Electric trains will soon be available daily to Caltrain riders in Menlo Park
Starting this September, you can count on fast, frequent, state-of-the-art electric trains
arriving in Menlo Park every 15-20 minutes during weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes during weekends, midday, and evenings.
The new trains will travel between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an hour and feature free Wi-Fi, outlets at every seat, restrooms, and digital displays to make your ride better.
Need more convincing to leave the car at home and take the train?
- Electric trains can accelerate and decelerate faster and easier than previous models, meaning the trains can provide faster and more frequent service.
- Faster and more frequent service means that the trains will provide an additional 30% capacity for riders.Electric trains produce significantly less noise than diesel engines, meaning a quieter, more comfortable experience for riders.
- Electric trains produce significantly less noise than diesel engines, meaning a quieter, more comfortable experience for riders.
- Riders can breathe easy knowing the electric trains will produce substantially less corridor air pollution compared with diesel trains.
Initially, Caltrain will replace approximately 75 percent of the diesel fleet with new electric trains. Full replacement of the fleet with electric trains would occur at a future time when funding is identified and the remaining diesel trains reach the end of their service life.
There will be a number of official launch parties, The closest to Menlo Park is in Palo Alto on Saturday, September 21, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Reserve a spot online.
Photo by Robb Most (c) 2024
MP Resident September 02, 2024 at 4:43 pm
With the introduction of new electric trains, is it still necessity to maintain the loud train horns? Given the enhanced stopping capabilities of these modern trains, is it still justifiable to continue using horns that significantly disrupt the quality of life for residents near the tracks?
I live near the Caltrain track, I’ve experienced firsthand the constant annoyance of train horns. The increased frequency of trains expected with electrification will undoubtedly exacerbate this noise pollution.
Can Caltrain be held accountable for the negative health impacts from excessive noise pollution? They can be as detrimental as air pollution. Without clear evidence of the horns’ effectiveness in preventing accidents, the increased disruption to civilian life could potentially lead to legal disputes.
Richard T. September 03, 2024 at 10:46 am
I can agree with this post, but assume that there will be less noise and environmental pollution due to the nature of electric v/s combustion engine. That said, there will still be some necessity to warn people and vehicles crossing the tracks. There should be a detailed analisys of the costs/benefits in the total scheme of this project.