place due to any condition of design wear, loading or anticipated failure such as air spring deflation or normal lateral vehicle motion.

c. The minimum side clearance to obstructions higher than eight (8) inches above top-of-rail and the clearances between LRVs and streetcars located on parallel tracks used exclusively for light rail transit operations shall be governed by the following requirements:

(1) on station platforms, in yards and along shop aisles, and other locations, including emergency walkways, where passengers, employees, or other persons are permitted or required to be while trains are in motion, the minimum clearances shall be thirty (30) inches...

By letter dated February 12, 2008, NCTD requested Commission authority for a variance from GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1). NCTD contended that large gaps between the high level station platforms and the outside of the DMU cars were necessary to provide the required GO 26-D clearances for train crews during freight operations. Because of the clearance requirements of GO 26-D, NCTD claimed it is forced to use retractable gangways to bridge these large gaps for the safety of passengers. Since both the permanent high level station platform extensions and the retractable gangways extend out beyond the high level station platform edge and over the track bed, NCTD has installed safety "wing railings" on both sides of the permanent high level station platform extensions and the gangways to prevent passengers from accidentally falling into the trackway below. "Wing railings" are installed perpendicular to the railings running parallel the length of the high level station platform. "Wing railings" protect passengers from falling into the trackway and prevent them from entering the vehicle dynamic envelope area protected by railings running parallel to the high level station platform edge.

"Wing railings" protecting permanent high level platform extensions.

The "wing railings" on the permanent high level platform extensions (see Attachment No.1) at the Oceanside Transit Center Station, the California State University San Marcos Station, and the west high level station platform at the Escondido Transit Center Station, encroach 19-inches into the 30-inch clearance (see Attachment No. 2) required in GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1). These "wing railings" are necessary to protect passengers from falling into large gaps created by the permanent high level station platform extensions, to the trackway below. Retractable gangways are not necessary for the west high level station platform at the Escondido Transit Center Station, the Oceanside Transit Center Station, and the California State University San Marcos Station since these tracks are not shared with freight operations.

"Wing railings" protecting retractable gangways.

The retractable gangway "wing railings" encroach 21 inches into the 30-inch clearance (see Attachment Nos. 3 and 4) required in GO 143-B, Section 9.06 c (1). However, they provide necessary safety protection to passengers from falling into the large gap between the DMU vehicle and the edge of the station high level station platforms which is set back from the retractable gangways.

NCTD has identified the following measures mitigating potential hazards at all stations:

1) The DMUs have several safety features which prevent forward movement of the train if a passenger or an object obstructs the light rail vehicle doorway. A light beam located near the floor level holds the doors open during passenger ingress and egress. Further, if a door is stopped in closing cycle by a passenger or an object, it will automatically re-cycle by reopening, waiting a set period of time, and then attempt to close again. The system relies on resistance-sensing by the door actuator and is designed to prevent the doors from closing on a person's arm or leg. Finally, the interlock system keeps brakes applied and will not allow forward movement unless the doors are fully closed.

2) All of the stations have signage for the train operators which mark the precise "cab spotting" locations to ensure accurate train alignment of the DMU doors with the retractable gangways at high level station platforms. The retractable gangways are 14 feet wide versus DMU door openings of approximately 4 feet. This design feature helps ensure that passengers are far away from the side railings when they board and exit the trains.

3) NCTD's contract operator, Veolia Transportation,⁴ adopted stringent operating rules requiring the train operators to use their mirrors to ensure all passengers are clear of the doorway areas prior to departure from the station. This operating rule will be reinforced through on-going train operator efficiency testing.

4) During the first 90 days of Sprinter revenue service, NCTD doubled the number of security officers patrolling the stations, trains, and right-of-way. The security officers were tasked to ensure passengers use the system safely. NCTD will have a continued security program in place after the first 90 days of increased coverage, providing security officer patrols at stations and on trains. Further, NCTD has a Security Control Center with closed circuit television (CCTV) staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which monitors the CCTV security cameras in the stations. Security officers can immediately respond via radio, Public Address System, or request for security response, if any boarding issues arise.

Staff accepted NCTD's Safety Certification Verification Report which allowed NCTD to begin revenue service on March 9, 2008. Staff's approval letter to NCTD required the filing of this resolution for a variance and, further, required the following:

a. All incidents associated with railings, both those on the high level station platform and those on the retractable gangways, shall be reported to Commission staff within two hours and such incidents shall be investigated by NCTD. NCTD shall prepare an investigation report and that investigation report shall be provided promptly to Commission staff.

b. Train operators shall be required to "look-back" down the high level station platform to ensure that no passengers are on retractable gangways before any train begins movement. Further, the NCTD rule requiring such "look-back" shall be in effect until further order of the Commission.

c. NCTD staff shall conduct efficiency testing on a regular and frequent basis and the results of these tests shall be made available to Commission staff upon demand.

d. NCTD shall provide security personnel at the stations to advise and assist passengers on safe boarding and disembarking habits and to observe passenger behavior during the first 180 days of operations.

e. NCTD shall provide public education and outreach to further educate the public on the safety hazards associated with the combined operations of railroads and rail transit.

In addition, NCTD's Safety Certification Plan requires Veolia Transportation to issue approved Operating Rules prior to the start of revenue operations on March 9, 2008. Staff verified The Sprinter Code of Operating Rules (SCOR) has been completed. Further, staff verified that SCOR No. 6.30 contains specific language and instructions for train operators regarding passenger boarding and alighting at high level station platforms.

² Unless otherwise noted, the term DMU as used in this resolution is in specific reference to the Siemens Model VT-642 selected for service by NCTD on the Sprinter project.

³ Eighteen of 24 hours each day is reserved for the exclusive use of the Sprinter's passenger service; six hours of each 24-hour period is reserved for the exclusive use of BNSF for its freight service. The Sprinter's commuter service is never conducted simultaneously with BNSF's freight operations.

⁴ Veolia Transportation is NCTD's contracted light rail operator of the Sprinter DMU vehicles and is responsible for vehicle operations.