Caltrain passes final corridor test, announces full electrification date

For eight years, Caltrain has tested soil conditions, signal and communication services, strung over 2.6 million feet of wire and undergone construction day and night to prepare for its new electrified trains. 

Over the weekend, the transit agency successfully operated eight new electric trains simultaneously on the corridor – temporarily pausing public train services in its final corridor test – and announced the all-electric fleet is set to go public on September 21.

Caltrain’s stress test of the electrical power system simulated real time service schedules, according to a statement from Caltrain. 

“I thank our riders for their patience as we completed this necessary construction, and I look forward to September when we can enjoy the benefits of a faster, greener and quieter Caltrain,” wrote Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard in a statement. 

The new trains are set to operate from San Francisco to San Jose in under an hour and are said to arrive more frequently to create a more efficient system. New seats are covered in vinyl rather than cloth and feature outlets and Wi-Fi throughout the train, among other perks. 

Caltrain’s electrification project is the first of its kind in North America, taking a historic leap away from diesel fuel, the agency says.

While the weekend test is the last to use the full corridor, each of the trains needs to travel a total of 1,000 miles before it enters regular service, said Caltrain Spokesperson Dan Lieberman. 

But for now, the September start date is pretty much set in stone, he said.