Photo: Caltrain
Caltrain, the 160-year-old San Francisco to San Jose subway line, has ditched diesel and is now fully electric.
This makes Caltrain's zero-emission service from San Francisco to San Jose the first diesel-to-electric transition in North America in a generation. To celebrate, Caltrain is offering free rides this weekend on its new half-hourly weekend service, and is hosting events in every city along the corridor.
New electric service is also faster and more common. During peak hours, trains will run every 15 to 20 minutes from the 16 stations along the corridor. Express service from San Francisco to San Jose will take less than an hour, and weekend service will be twice as frequent as before.
Each train set will have seven cars instead of the previous five to six. The new electric trains are faster and decelerate faster than diesel cars, allowing frequent stops at the same time.
The trains are built by Stadler US at their facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. After they were assembled, they were sent to a test site in Pueblo, Colorado. where they were tested at high speed under many conditions as required by the Federal Railroad Administration.
New electric trains are not only better for the environment; they are also much better for passengers. Passengers can now enjoy benefits such as free wifi, power outlets for additional seats, and expanded under-seat storage. In addition, the ride is very quiet.
Serving the region since 1863, Caltrain is the oldest continuously operating rail system west of the Mississippi. The electrification project is fully funded by federal, state, and local partners.
Read more: 'UK-first' battery test train overtakes diesel
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