Caltrain Begins Electric Train Passenger Service

California’s Caltrain debuted its cutting-edge electric fleet, hosting a VIP tour where participants boarded the trains for its historic inaugural service.

After nearly a decade of construction, these new trains signify a landmark shift toward a faster, more frequent and environmentally friendly public transportation network along the San Francisco Peninsula.

Kicking Off Caltrain’s New Fleet

The event included a 30-minute round-trip experience, starting in San Francisco with the opportunity to engage with federal, state, local elected officials as well as transportation, business, labor, and community leaders.

Beginning August 11, the electric trains will run their first regular service. Additional electric trains will be introduced every week until the launch of the new schedule and full electrified service between San Francisco and San Jose on Sept. 21.

The Benefits of Electrification

The new high-performance electric trains offer a better experience for Caltrain riders while providing faster and more frequent service. Express service will allow commuters to travel between San Francisco and San Jose in under an hour.

The new trains will also increase service by 20% because they can accelerate and decelerate much faster than diesel trains, which provides more robust and flexible access to cities throughout the rail system — with 16 stations seeing trains every 15 to 20 minutes at peak hours and all stations receiving service every 30 minutes on the weekend compared to hourly service today.

Additionally, electrified service will advance equity along the corridor by reducing noise and air pollution while increasing access and service for equity priority communities by 26%.

Electrification will also help meet ambitious regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and relieving traffic congestion.

By transitioning from diesel to electric trains, carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by 250,000 metric tons annually—- equivalent to removing 55,000 cars from the road each year.

The Electrification Project not only decreases emissions and noise pollution in priority equity communities, but also provides better access and more robust and flexible service for everyone.

Enhanced Amenities

Additionally, the new vehicles offer enhanced amenities, including customer-facing Wi-Fi, new digital onboard displays, power outlets at each forward-facing seat, energy-efficient lighting, an improved climate control system, baby-changing tables in the bathroom, security cameras, and expanded storage under the cantilevered seats.

They will also generate less noise than their diesel equivalent, making the trip more enjoyable both for riders and residents that live near Caltrain tracks.

Caltrain is the oldest continuously operated railroad in the West, starting steam train passenger service 160 years ago when Abraham Lincoln served as President.