The service improvements are possible because Caltrain is replacing all the aging diesel trains between San Francisco and San Jose with world class electric trains that provide better service performance and quality than the diesel ones.
The new service schedule is slated to begin with the completion of the Caltrain Electrification Project in fall 2024.
“With electrified Caltrain service now less than a year away, it is exciting to see a new schedule in place that will allow riders to get to their destinations quicker and more often,” said Caltrain board chair Jeff Gee. “While there is still a lot of work ahead of us, the vision of greener, quieter and more efficient trains will soon be a reality.”
The new service plan includes more frequent weekend service, with trains running every 30 minutes, compared to hourly today. As ridership and revenue continue to grow, Caltrain will have the capacity for even more regular service because of electrification, with the capability to run up to six trains per hour during the peak.
Thanks to the Caltrain Electrification Project, the firm will be able to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 55,000 cars off the road each year. Making the switch to electrified service will also improve local air quality, and trains will be quieter, which will be noticeable both onboard and off.
The Caltrain Electrification Project includes a 100% emission free service from San Francisco to San Jose, and future plans for a zero emission corridor to Gilroy with a hybrid battery train.