Electrifying Caltrain: Transforming Rail in California

Let the games begin with the new High-Speed Rail in California

Caltrain's new promo for the new electrified high-speed rail train.Photo byCaltrain.com

Governor Gavin Newsom and the CEO of the new electrified High-Speed Rail train gave a cheer at the beginning of the long project's completion.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority named its new CEO Thursday, Ian Choudri. Today, Choudri and Governor Newsom celebrated Caltrain’s new electrified train fleet in San Francisco.

This new high-speed rail system in California will help transform rail service in the Bay Area.

The project's costs for the electrification and electric trains were supported by more than $1.3 billion in state funding. High-speed rail kicked in more than $700 million as well.

Within the last year, valuable progress has been made by high-speed rail. It was also helped significantly with historic funding from the Biden-Harris Administration.

The new system will serve as the Bay Area’s connection to California's high-speed rail. Caltrain’s electrification and high-speed rail are key projects in Governor Newsom’s build more, faster infrastructure agenda.

All environmental reviews have been completed from Los Angeles to the Bay Area. This project has also created nearly 14,000 good-paying jobs.

Governor Newsom and Nancy Pelosi at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the first California new High-Speed Electrified Train.Photo byGov.ca.gov

“High-speed rail linked to an electrified Caltrain will not just get Californians where they’re going faster, it’s connecting communities and driving economic growth. The completed Caltrain project is an integral part of high-speed rail and the story California is telling about clean transportation.

And Californians are already seeing the results for themselves as we electrify Caltrain, finish structures, lay track, design and build stations, and buy trains. We’re making rail real in California.” - Governor Gavin Newsom

Ian Choudri, incoming CEO of California High-Speed Rail Authority said,

“Caltrain’s project is an important piece to the bigger vision of electrified rail throughout California. “I’m proud to join the Governor, state, and federal leaders today to mark this important milestone. Let’s keep building on today’s momentum for the future of transportation.”

The Caltrain corridor between San Francisco and San Jose was converted from diesel to an electric service - reducing emissions and enhancing capacity - with The Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project.

It also equips the corridor to accommodate future California High-Speed Rail service. Estimates from Caltrain figures that the corridor electrification will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 250,000 tons annually. That would be the same as removing 55,000 cars off the streets each year.

After the project is fully completed:

• Express trains will operate in less than an hour - unlike the 65-minute norm it is today.
• A total of 16 stations will have service every 15 to 20 minutes during the peak periods, compared to the mere 7 today.
• Local trains will operate in 75 minutes, compared to today's lengthy 100 minutes.
• Each station will have service every 30 minutes, mid-day, evenings, and weekends, unlike today's hourly schedule.

Caltrain said the construction of this project began in July of 2017 and is glad to see it for the public. There will be limited passenger service starting tomorrow but full passenger service is slated at the beginning of next month.

References:

Governor Gavin Newsom website - Governor Newsom and new High-Speed Rail CEO celebrate Caltrain’s electrification as key part of high-speed rail plan | Governor of California

Caltrain - Electrification | Caltrain