Just after the pandemic, ridership for Sprinter declined by 46 percent (fiscal year 2020-21), according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

[9] The funding for Sprinter originated with the TransNet Tax (Proposition C) measure passed by San Diego County voters in 1987 to relieve traffic congestion.

As Sprinter was officially “founded” in 2005, Construction started on the line that same year and was scheduled for completion in December 2007.

Rides on those systems, plus the Coaster commuter rail, and express buses, require a "RegionPlus" pass.

Sprinter service is operated with Desiro-class diesel multiple units (DMU) manufactured by Siemens in Germany and widely used by main-line regional railways.

Twelve married pairs of Siemens VT642 Desiro DMUs were delivered to the Escondido Transit Center in August 2006.

The first phase will modernize the signal and communications systems along the corridor to improve safety, enhance community connectivity, and reduce service disruptions.

[6][24] No other extensions of the Sprinter (e.g. to San Diego Zoo Safari Park, or to McClellan–Palomar Airport) are included in the plan.

For example, business owners in Oceanside have attributed flooding in November 2007 and January 2008[25] to Sprinter, since its construction raised railroad beds and narrowed creeks.

[26] In response to the limited schedule, NCTD expanded Friday and Saturday Night service in 2011, the last trips leaving out of Escondido (Westbound) at 10:33pm and out of Oceanside (Eastbound) at 11:33pm.

[17] On March 11, 2008, a westbound Sprinter train struck a man who was lying on the tracks under a State Route 78 bridge in San Marcos.

However, the man, who was covered by a sleeping bag at the time he was struck, spoke of suicide while in the emergency room.

[27] On March 23, 2012, a man was struck by a westbound Sprinter train at the West Mission Road and North Pacific Street crossing.

The victim's death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego County medical examiner's office.