NCTD approves rail ops, facilities maintenance business model

The North County Transit District's (NCTD) board has approved staff recommendations for a new rail operations and facilities maintenance business model designed to improve accountability, performance and efficiency.

Under the new model, the North San Diego County agency would directly hire and manage Coaster engineers, conductors, and maintenance of equipment personnel, Sprinter train operators, train attendants, and maintenance of equipment personnel and certain facilities maintenance staffing, according to a news release.

To support the new business model, NCTD will add 145 full-time personnel over the next 24 months. The first phase of the transition will be completed by June 30, 2022, with NCTD assuming direct responsibility for Coaster and Sprinter train operations and maintenance of equipment. 

The second transition phase to in-source certain functions of facilities maintenance and procure specialized contracts will be completed by June 30, 2023.