Caltrain reports progress on electrification plans

Caltrain this month entered a new manufacturing phase for its first electric trainset.

Crews have begun preparing the first two car shells for interior installation, Caltrain officials said in an web update on the railroad's electrification plans.

Car shells for the second and third trainsets now are under construction. Testing also continues on subsystems with seats and table crashworthiness, windshield and side window strength, propulsion performance, truck static and fatigue testing.

Meanwhile, workers this month continued foundation installation in South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame and San Mateo, California. In addition, last month, crews installed two power transformers at the railroad's traction power facility in San Jose.

As part of its larger modernization program, Caltrain is electrifying its corridor from San Francisco to San Jose, and replacing 75 percent of its existing diesel locomotives with electric ones.