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Although Caltrain won’t begin running its express train service until the CTX construction project is completed in mid-2004, the commuter railroad plans to put the first new cars from its "Baby Bullet" fleet into service this week.



The $110 million CTX project includes rebuilding tracks, constructing sidings, improving grade crossings, and installing centralized train control with reverse signaling and high-speed universal crossovers at various sites.



The project also calls for five additional train sets. Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, which oversees Caltrain’s operation, ordered six locomotives from MotivePower Inc., and is purchasing seven cab cars and 10 trailers from Sound Transit.



Caltrain has repainted and tested five of the 17 cars. And, although the infrastructure work won’t be complete for about a year-and-a-half, officials plan to put them into service immediately so personnel who’ve been trained on them don’t lose their familiarity with their operation, according to a prepared statement.



By Thanksgiving, Caltrain officials expect three Baby Bullet train sets will be in service.