Caltrain Modernization Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:12, 6 April 2017

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[[File:CalMod Logo.svg|thumb|Logo for CalMod, the Caltrain Modernization Program. Caltrain is seeking to electrify the main line of its commuter railroad as part of CalMod.]]

The '''Caltrain Modernization Program''' (CalMod) is a $1.9 billion project that will add a [[Positive train control|Positive Train Control]] system and [[Railway electrification system|electrify the main line]] of [[Caltrain]], a [[commuter railroad]] serving cities in the [[San Francisco Peninsula]] and [[Silicon Valley]], as well as transition from its current [[diesel-electric locomotive]] powered trains to [[electric multiple unit]]s (EMU). According to Caltrain, electrification of the tracks will allow it to improve service times via faster acceleration and shorter [[headway]]s, reduce air pollution and noise, and facilitate a future [[Downtown Extension (Caltrain)|underground extension]] (DTX) into [[Financial District, San Francisco|downtown San Francisco]]'s [[Transbay Transit Center]] because the current diesel trains cannot serve underground stations. EMU procurement is part of PCEP.

WhenProposals complete,for CalModelectrifying willthe electrifyline {{convert|49|mi|km}}began ofas tracksearly betweenas [[San1992, Franciscowhen 4ththe and[[California KingDepartment Streetof Station|4th and King stationTransportation]] andconducted [[Tamienan Station]]early andfeasibility installstudy. aFor [[Positivetwo Train Control]] (PTC) management system alongdecades, the tracks.project PTClay sdormant designeddue to fulfilllack federalof safetyfunding mandatesuntil forCaltrain passengeragreed railto andshare isits parttracks ofwith the [[FederalCalifornia RailroadHigh-Speed Administration]]Rail|California (FRA)High-Speed waiverRail toAuthority]], usewhich EMUswas onlooking tracksfor shareda with freight traffic. Fundingroute for the projectconstitutionally-mandated comesSan fromJose-San variousFrancisco federal,segment. state,The andAuthority localagreed sources,to includingpartially fromfund the [[Californiaelectrification High-Speedproject Rail|Californiain High-Speedexchange Rail Authority]], whichfor plansrights to share Caltrain's tracks in the futuretrack. Construction contracts for electrification were awarded on July 2016 and [[groundbreaking]] was expected to occur in March 2017, but was delayed when the United States Secretary of Transportation [[Elaine Chao]] indefinitely deferred federal funding just before construction was about to begin. That same month, Caltrain removed the contractor responsible for implementing PTC for failure to perform on-budget and on-schedule. Caltrain plans to complete the project by 2020, after which it plans to use double-decker EMU [[Stadler Rail]] trainsets on the electrified route. Some of the diesel locomotives will be retained for service south of Tamien and, potentially, on the [[Dumbarton Rail Corridor]].

When complete, CalMod will electrify {{convert|49|mi|km}} of tracks between [[San Francisco 4th and King Street Station|4th and King station]] and [[Tamien Station]] and install a [[Positive Train Control]] (PTC) management system along the tracks. PTC s designed to fulfill federal safety mandates for passenger rail and is part of the [[Federal Railroad Administration]] (FRA) waiver to use EMUs on tracks shared with freight traffic. Funding for the project comes from various federal, state, and local sources, including from the [[California High-Speed Rail|California High-Speed Rail Authority]]. Caltrain plans to complete the project by 2020, after which it plans to use double-decker EMU [[Stadler Rail]] trainsets on the electrified route. Some of the diesel locomotives will be retained for service south of Tamien and, potentially, on the [[Dumbarton Rail Corridor]].

==History==