Caltrain Express Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:23, 29 July 2017

Revision as of 14:28, 31 August 2017

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[[File:Caltrain train 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Northbound Baby Bullet in 2005]]

The '''Caltrain Express''' ('''CTX''') project was implemented from 2002 to 2004 and led to the establishment of commuter railroad [[Caltrain]]'s "Baby Bullet" express service, which shortened the transit time between [[San Francisco]] and [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], and certain stations in between. New locomotives and rolling stock were purchased for dedicated express service, bypassing most stations; [[Double-track railway#Quadruple track|quad-track overtake sections]] were added in two locations along the Peninsula Corridor right-of-way to allow express trains to pass slower local trains that were making all stops; tracks were also upgraded with [[Track (rail transport)#Continuous welded rail|continuous-welded rail]]; a [[centralized traffic control]] system was added; and [[railroad switch|crossovers]] were added every few miles to allow single-tracking trains around disabled trains. Congresswoman [[Jackie Speier]], then serving as a California State Senator, is credited with securing the funding for CTX and one of the new locomotives acquired for the project is named for her as a result. During key commute hours, the Baby Bullet is up to 20% faster than driving south from San Francisco to San Jose.

==History==

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In addition to having one of the new locomotives named for her, Senator Speier received MTC's John F. Foran Legislative Award for her pivotal role in bringing Baby Bullet service online.<ref name=Cal-040922 /> CTX received a "Tranny" award from the California Transportation Foundation as the Program of the Year for 2004.<ref name=EBT-050531>{{cite news |url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2005/05/31/baby-bullet-wins-award/ |title=Baby bullet wins award |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=31 May 2005 |newspaper=East Bay Times |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> During the same ceremony, Speier was honored as the Legislator of the Year.<ref name=EBT-050531 />

In 2017, the ''Rail and the California Economy'' report noted that Baby Bullet trains operated at 95% on-time performance (making stops within ten minutes of scheduled times) and, at around 60 minutes from San Francisco to San Jose, was faster than driving south on U.S. 101 during key commute hours. Driving times during peak afternoon commute hours could reach 75 minutes or more.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/research/planning/docs/Rail_CAEconomy_Book_Report.pdf |title=Rail and the California Economy |author=Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Berkeley |date=2017 |publisher=California Department of Transportation |accessdate=31 August 2017 |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20170831140440/http://www.dot.ca.gov/research/planning/docs/Rail_CAEconomy_Book_Report.pdf |archivedate=31 August 2017 |deadurl=no}}</ref>

==Design==