Caltrain Reduces Weekend Service to Bolster Electrification Project
Written by Kyra Senese, Managing Editor
Caltrain
Caltrain will suspend rail service between San Francisco and Millbrae Stations on four upcoming weekends—Feb. 11-12, 25-26, March 4-5, and 11-12—to accommodate Caltrain electrification construction and testing.
Caltrain commuters traveling to or from the affected area will be provided with limited bus service, known as a bus bridge, a release said.
These are the first of 31 weekends in 2023 when service will be adjusted to accommodate construction and testing for electrified service, which is expected to begin passenger service in the fall of 2024.
Throughout the year, Caltrain said it will run a public awareness campaign to alert riders to potential service disruptions and to provide information about the improved service that electrification will bring.
Caltrain’s Electrification Project is the first undertaking in North America in a generation in which diesel trains and their infrastructure components are transitioned to an electrified system, according to a release. By increasing the number of trains, modernizing service, and adding new safety features, the project is expected to improve the customer experience.
The new trains will have digital trip information on board, increased storage capacity, baby-changing tables, Wi-Fi, and power outlets at every seat. Electrification will also aid in the achievement of ambitious regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and alleviating traffic congestion, Caltrain said.
Electrified service will also advance equity along the corridor by reducing noise and air pollution while increasing access for priority equity communities. It will also lay the groundwork for the future High Speed Rail network in California, which will run along the Caltrain corridor.
