Rail operations veteran Trischelle Baysden will lead Omnitrans’ new rail department as the transit agency prepares to launch Arrow passenger rail service in 2020, connecting Redlands and San Bernardino.
Baysden brings 25 years of experience in rail operations, including the past nine years at Metrolink commuter rail service, governed by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority. Her background includes a broad spectrum of knowledge including conducting, engineering, dispatching, scheduling, and federal compliance work.
Construction of the 9-mile Arrow line is being led by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA). The Arrow will serve stations at the University of Redlands, downtown Redlands, New York St. near ESRI, at Tippecanoe Ave., and the multimodal San Bernardino Transit Center where passengers can make connections to take them throughout Southern California.
“The startup of a new service will be new to me, so I am really looking forward to that challenge,” said Baysden. “That’s a milestone that some of us in the railroad industry aspire to. Launching a new service is a bucket list item and is the pie in the sky of achievements.”
Arrow trains will operate daily, arriving every 30 minutes at peak times, and 60 minutes off peak. The service will use Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). These hybrid rail type vehicles that use self-contained, clean diesel motors that convert power to electricity to run are cleaner, quieter, and cheaper to operate than the traditional locomotive-hauled coaches. In addition, they have the flexibility to evolve to the next generation of all electric-powered vehicles, offering the first of its kind in California.
Director of Rail Baysden and Rail Safety & Compliance Officer Loretta Rains currently comprise the entire rail team at Omnitrans. Their focus over the next year is to partner with SBCTA during construction and vehicle acquisition while developing the scope of work to select a firm to operate Arrow service for Omnitrans.
Baysden began her railroad career with Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), working her way up from Brakeman/Footboard Yardmaster to Chief Dispatcher over the span of 16 years. Baysden earned a Bachelor of Science in Business/Project Management from the University of Phoenix and in 2018 expects to complete a Master of Science in Transportation Management from the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University.