Our Work in Practice
We are excited to announce the debut of Caltrain’s high-performance electric trains, part of the Caltrain Electrification Project. This milestone marks a major advancement in modernizing the commuter line between San Francisco and San Jose, reducing travel time between the two cities to under an hour. The new electric vehicles will boost service along the alignment by 20% thanks to their enhanced acceleration and deceleration capabilities.
Service began over 160 years ago with steam locomotives, and the line has been using diesel engines for the last 70 years. By transitioning from diesel to electric trains, carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by 250,000 metric tons annually - equivalent to removing 55,000 cars from the road each year. Electrified service will also promote equity along the corridor by cutting down on noise and air pollution while providing better access and service for all.
MRS modified Caltrain's entire signal, communications, and grade crossing signaling systems to enable the alignment to operate with electric passenger trainsets. The transition from Diesel Locomotive Units to Electric Multiple Units required innovative designs, collaborative approaches, and the complete installation, testing, and commissioning of electrification systems throughout the corridor. These advancements significantly improved Caltrain's service performance, efficiency, capacity, and safety.
We were proud to celebrate this achievement with Caltrain and the community it serves.