For decades, Bay Area transportation geeks have eagerly anticipated this moment. Caltrain’s new electric fleet, a project that has been in progress since the early 1990s, is finally ready to be unveiled to the public. The transit agency has announced that tours will be available on July 29, giving Bay Area residents the opportunity to witness the first-ever transition from diesel locomotives in the American West.
This groundbreaking achievement was once just a dream, but it became a reality nearly five years ago when the Swiss-made red-and-white trains were revealed at their factory in Salt Lake City. This transformation marks one of the biggest makeovers to the region’s transportation system in years.
The new electric trains, set to be operational for passengers in the fall of 2024, come equipped with an array of modern features. Passengers will enjoy dedicated Wi-Fi, an increased number of power outlets near seats, an upgraded system for announcing stops, and even a baby-changing station in the bathrooms. The current drab seat designs will be replaced with sleek and futuristic-looking ones, while the interior lighting creates a spaceship-like ambiance. Manufactured by Stadler, these trains will provide electric service along the 51-mile stretch from San Francisco to San Jose’s Tamien Station, running through the heart of Silicon Valley.
Besides the exciting gadgets, the shift from diesel to electric locomotives offers several advantages. These include reduced pollution, faster acceleration that can eventually lead to increased service frequency, and a regenerative power system that shares energy with other trains when one of them is braking, similar to a hybrid car. Caltrain has already installed approximately 2.6 million feet of electric wire for the new infrastructure, enough to run alongside a third of the length of the Colorado River. Once the trains are up and running, the noise level will significantly decrease compared to their diesel counterparts. The electric trains idle at 56 decibels, making them as quiet as a refrigerator.
The introduction of the new electric fleet is expected to lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for the transit agency. It is estimated that Caltrain will reduce its emissions to the equivalent of 25 cars’ worth of pollution per year, every day. However, the completion of this project has not been without challenges. The new trains and infrastructure come with a price tag of $2.4 billion, which is $500 million over budget. Additionally, the project faced setbacks during the Trump administration when federal funding was withheld. Moreover, Caltrain must address ridership challenges in the post-pandemic era. Although ridership numbers have improved since the height of the pandemic, they are still well below pre-pandemic levels. Caltrain hopes that the excitement surrounding the new fleet will encourage new and returning riders to utilize their services.
Looking ahead, the ultimate goal is for the electric tracks to be shared with the state’s future high-speed trains, which could arrive in a few decades. Caltrain service to Gilroy will continue to use diesel for now, as that area of southern Santa Clara County uses Union Pacific tracks. However, the transit agency is exploring options to electrify some trains through battery power in order to serve the southern portion of the county.
Caltrain will be offering tours of the new trains on July 29 at San Jose’s Diridon Station. The tours will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP. In addition to the train tours, the event will feature Caltrain giveaways, food trucks, and artwork by Eric Rewitzer, who was commissioned to create Caltrain-themed illustrations. San Francisco and San Mateo County will also be hosting their own tours in the coming years.