SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The first Caltrain electric trainset has seen action on the San Francisco-San Jose corridor, although at a significantly slower pace than will eventually be the standard.
The commuter rail operator reports the trainset was pulled by a diesel at 5 mph between the Santa Clara and Tamien (San Jose) stations, a distance of a little over 4 miles, the weekend of July 16 to check clearances. No major problems were encountered, and further clearance tests will be conducted soon over the remainder of the corridor. The next significant step in the electrification project is expected later this year when a trainset operates under its own power for the first time to test the catenary system.
The new trainsets will increase capacity, with seven cars as opposed to the current five or six, and will decrease travel times thanks to the quicker acceleration and deceleration of electric equipment. Electrified operation on the 41-mile San Francisco-San Jose route is currently projected to begin in mid-2024.
September will be the testing