SAN FRANCISCO – Caltrain has completed the installation of all the poles necessary to support its overhead catenary between San Francisco and San Jose. It also upgraded the signal system, and successfully tested electric trains at maximum track speed of 79 mph. The commuter railroad said the three major milestones bring the Caltrain Electrification Project closer to passenger service in fall 2024.
Caltrain and contractor Balfour Beatty worked to install 2,569 pre-engineered poles and upgraded the existing signal system to allow the electric trains to operate. The work in upgrading the existing signal system included upgrading every grade crossing on the electrified corridor. The steel poles were lifted and elevated into place and then mounted on concrete foundation, a process that involved ongoing collaboration and hours of work around the clock to complete.
With the final poles installed, crews can now hang the last of the wire, as well as finish the final work on the signal system that will provide power to electric trains, which will be tested along the full corridor from San Francisco to San Jose later this year.
Caltrain and vehicle manufacturer Stadler have successfully run tests with new electric trains operating at maximum track speed to ensure that all the individual systems are working together as intended. Cameras were placed atop the trains to ensure that the interface between the pantograph on the train and the overhead was fully integrated and operating as designed and constructed. The trains were first tested at walking speed and with each subsequent test the speed was increased until reaching the maximum authorized track speed of 79 miles per hour.
The South San Francisco Traction Power Facility went live in August, making it possible to fully power the entire Caltrain electrified corridor once the testing and overhead wire is complete this fall. Trains are currently being tested on the southern end of the corridor and will be expanding to more parts of the system in the months to come. The 51-mile Caltrain Electrification Project will be the first 25KV OCS system on the west coast. The infrastructure being installed will be compatible with future high-speed rail on the corridor.
Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter service from San Francisco to San Jose, with additional service to Gilroy along a former Southern Pacific route.
What do the completed poles look like?
Why are they limiting to 79 mph? Surely the track is good for 90.
I am going to assume it has something to due with track profile (curvature and grades) number of grade crossing, interlocking, population areas, and local freights. I know the northern end of the line has some freight service, not sure about the southern end of line as I have only seen the north end. Of course I could be wrong. I am sure someone could give you the correct info if I am.