Caltrain has launched CalMod.org, a comprehensive website dedicated to the Caltrain Electrification Project. Construction for the project began last year, and will see the electrification of the Caltrain corridor between San Francisco and San Jose and the replacement of 75 percent of the diesel fleet with new high-performance electric trains.
The user-friendly website provides detailed construction information with interactive maps that will help residents understand when and where work will take place. Visitors can view construction activities by city to track construction progress along the corridor. There are also city-specific fact sheets and documents, a listing of upcoming events, and a gallery of project photos, videos and renderings.
Visitors to the site can learn about the new electric trains, which will replace Caltrain’s aging diesel trains--many of which are more than 30 years old and ready for retirement.
Caltrain is experiencing record ridership numbers with an estimated 65,000 people riding the system each day. Electrification will allow Caltrain to meet increasing ridership demand, alleviate local and regional traffic congestion, and provide cleaner, more frequent and/or faster train service to more riders.
The $1.9 billion project is funded through a nine-party agreement and a seven-party agreement that leverages local, regional and federal funding. It is scheduled to be operational by 2022.
The Caltrain Modernization Program includes electrification and other projects that will upgrade the performance, efficiency, capacity, safety and reliability of Caltrain’s service. Electrification provides the foundation that future CalMod improvements are based on, including full conversion to an electric fleet, platform and station improvements, the extension of service to Downtown San Francisco, and other projects that allow Caltrain to grow and evolve with the Bay Area.
