For senior Ryan Wang, a regular Caltrain commuter, it’s the growing similarity between the Bay Area’s newest electric trains and the advanced transit system he grew up using in China that made him realize just how far local transportation has come.
Wang’s excitement is shared by many students who rely on Caltrain for their daily commutes. Since breaking ground in 2017, the $2.44 billion electrification project has aimed to transform the aging diesel-powered commuter rail into California’s first electrified rail system. Stretching over the 51-mile corridor between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, which has been in active use for 160 years, these modernized electric trains were built to tackle issues regarding time efficiency, comfort, passenger capacity, and sustainability.
More than half a decade later, community members and students like Wang have been eager to see the results of such a lengthy project. After Wang’s first opportunity to take the new trains to school, he emphasized how starkly different the electric trains were to the locomotive trains.
“It’s just a different level of comfort you’re looking at right now,” Wang said. “Students previously may have had bad impressions of the trains, but with the new train, it’s like a new trend. I feel that I see a lot more students who are hoping to take the new train now because they feel like it’s cool.”
Caltrain Public Information Officer Dan Lieberman explained how community input played a significant role in shaping the new trains.
“This project has transformed Caltrain, and in many aspects of the train, we actively sought feedback from our riders,” Lieberman said. “The look and feel of the train, both in terms of the exterior and seats, were voted on by the public. We’re ultimately a public agency where we’re trying to serve the public that we serve, so we want to make sure their voices are heard, and the train is what they were hoping for.”
Beyond the design, Caltrain introduced several modern features, including free Wi-Fi, power outlets at every seat, onboard digital route displays, security cameras, and improved climate control systems — all designed to enhance the commuter experience.
For junior Jason Purkey, a daily Caltrain rider since his freshman year, these benefits have largely affected his commute back home every day as he feels that the atmosphere of the new trains is safer and more comfortable.
“These new trains are the definition of what you would expect from this modern era,” Purkey said. “My experience with the locomotive trains was a very mixed bag, [mainly] because the ride would be very bumpy, loud, and pretty dirty inside as well. But [with these electric trains], it feels like we’re finally catching up to the rest of the world. Though the level of comfort can’t be compared to the trains I’ve taken before [outside of the country], I feel we’re not exactly there, but we’re on the right track.”
But for Caltrain, one of the most groundbreaking aspects of this electrification project is the extreme reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to help meet the state’s emission reduction goals. Burlingame Mayor Donna Colson, who is also the chairwoman of Peninsula Clean Energy—San Mateo County’s official electricity provider—emphasized the importance of this transition.
“I think this is one of the most important changes we can make because transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,” Colson said. “I’m very proud that we were able to work collaboratively with Caltrain to get an agreement and source their clean energy for the train. Thus we at least know that when they plug the trains in, we’ve at least procured a supply to meet their electricity demand.”
As Caltrain launches its new schedule for the electrified trains on Sept. 21, Lieberman looks forward to seeing how the future of these modernized trains will unfold and to what extent they will improve the community’s experience with public transportation.
“We now have a 100% zero emissions means of getting up and down the Peninsula,” Lieberman said. “That’s absolutely huge. Caltrain exists to serve the transportation needs of people that live in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara County, and this is an outstanding means of doing so. This is a modern, state of the art train that is going to make it a lot easier to get around and hopefully encourage a lot more people to get on board and give transit a shot.”
This story was originally published on The Burlingame B on September 25, 2024.
