By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Electric trains made their long-awaited public debut on Caltrain on August 10, capping off a years-long effort to put wire over the San Francisco Peninsula commuter railroad. 

The first electric trains entered regular service on Sunday, August 11, and Caltrain expects the transition from diesel-powered trains to electric trains between San Francisco and San Jose to be complete on Saturday, September 21.

On Saturday, local, state and federal officials gathered for a 30-minute round trip aboard one of the electric trains. Electrification will help meet ambitious regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and relieving traffic congestion. 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.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the event marked a major milestone for California’s transportation system. 

“The future of California’s rail systems will be powered by clean, renewable energy, and as the Biden-Harris Administration makes the biggest investment in public transit in U.S. history, we were proud to help fund the transformative Caltrain electrification project,” Buttigieg said. “Converting the 51-mile-long rail system from diesel to electric will not only improve service for riders and air quality all along the route, it will also set a standard for other rail systems to follow as we work to reduce carbon pollution across the country.”

The arrivial of electric trains built by Stadler means the end of the line for one of the last large fleets of EMD F40 locomotives still in service, as well as bi-level coaches that have run in the area for decades.