Caltrain ramps up electrification project

Caltrain yesterday announced it's stepping up the manufacturing, assembly and testing activities for its electric trains at Stadler’s Salt Lake City plant in preparation for the rail system's electrification between San Francisco and San Jose, California, by 2020. 

Three rail cars are completely wired and undergoing electrical testing, while other structural and lifecycle testing continues on the cars' trucks at the Utah plant. In addition, endurance tests are wrapping up on propulsion gearboxes, Caltrain officials said in a project newsletter.

Also, 75 percent of first article inspections have been completed. The inspections verify that the first manufactured component in a series is built to requirements, Caltrain officials said. 

And this month, crews began installing system foundations in Palo Alto and Mountain View, and continued pole installations in San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos and Redwood City, California. 

Work also was performed this month on six traction power facilities in San Jose, Redwood City, Sunnyvale, South San Francisco and San Mateo.