This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
4/11/2024
Caltrain announced it has successfully energized and tested an electrical conversion on the full 51-mile, Caltrain-owned rail corridor between San Francisco and San Jose, California, with partners Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Balfour Beatty.
The effort signifies progress with the ongoing electrification project by expanding the ability to test electric trains at full speed along the corridor and prepare for electrified revenue service in September, Caltrain officials said in a news release.
"The completion of the overhead catenary system allows us to test electric trains along our entire corridor," said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. "This is a momentous step in the electrification project as we approach the launch."
Caltrain has built two main traction power substations, one in San Jose and the other in south San Francisco. Together with one switch station and seven parallel stations along the corridor, the power substations will provide, distribute and regulate electricity to the overhead wires that will power the new high-performance electric trains, Caltrain officials said.
The work to complete the energize tests needed to be conducted safely while maintaining rail service to more than 20,000 customers each weekday, they said.