The San Diego County grand jury released a report Wednesday that chastises the North County Transit District for lacking certain safety equipment, such as an emergency intercom system, on its Coaster commuter trains.
The report says the trains have "no posted instructions or obvious means of contacting the conductor in the event of an emergency" and says similar-sized trains in other areas are equipped with emergency intercom systems that allow quick notification.
On Wednesday afternoon, the transit district issued a response saying the Coaster meets all federal safety requirements. A law that took effect April 1, 2008, requires all passenger cars purchased after that date to include an emergency intercom, but the transit district hasn't bought any new Coaster cars since 2003.
NCTD plans to have a new wireless intercom system installed in all cars by Dec. 31, according to the district's response.
The statement didn't address a call by the grand jury to "accelerate the installation of an emergency notification system."
The 19-member grand jury is appointed by the San Diego Superior Court and can investigate any aspect of local government, but does not have subpoena powers.
The Coaster, which opened in 1995, carries the equivalent of about 2,250 round-trip passengers a day along a 62-mile route that stretches from Oceanside to San Diego.
In its report, the grand jury also praised the commuter rail line, saying, "Grand Jury members riding the Coaster daily commend the NCTD for maintaining clean and comfortable Coaster cars" and for having "professional and courteous" conductors.
In the course of its investigation, the grand jury informed the district of its concerns. The report referred to communications between the panel and NCTD.
Since then, NCTD has posted notices on board the Coaster and updated its rider guides to say: "In case of emergency, notify the conductor immediately." New brochures and posters designed to inform riders of the Coaster's safety features are to be installed on May 1.
The report said the district previously had an incorrect statement on its Web site indicating that "an emergency intercom is located on the lower level of each Coaster near the rest-room." The statement has since been removed.
The report also rejects a statement by the district that, in the event of an emergency, passengers can simply dial 911 on their mobile phones and notify authorities, who could board the train at the next stop.
"Cell phone service along the route is inconsistent, and there is a chance the calling passenger may not be aware of the train's location on the route," the report stated.
Read the report
Call staff writer Paul Sisson at 760-901-4087.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_91aea78e-82cd-55d5-a2e7-465862f863a6.html
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