Caltrain Electrification will electrify the corridor from San Francisco Caltrain Station to the Tamien Caltrain Station. Electrification improvements include converting diesel-hauled trains to electric trains, increasing service to six trains per peak hour per direction, and maintaining operating speed up to 79 mph.
The new high-performance electric trains will offer a better service to Caltrain riders. In addition to their environmental benefits, they will generate much less noise than their diesel equivalent, making the trip more enjoyable both for riders and residents that live near Caltrain tracks.
Additionally, each trainset will have seven cars, as opposed to the current five or six. The new trains also accelerate and decelerate faster than their diesel alternatives, which must be pulled by a locomotive. This will allow Caltrain to expand its service levels beyond the current 104 trains every weekday.
These trains will go into service in 2024, and until then will be tested to ensure they and the infrastructure they will rely upon, are in good working order.
The trains were built by Stadler US at its facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. After they were assembled, they were sent to a test facility in Pueblo, Colorado where they were tested at high speeds under numerous conditions as required by the Federal Railroad Administration. The trains were tested for braking, propulsion, ride quality, noise and vibration, door operation, Positive Train Control and Electromagnetic Interference over the course of eight months.
Caltrain’s historic electrification project is the first undertaking in North America in a generation in which diesel trains and their infrastructure components are transitioned to an electrified system. The project requires an additional US$410 million over initial estimates. Caltrain is working with its funding partners, as well as its federal and state legislative delegations to fill the funding gap.
Electrification will help meet ambitious regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and relieving traffic congestion.
“The electrification of Caltrain is one of the most important milestones in Caltrain’s history,” said Caltrain board chair Steve Heminger. “Being able to step onto the new trains for the first time makes me even more excited for the start of electrified service in 2024.”