As an occasional SEPTA rider, I applaud them for finally being electrified and I do envy them a bit for having more modern trains, especially with its whisper quiet regen braking.
You've enjoyed for decades what some consider as a new thing in North America. The only new thing here are the trains, which is logical for a new system, and you will be getting new (and beautiful, in the renders at least) train in a few years (planned to start arriving in 2029 and be fully deployed in 2031).
I will be visiting San Fran on October 1st to 6th. Any recommendations for good and safe rail fanning locations? I plan to spend one dedicated to rail fanning.
the San Bernardino Line is so overdue to go electric, from it being Metrolink's busiest line, to it being entirely owned between LA Metro and SBCTA (2 of the 5 SoCal county transit agencies that make up SCRRA), and has minimal freight traffic. Even if BLW wouldn't share it, the benefits of having electrified commuter rail should already be enough to justify it.
@@alfredoacosta5600Not yet. They're focused on expanding service first. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Agreed, but it seems they are focused for now on expanding service. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Metrolink has stated in plan books that by 2040 they plan on being zero emissions, this isn't a matter of Metrolink not wanting to do it, its a matter of the fact that 1/3 of Metrolink lines utilize freight railroad trackage or other commuter operations. The plans are there, the cooperation is not, a lot of misinformation about Metrolink electrification. Its weird that lots of people and especially environmentalists portray Metrolink as some diesel-loving polluting nightmare.
@@darmanyjimenez5083 They are doing it in a stupid and (long run) expensive way, by battery-electric multiple units that only get to recharge at South Station (and maybe at the other end). It would have been better to convert the Fairmount Line into a real (Red Line style) rapid transit line, and it would be an easy conversion except for the last little bit to get into South Station Under. Considering how much the T has fought tooth and nail against electrification of Commuter Rail in the recent past, I have a suspicion that they are designing this to fail.
Unfortunately the MBTA seems to be determined to do this with batteries instead of overhead catenary. I wish we'd just bite the bullet on overhead electrification.
As a european that's very used to stadler Kiss trains (multiple rail companies use them on my favorite train spotting route, and I used to frequently take one to school for a few years) It's very good to see the america is finally making progress on rail electrification
Only if electrification teams are kept gainfully occupied ... a lesson UK governments of all political stripes have utterly failed to grasp since the Woodhead line was first sparked up back in 1953!
@@andrewreynolds4949 But if you buy more, the price drops because there are no longer individual pieces but masses and producing masses is cheaper than small quantities in Porduz. One km of overhead line in Germany costs €1-1.5 million (USD 1.1-1.6 million), depending on whether it is single-track or double-track. From what I read, CalMod costs 1.5 billion for 51mi (82km). This results in a km price of 18 million USD per km. If I read a false price, tell me.
BTW,the Southern Pacific,was using the Red Cars,in San Francisco,and Oakland,as a test bed for electrifications! So there were plans dating back to the 1900's,for uprating the services back then! The electrification to Boston under Amtrak,was planned by the New Haven,back in the 1910's,and finally got done about a 100 years later! Curious coincidences,no/yes! Thank you 😇 😊!
Here in the UK, when the (old) Southern Railway sparked up the London to Brighton and part of the Sussex Coast routes in 1933, part of the publicity circus involved simultaneously commemorating the 50th anniversary of Volk's Electric Railway, Britain's first and now also oldest electric railway, running just over a mile between just short of Palace Pier and just short of Brighton Marina, a 2'-8½" gauge line, 141 years young and still going as strong as 110Vdc 3rd rail power supply allows! On the first day of the Southern's shiny new electric operations, on the Seaford branch, there was a slight issue when it was discovered the signal box's levers and frame were energised at 750Vdc .... a problem temporarily solved by the simple expedient of running an earthing cable across the adjacent beach into the sea. Those were simpler times!!
I am a caltrain rider and I'm so excited for the electric trains to come in fully on saturday!! can't wait for the more frequent and faster travel to SF :) and it'll probably be a lot quieter at my girlfriend's place who lives right next to the caltrain line haha
The MBTA is supposed to be recieving some more F40s in the form of rebuilt Rolling Stock Solutions leasers in the near future. Boston still loves the F40 platform despite it being almost half a century old at this point
It’s great to see Caltrain gong in a great direction, and hope that other railroads will soon follow. However service to Gilroy will still be using the diesel sets as that section remains without electrification; a BEMU has been ordered for this section.
If the BEMU works out, Caltrain may order 3 more to round out that route. It would be nice to see Electrification on that line in the future, but the tracks are owned by the UP, so who knows if they'd ever sign off on that.
Well they were former Metrolink equipment, though I don't think the Bombardier cars are going away soon (the Gilroy extension will still be using diesel locomotives for the immediate future). I know the old gallery cars are going away. Not sure Metrolink would want them back, considering that Metrolink was likely sending them to the scrap yard when Caltrain bought them.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Quick correction, not every axle has to be powered to be an EMU, it just must be a self-powered (set of) car(s). For example the swiss KISS only have the end cars powered, and according to the posting on the Stadler website, these trains have a „2'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2' + Bo'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2' + Bo'2'“ arrangement)
And quick explanation of the European wheel arrangement abbreviations. Main difference: we count axles here (as opposed to wheels, like it's common in the US). 2: two unpowered axles B: two powered axles o: each axle is powered by a separate motor ': axles are mounted in a bogie (or other type of movable frame, like eg. for leading or trailing axles on steam engines; i.e. the axles are not directly on the frame of the engine) e.g. a typical US diesel-electric locomotive would be Bo'Bo' (4 axles total) or Co'Co' (6 axles). A 4-6-2 steam engine would be 2'C1'.
7:48 they chose not electrify it not just because it only sees 4 round trips per weekday but mainly because the track south of sunnyvale is owned by Union Pacific who would not allow it
CP Lick, between Tamien and Capitol stations, is where Caltrain ownership ends and UP begins. CHSRA is working with UP on an agreement to build two electrified tracks adjacent to the UP track (for three total in the corridor), which would remain non-electrified for UP and, presumably, Amtrak. CHSRA and Caltrain would share the electrified tracks. Chances are CHSRA will build those, and that probably won't start until the mid to late 2030s at the earliest, unless funding for it is found sooner.
The surplus equipment is now available for use in other areas. Like Maybe restoring or expanding service to other areas of the LA Basin or adding trains in Northern California.
Unfortunately, per some California state law, the F40s have to be made inoperable before being sold (apparently by dumping cement into the engines) so the likelihood of them ever running again is sadly pretty low
Metrolink in SoCal announced yesterday an increase in service. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Watching from the Netherlands where all train lines are electrified, I hope that the rest of the US takes its cue from Caltrain. Now is the time to expand the train network and to electrify. (By the way, albeit. a Dutchman, I grew up in Palo Alto in the '60s and '70s; I took Caltrain regularly into the City.
Very exciting stuff. Saw a report on Metrolink in SoCal that it was increasing service. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area. Hopefully, they will electrify the system sooner rather than later, too.
Finally! I am excited for the next time in Millbrae riding with the CalTrain to San Francisco. I saw the power lines and stood a couple of times in San Mateo at the station admiring the power lines wires. Greetings from Germany.
This brings up an interesting point: Metra operates the largest diesel-powered commuter network in the US and is betting that investing in battery-powered trains will be the solution... ironically, Metra has an electrified line. I hope they realize soon that the solution already exists in Metra's own home.
Considering the fact that they're separated from the freight tracks, I think they're the most likely to be electrified next. And I think there was a UTA plan that proposed electrification recently.
Congrats to Caltrain for electrified service and about time too! Love those new Stadler Kiss Railcars they sound and look amazing! You know I would love to see the whole Florida Brightline to be electrified but I don't know how it will bold well with FEC considering the fact that its letting Brightline run on it. And I am hoping but wishful thinking of Tri-Rail to be electrified since the Railway line is owned by SFRTA. In other news Southern California Metrolink should be electrified espically the orange county line since it already runs faster trains there and CAHSR is planning to run that corridor to Anaheim.
Looks like Metrolink is focused on expanding service for now. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Nice video! Quick note though in terms of history though - CalTrain is not the first electrified US commuter railroad that runs EMUs. The commuter railroads around NYC and Philadelphia have long been electrified, albeit on older catenary and third-rail systems. Likewise, Metra Electric District and the South Shore Line have long been electrified and running EMUs. Denver started running a modern, 25kV electrified commuter rail system with EMUs starting in 2016. Shore Line East also started running M8 EMUs under 25kV electrification in 2022. CalTrain though is definitely the glitziest though with their brand new, state-of-the-art Stadler trains. And they were the technically first ones to explicitly go from diesel to EMU with new overhead catenary (the NYC/Pennsylvania and Chicago lines transitioned from steam, Denver's RTD was started from the get-go as electric, and Shore Line East used existing Amtrak overhead wires)
The main benefit of the electrification is the greatly improved acceleration of the EMUs, vey useful for the stop-start running on commuter systems like this. When the project was planned it was about the only feasible way to significantly increase capacity on the network; what a shame that it’s only coming into service after Covid, when the ridership was greatly reduced. Electrification is not necessarily more reliable or cheaper than diesel power. Reliability depends on a number of things, including the conditions the wires are exposed to. Places with high winds, potential for trees damaging the lines, and very remote locations where maintenance is very difficult can make diesel the better solution. The cost comparison depends heavily on the prices of fuel and electricity; for example, recently in the UK the price of electricity went up enough that some of the freight rail companies entirely stopped using their electric locomotives. The price of diesel was simply far lower. It’s really not a quick cut comparison.
I live near a second branch line in Italy, they replaced old Aln 668 with ATR 125 and new ATR 803 both from Stadler, while the ATR 125 is more like Diesel-electric train, the ATR 803 run in proximity to the station in electric, outside the station the engines start
I wish Seattle and the puget sound could do something like this for Sounder and lay the groundwork for a cascades hsr route. Frequent and fast sounder service would be a highly used option especially for sports and entertainment
The use of two locomotives is done to have a spare locomotive on the line in case one should fail. This allows the extra locomotive to be cut off and sent to the stranded train rather than dispatching one from the engine terminal. This was a practice that started in Chicago.
There was a policy on the PRR/LIRR to have protect locomotives,near major Junctions,to cover for rush hour breakdowns! It's really not that new,as it existed over,now 100 years ago! Steam power,anyone! Thank you 😇😊!
Great to see investment in the future of passenger rail. To European ears, the persistence of the clanging bell in what are clearly commuter stations is odd. I'd imagine that, having never known anything different, US rail regulars must have a near Pavlovian reaction to the sound ... and European systems must be a bit if a culture shock (especially the UK with it's crazy small trains).
Thank god Stadler has a US based manufacturing facility and we decided on a company with experience building these trains instead of just some big company with no experience that we have to go with be "Buy America" is a requirement... and they lobby the crap to get the contract.
From what I understand the section to Gilrow is not electrified as it's owned by Union Pacific and they don't want it to be electrified. The low usage is also limited by UP they only agreed to allow 10 trains per day.
There is always the possibility of using Thermal- and Renewable power plants for railroad electrification, that could be proven to be more efficient and more sustainable!
To the Axis not all of the KISS trains are powered they have an axis configuration of " 2’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’2’ " (2 = two unpowered axis; Bo = two powered axis where each axis has is own motor)
Farewell to the F40PH’s of Caltrain locomotives and gallery cars it’s time for retirement, but all is not lost I still operate F40PH on Train Sim World just enjoyable memories. 😢
If they’re continuing to run diesel service to Gilroy, will passengers have to transfer at Tamien? Or will they be running Gilroy bound diesel trains out of SF?
@@WorldwideRailfanThat might change in the near future since Metrolink announced yesterday an increase in service. Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Technologically yes, Caltrain is the most advanced rail road in America. BUT it’s still has low level boarding and basically one line. It has nothing on NYC’s and Philly’s systems
It is really strange, how often the horns and bells of the trains have to be used. If you live near the tracks, this must be very annoying. Perhaps it is time to change this for an emergency use only policy.
Yeah but the price tag is also due to american inexperience. in europe this project would have costed about 300-400 million at most, in the usa it costed billions.
Are you sure you want them back? They're older bombardier cars and I think Metrolink was sending them to the scrap yard when Caltrain was like "hey, can we buy those?" Yeah, they're refurbished, but they're still something like 2nd gen cars.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
How in the world did we get the interstate highway system setup without this much planning, lawsuits, gov funding, the gov withholding funding and more politics than this.
@@happyburger23it was also very racist. Meaning, the very highways that plow through neighborhoods rather oddly at times, were black neighborhoods that government couldn’t care less about.
@@mateojames3231 in Durham, NC there was a famous black neighborhood that was known across the US as “black Wall Street” and a large portion of it was bulldozed in the 1960s to make way for a highway.
What's the problem? They're placing 30+ year old polluting, slow diesel trains with modern, cutting-edge electric ones. Were you one of the NIMBYs against putting up the wires?
@@WorldwideRailfan No but i do support nimbys in case the government comes after me one day . But seriously what kind of "great" railway is this with public crossings at grade seemingly every mile even close to the city and of couse a spider web of wires everywhere . No trains even go anywhere exept one single place ; San jose , Why doesant at least some trains continue down the coast towards LA ? Who cares if it is diesel and slow , it is scenic and avoids the highway . " Cutting edge " hehehe go to another country .
@@WorldwideRailfan Ackchyually A-Hole meme aside, the large amount of bike space is amazing, definitely world leading, but perhaps a little simple from what I remember. The seats were really upright though...
As an occasional SEPTA rider, I applaud them for finally being electrified and I do envy them a bit for having more modern trains, especially with its whisper quiet regen braking.
Doors automatically opening on every car rather than panicking to find which door the conductor decided to open this time
Tbf for the high level stations on SL5s, all doors open, but yea
You've enjoyed for decades what some consider as a new thing in North America.
The only new thing here are the trains, which is logical for a new system, and you will be getting new (and beautiful, in the renders at least) train in a few years (planned to start arriving in 2029 and be fully deployed in 2031).
Hopefully SEPTA will be getting new cars in the near future! Those Silverliner IVs are well past their expiration date
I will be visiting San Fran on October 1st to 6th. Any recommendations for good and safe rail fanning locations? I plan to spend one dedicated to rail fanning.
I love how quickly they come to a stop and accelerate
The other plus is that train operators can limo stop into the station without worrying about jostling their passengers.
Thats electric traction for you lol, welcome to the rest of the world Americans!
@@BigBlueMan118 What kind of traction do you think diesel-ELECTRIC locomotives have?
But are transit times any faster ?
@@lassepeterson2740 Yes
Metrolink should be taking notes. Electrification is gonna be useful once CAHSR and Brightline West arrive in SoCal.
the San Bernardino Line is so overdue to go electric, from it being Metrolink's busiest line, to it being entirely owned between LA Metro and SBCTA (2 of the 5 SoCal county transit agencies that make up SCRRA), and has minimal freight traffic. Even if BLW wouldn't share it, the benefits of having electrified commuter rail should already be enough to justify it.
And yet they are doubling down on not electrifying the system
@@alfredoacosta5600Not yet. They're focused on expanding service first.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Agreed, but it seems they are focused for now on expanding service.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Metrolink has stated in plan books that by 2040 they plan on being zero emissions, this isn't a matter of Metrolink not wanting to do it, its a matter of the fact that 1/3 of Metrolink lines utilize freight railroad trackage or other commuter operations. The plans are there, the cooperation is not, a lot of misinformation about Metrolink electrification. Its weird that lots of people and especially environmentalists portray Metrolink as some diesel-loving polluting nightmare.
There is hope! Wishing this would happen soon for MBTA commuter rail. Thanks for posting.
it’s gonna start in 2028! they’re purchasing emu’s and plan to fully electrify the fairmount line by 2028
@@darmanyjimenez5083 They are doing it in a stupid and (long run) expensive way, by battery-electric multiple units that only get to recharge at South Station (and maybe at the other end). It would have been better to convert the Fairmount Line into a real (Red Line style) rapid transit line, and it would be an easy conversion except for the last little bit to get into South Station Under. Considering how much the T has fought tooth and nail against electrification of Commuter Rail in the recent past, I have a suspicion that they are designing this to fail.
Unfortunately the MBTA seems to be determined to do this with batteries instead of overhead catenary.
I wish we'd just bite the bullet on overhead electrification.
The best thing about the electrified service: shaving some 20 minutes off the travel time between San Francisco and San Jose.
Caltrain AND Drum'n'Bass intro? What a lucky day this is!
As a european that's very used to stadler Kiss trains (multiple rail companies use them on my favorite train spotting route, and I used to frequently take one to school for a few years)
It's very good to see the america is finally making progress on rail electrification
More electrification costs less.
More high speed rail costs less, it's that simple
That’s not how that works. More costs more
@@andrewreynolds4949 bro hasn't heard of economies of scale !!!!
Only if electrification teams are kept gainfully occupied ... a lesson UK governments of all political stripes have utterly failed to grasp since the Woodhead line was first sparked up back in 1953!
@@andrewreynolds4949 But if you buy more, the price drops because there are no longer individual pieces but masses and producing masses is cheaper than small quantities in Porduz. One km of overhead line in Germany costs €1-1.5 million (USD 1.1-1.6 million), depending on whether it is single-track or double-track. From what I read, CalMod costs 1.5 billion for 51mi (82km). This results in a km price of 18 million USD per km. If I read a false price, tell me.
Check out the abysmal ridership and the exploding budget deficit.
The only hope is kalama opening the federal taxpayer check book. 🙄
Once MBTA sees this, they’ll know EXACTLY what to do
Delay further 😢
@@KcarlMarXsbetter late than never
I wish! The politicans in charge of funding the MBTA's electrification seem to purposely have their heads in the sand at this point
@@WorldwideRailfantheir Battery trains will even put them in mud…
Great video. I will remember for the rest of my life when Caltrain started using all electric trains because September 21st is my birthday.
BTW,the Southern Pacific,was using the Red Cars,in San Francisco,and Oakland,as a test bed for electrifications! So there were plans dating back to the 1900's,for uprating the services back then! The electrification to Boston under Amtrak,was planned by the New Haven,back in the 1910's,and finally got done about a 100 years later! Curious coincidences,no/yes! Thank you 😇 😊!
Here in the UK, when the (old) Southern Railway sparked up the London to Brighton and part of the Sussex Coast routes in 1933, part of the publicity circus involved simultaneously commemorating the 50th anniversary of Volk's Electric Railway, Britain's first and now also oldest electric railway, running just over a mile between just short of Palace Pier and just short of Brighton Marina, a 2'-8½" gauge line, 141 years young and still going as strong as 110Vdc 3rd rail power supply allows!
On the first day of the Southern's shiny new electric operations, on the Seaford branch, there was a slight issue when it was discovered the signal box's levers and frame were energised at 750Vdc .... a problem temporarily solved by the simple expedient of running an earthing cable across the adjacent beach into the sea. Those were simpler times!!
I am a caltrain rider and I'm so excited for the electric trains to come in fully on saturday!! can't wait for the more frequent and faster travel to SF :) and it'll probably be a lot quieter at my girlfriend's place who lives right next to the caltrain line haha
MBTA might pick up some of those F40's. 40 year old locomotives would fit right in in Boston!
The MBTA is supposed to be recieving some more F40s in the form of rebuilt Rolling Stock Solutions leasers in the near future. Boston still loves the F40 platform despite it being almost half a century old at this point
It’s great to see Caltrain gong in a great direction, and hope that other railroads will soon follow. However service to Gilroy will still be using the diesel sets as that section remains without electrification; a BEMU has been ordered for this section.
If the BEMU works out, Caltrain may order 3 more to round out that route. It would be nice to see Electrification on that line in the future, but the tracks are owned by the UP, so who knows if they'd ever sign off on that.
i hope this is a sign of things to come
Maybe Metrolink can scoop up all the surplus diesel equipment for the Olympics. Some of it is already in Metrolink colors after all.
Well they were former Metrolink equipment, though I don't think the Bombardier cars are going away soon (the Gilroy extension will still be using diesel locomotives for the immediate future). I know the old gallery cars are going away.
Not sure Metrolink would want them back, considering that Metrolink was likely sending them to the scrap yard when Caltrain bought them.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
"-and its 5 in the afternoon. As rush hour begins to pick up-" Oh buddy. I wish it picked up at 5. That'd save me a lot of headaches.
Quick correction, not every axle has to be powered to be an EMU, it just must be a self-powered (set of) car(s). For example the swiss KISS only have the end cars powered, and according to the posting on the Stadler website, these trains have a „2'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2' +
Bo'Bo' + Bo'Bo' + 2'2' + Bo'2'“ arrangement)
And quick explanation of the European wheel arrangement abbreviations. Main difference: we count axles here (as opposed to wheels, like it's common in the US).
2: two unpowered axles
B: two powered axles
o: each axle is powered by a separate motor
': axles are mounted in a bogie (or other type of movable frame, like eg. for leading or trailing axles on steam engines; i.e. the axles are not directly on the frame of the engine)
e.g. a typical US diesel-electric locomotive would be Bo'Bo' (4 axles total) or Co'Co' (6 axles). A 4-6-2 steam engine would be 2'C1'.
7:48 they chose not electrify it not just because it only sees 4 round trips per weekday but mainly because the track south of sunnyvale is owned by Union Pacific who would not allow it
CP Lick, between Tamien and Capitol stations, is where Caltrain ownership ends and UP begins. CHSRA is working with UP on an agreement to build two electrified tracks adjacent to the UP track (for three total in the corridor), which would remain non-electrified for UP and, presumably, Amtrak. CHSRA and Caltrain would share the electrified tracks. Chances are CHSRA will build those, and that probably won't start until the mid to late 2030s at the earliest, unless funding for it is found sooner.
@@ChrisJones-gx7fc oh god only 2 electrified tracks? That’s really not good enough, given that CHSR only stops at Gilroy and San Jose
@@chastermief3501 there'll be crossovers along the way, similar to the SF-SJ corridor, so HSR trains will be able to overtake Caltrain trains.
@@ChrisJones-gx7fc have you seen Banks rail’s videos on CHSR? He did a full analysis of how scheduling on this section would have to work.
The surplus equipment is now available for use in other areas. Like Maybe restoring or expanding service to other areas of the LA Basin or adding trains in Northern California.
Unfortunately, per some California state law, the F40s have to be made inoperable before being sold (apparently by dumping cement into the engines) so the likelihood of them ever running again is sadly pretty low
Metrolink in SoCal announced yesterday an increase in service.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
That Siemens tour is gonna be juicy 👀
Watching from the Netherlands where all train lines are electrified, I hope that the rest of the US takes its cue from Caltrain. Now is the time to expand the train network and to electrify. (By the way, albeit. a Dutchman, I grew up in Palo Alto in the '60s and '70s; I took Caltrain regularly into the City.
ehh not all lines, our government keeps refusing to electifry the diesellines in the north
Very exciting stuff. Saw a report on Metrolink in SoCal that it was increasing service.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Hopefully, they will electrify the system sooner rather than later, too.
Finally! I am excited for the next time in Millbrae riding with the CalTrain to San Francisco. I saw the power lines and stood a couple of times in San Mateo at the station admiring the power lines wires. Greetings from Germany.
This brings up an interesting point: Metra operates the largest diesel-powered commuter network in the US and is betting that investing in battery-powered trains will be the solution... ironically, Metra has an electrified line. I hope they realize soon that the solution already exists in Metra's own home.
Frontrunner is likely the next ComRail to go stadler
Considering the fact that they're separated from the freight tracks, I think they're the most likely to be electrified next. And I think there was a UTA plan that proposed electrification recently.
Technically Metra is next since they ordered Stadler FLIRT BEMUs for the Rock Island District Blue Island service
@@OntarioTrafficMan But that's not really systemwide, just a branch
I'm surprised they haven't ordered anything from Stadler let considering their proximity to the factory!
Congrats to Caltrain for electrified service and about time too! Love those new Stadler Kiss Railcars they sound and look amazing!
You know I would love to see the whole Florida Brightline to be electrified but I don't know how it will bold well with FEC considering the fact that its letting Brightline run on it. And I am hoping but wishful thinking of Tri-Rail to be electrified since the Railway line is owned by SFRTA.
In other news Southern California Metrolink should be electrified espically the orange county line since it already runs faster trains there and CAHSR is planning to run that corridor to Anaheim.
Looks like Metrolink is focused on expanding service for now.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Stadler is a good manufacturer ❤
Absolutely agree
Awesome! Can't wait for the Siemens tour vid, especially with Airo production underway.
Nice video!
Quick note though in terms of history though - CalTrain is not the first electrified US commuter railroad that runs EMUs. The commuter railroads around NYC and Philadelphia have long been electrified, albeit on older catenary and third-rail systems. Likewise, Metra Electric District and the South Shore Line have long been electrified and running EMUs. Denver started running a modern, 25kV electrified commuter rail system with EMUs starting in 2016. Shore Line East also started running M8 EMUs under 25kV electrification in 2022.
CalTrain though is definitely the glitziest though with their brand new, state-of-the-art Stadler trains. And they were the technically first ones to explicitly go from diesel to EMU with new overhead catenary (the NYC/Pennsylvania and Chicago lines transitioned from steam, Denver's RTD was started from the get-go as electric, and Shore Line East used existing Amtrak overhead wires)
"Caltrain is the first of many American commuter rails to be electrified" (Shoreline East raises hand "um, hello there") 🙂
Great video hopefully it won’t take too long for another commuter rail to do the same
Now that's what I call the American Railroad, with CalTrain('s)!
I love that you took this at San Antonio station!
Like JR, Group Amtrak should buy commuter trains and EMUs and should electrify their entire system for more environment friendly trais.
The acceleration is also limited by passenger comfort - the train alone can do even more than shown at 6:40
Excellent video my friends 😊
Metra! F40s are on sale! Your favorites!!
The main benefit of the electrification is the greatly improved acceleration of the EMUs, vey useful for the stop-start running on commuter systems like this. When the project was planned it was about the only feasible way to significantly increase capacity on the network; what a shame that it’s only coming into service after Covid, when the ridership was greatly reduced.
Electrification is not necessarily more reliable or cheaper than diesel power. Reliability depends on a number of things, including the conditions the wires are exposed to. Places with high winds, potential for trees damaging the lines, and very remote locations where maintenance is very difficult can make diesel the better solution.
The cost comparison depends heavily on the prices of fuel and electricity; for example, recently in the UK the price of electricity went up enough that some of the freight rail companies entirely stopped using their electric locomotives. The price of diesel was simply far lower. It’s really not a quick cut comparison.
Next step is to bring the platforms higher for accessibility reasons.
The reason south of Tamien isn't electrified is because those tracks are owned by Union Pacific, not Caltrain
I live near a second branch line in Italy, they replaced old Aln 668 with ATR 125 and new ATR 803 both from Stadler, while the ATR 125 is more like Diesel-electric train, the ATR 803 run in proximity to the station in electric, outside the station the engines start
I wish Seattle and the puget sound could do something like this for Sounder and lay the groundwork for a cascades hsr route. Frequent and fast sounder service would be a highly used option especially for sports and entertainment
The use of two locomotives is done to have a spare locomotive on the line in case one should fail. This allows the extra locomotive to be cut off and sent to the stranded train rather than dispatching one from the engine terminal.
This was a practice that started in Chicago.
There was a policy on the PRR/LIRR to have protect locomotives,near major Junctions,to cover for rush hour breakdowns! It's really not that new,as it existed over,now 100 years ago! Steam power,anyone! Thank you 😇😊!
Nice Profilepicture 😃👍
Other states should take a look if they're diesel is starting to break, like before it REALLY BREAKS!
I always want California High-Speed Rail in California and I always love California High-Speed Rail in California.😮
Yes 100%😮
Great to see investment in the future of passenger rail. To European ears, the persistence of the clanging bell in what are clearly commuter stations is odd. I'd imagine that, having never known anything different, US rail regulars must have a near Pavlovian reaction to the sound ... and European systems must be a bit if a culture shock (especially the UK with it's crazy small trains).
We like the horns and bells, especially railfanners here
I was there that day of the double head!
Thank god Stadler has a US based manufacturing facility and we decided on a company with experience building these trains instead of just some big company with no experience that we have to go with be "Buy America" is a requirement... and they lobby the crap to get the contract.
From what I understand the section to Gilrow is not electrified as it's owned by Union Pacific and they don't want it to be electrified. The low usage is also limited by UP they only agreed to allow 10 trains per day.
@@AL5520 does that include the 2 amtrak's that pass daily
With GO Transit electrifying, i think its a major mistake that Amtrak is not electrifying the Maple Leaf route from New York to Toronto.
I like the look of the new electric Caltrain sets, but the horns on them sound absolutely awful.
Yes and yeah of course California High-Speed Rail in California.😮
There is always the possibility of using Thermal- and Renewable power plants for railroad electrification, that could be proven to be more efficient and more sustainable!
To the Axis not all of the KISS trains are powered they have an axis configuration of " 2’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’Bo’+Bo’Bo’+2’2’+Bo’2’ " (2 = two unpowered axis; Bo = two powered axis where each axis has is own motor)
Philly’s system is already entirely electrified.
Better late than never!
In our country, PNR should do the same.
There should be more than one pantograph on each train. It will carry to much current and risks have a loss of contact disable the train.
Each train has two sets of pantographs, however only one is needed in order to operate - similar to the new Avelia Liberty trains
I have nearly fallen on those trains because they accelerate and decelerate so fast
Farewell to the F40PH’s of Caltrain locomotives and gallery cars it’s time for retirement, but all is not lost I still operate F40PH on Train Sim World just enjoyable memories. 😢
I’m sure Metra will pick up the gallery cars, they’re the home of old commuter rail equipment.
@@mplsmike4023 either Nashville Star commuter rail.
Not all the axles are powered on stadler products. One of caltrains issues is they wanted more motors than they really needed.
Very good video. What is the difference between the previous signal system and the one that they just implemented on the line?
The new PTC signalling system (I-ETMS) allows trains to run closer together, as well to prevent collisions and enforce speed limits for trains
@@WorldwideRailfan so basically there is no wayside signal system, but a traveling blocks with the train?
If they’re continuing to run diesel service to Gilroy, will passengers have to transfer at Tamien? Or will they be running Gilroy bound diesel trains out of SF?
Passengers will unfortunately have to switch trains at either Diridon or Tamien
High speed train's maximum speed is only 110 mph on the Caltrain Corridor?
It's probably because it's a shared ROW. That's a very common thing to see when the HSR train nears crowded city centers with shared ROWs.
@@mrxman581 I figured.
So what happened with the AEM-7s?
They started talking about this in 1992?! China didn't have HSR in 1992...
Did you ride on the new trains?
I think Metrolink is California’s largest commuter railroad (has more than one line and LA has a much higher population than SF)
Yeah that stat doesn’t sound right to me either.
i think he meant to say busiest
Its the largest yes, but for sure not the best
I meant largest in terms of ridership, my bad!
@@WorldwideRailfanThat might change in the near future since Metrolink announced yesterday an increase in service.
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
Technologically yes, Caltrain is the most advanced rail road in America. BUT it’s still has low level boarding and basically one line. It has nothing on NYC’s and Philly’s systems
It is really strange, how often the horns and bells of the trains have to be used. If you live near the tracks, this must be very annoying. Perhaps it is time to change this for an emergency use only policy.
I believe it’s a federal regulation that they have to comply with. But I know some trains in other areas get waivers, like in downtown San Diego.
Maybe, but then again, this train ROW has existed for decades, so people know what to expect. It's like choosing to live near an airport.
@@mrxman581 yes, but if we want to extend service, removing this requirement could be a tool to appease some opponents of passenger rail expansion
Why these kind of train is only used to San Francisco but not for America?
Watch Metra pay billions for those locomotives…
Not billions, Metra doesn’t have that kind of money
Great trains.
God awful seats. Should have used american seats
Yeah but the price tag is also due to american inexperience. in europe this project would have costed about 300-400 million at most, in the usa it costed billions.
Apparently the f40s are having there engines disabled also if you want any amtrak updates msg me
Awesome video!
Nice! So can Metrolink have our Bombardier coaches back now?
they’re keeping them as well, and there not “yours” now Caltrain owns them completely they’re not leased
Are you sure you want them back?
They're older bombardier cars and I think Metrolink was sending them to the scrap yard when Caltrain was like "hey, can we buy those?" Yeah, they're refurbished, but they're still something like 2nd gen cars.
Those coaches were sent to caltrain cause metrolink didnt want them anymore lmao, why would they take them back?
@@lalakerspro The Hyundai Rotems have a really awkward bicycle storage area that forces you to block the staircase 😭😭😭
Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, Metrolink is adding 32 weekday trains, accounting for a nearly 23% increase in service. The new schedule will also streamline connections between lines, making it easier for riders to navigate Metrolink's six-county service area.
How in the world did we get the interstate highway system setup without this much planning, lawsuits, gov funding, the gov withholding funding and more politics than this.
The environmental laws didn't exist at the time of the Interstate's creation.
Government was like "fuck you and your houses we're building an interstate through here and you can't do shit to stop us from doing it"
@@happyburger23it was also very racist. Meaning, the very highways that plow through neighborhoods rather oddly at times, were black neighborhoods that government couldn’t care less about.
@@mateojames3231 in Durham, NC there was a famous black neighborhood that was known across the US as “black Wall Street” and a large portion of it was bulldozed in the 1960s to make way for a highway.
Because back then we just demolished black neighborhoods and nobody would bat an eye.
Steep price tag, yes. And for an abysmal commuter rail.
Low low ridership.
Big big budget deficit that’s now a lot worse.
But it’s electric 🤗🤗
Caltrain, leading American passenger rail into the 1970s!
Thank you Joe Biden🙏
i just have to hate the 2 door heights. XD nothing more
Caltrain is a lot more rhan mere commuter rail
Caltrain is precisely a commuter rail system
What a mess .
What's the problem? They're placing 30+ year old polluting, slow diesel trains with modern, cutting-edge electric ones. Were you one of the NIMBYs against putting up the wires?
@@WorldwideRailfan No but i do support nimbys in case the government comes after me one day . But seriously what kind of "great" railway is this with public crossings at grade seemingly every mile even close to the city and of couse a spider web of wires everywhere . No trains even go anywhere exept one single place ; San jose , Why doesant at least some trains continue down the coast towards LA ? Who cares if it is diesel and slow , it is scenic and avoids the highway . " Cutting edge " hehehe go to another country .
@lassepeterson2740 Hahaha... obviously you've never taken a train in California. Amtrak operates lines up and down the state.
@@mrxman581 No they dont . One train a day from not SF to LA .
There seats are plastic and I hate it
Plastic? the new seats are very similar to the seats on the old trains. Same vinyl material. Definitely not plastic.
Most commuter systems in the US that I’m familiar with use vinyl or plastic seats. Easy to clean when they inevitably get something spilled on them
Enough talk and planning. Bring the long delayed Caltrain extension to Monterey County, Salinas, CA now! We will not disappoint! 🚆🚆
6:09 ADA accessible bathROOM. There's only one bathroom onboard the train.
Yeah, that's true. I didn't know this until earlier today. No idea why they decided to have only one bathroom per 7-car train
@@WorldwideRailfan Ackchyually A-Hole meme aside, the large amount of bike space is amazing, definitely world leading, but perhaps a little simple from what I remember.
The seats were really upright though...
0:09 *subdivision