SAN FRANCISCO — Caltrain will begin public operation of its electrified trainsets this Sunday, Aug. 11, the news site SFGate reports.
Agency spokesman Dan Lieberman told SFGate that “a couple” of the electric trains will be in operation, but that Caltrain has decided against announcing which specific trains will be operating with the new equipment to avoid overcrowding for safety reasons and to avoid displacing regular riders. More of the electric trains will be introduced into service each week, he said, until the official switch to full electric service, currently scheduled for Sept. 21.
Work to electrify the 51-mile line between San Francisco and San Jose began in 2017. Stadler USA has built the bilevel trainsets for the electrified service; service plans call for increased frequencies during peak periods and on weekends, and reduced travel times. Overall, electrification will bring a 20% increase in service [see “Caltrain finalizes electrification operating plan,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 12, 2023].
Where is Mr. Landey? California was able to deploy a new trainset type without cost overruns and consultant nightmares. Credit where credit is due.
Mr. Landey is suitably impressed.
While on the subject, I’ve always been puzzled by the longer distance commute trains. I have ridden San Jose to SanFran, and to the ends or near the ends of most METRA routes, some MBTA suburban — but only as an occasional visitor, never a daily commuter. Don’t know how people do it. Of course, not all daily riders go end to end, some might ride end to middle, like Wickford Junction (Rhode Island) to Providence, or San Jose to the San Mateo area.
I think it’s worth remembering that San Jose is a significant metro area all on its own, and its population actually exceeds that of San Francisco. Several of the cities just north of San Jose also have significant population and employment centers. So there’s probably quite a few people who are making commutes from places in the middle of the line toward San Jose. I’m hoping to go ride the new Caltrain equipment soon after the full debut in late September. Never did get a chance to ride a gallery car, but I’m not sure that’s missing much.
In conjunction with this introduction, San Jose’s Central Coast Railway Club (NRHS Chapter) plans a ‘Farewell to Gallery Cars’ trip on the 10th, but details have not been provided yet on specific trains for the group to ride. After the base system is electric in September, diesel-powered trains with presumably Bombardier cars will still cover the Gilroy service until the Battery EMU set(s) are available in future.
Speaking of electric trainsets, where does Amtrak stand on the new Acela trainsets now sitting useless at many sites? What’s wrong (many items?), what repair/replace steps are being or have been implemented and what is the planned date to commence service? Sounds like a lot of Amtrak senior managers need to be fired and replaced with people who understand real railroading. Heads should roll!
Rarely has Amtrak been run by railroaders.
It is mostly at the hands of government appointed buffoons who love feeding at government trough.