California Launches New Electric Train Fleet in San Francisco

Caltrain debuted its electric train fleet in San Francisco on Aug. 10, 2024. (Caltrain)

A new all-electric commuter rail line serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley made its public debut on Aug. 11.

“The future happens here first,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told state and federal officials in San Francisco at an event on Saturday celebrating the launch. “We are America’s coming attraction. That’s a point of pride.”

Caltrain launched its new electric fleet after breaking ground on the $2.44 billion project seven years ago. The project’s final cost was $462 million over its initial estimate and $129 million over projections made by the Federal Transit Administration.

Two of 19 electric trains in the fleet completed their first public runs between San Jose and San Francisco on Sunday. Caltrain plans to launch two trains each week starting Sept. 21, according to Caltrain’s spokesman Dan Lieberman.

Jerold Chinn, who says he was born and raised in San Francisco, took one of the inaugural rides on the train.

“It’s very quiet,” he wrote on X.

State and federal officials were also given a 30-minute ride.

“Caltrain electrification means shorter commutes, cleaner air, and good-paying jobs in the Bay Area and beyond,” said U.S. House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. “It was my great pleasure to join so many leaders for the first ride on Caltrain’s new electric fleet.”

Pelosi also touted the employment opportunities created by the project.

The project created 33,000 jobs in 36 states during the effort, which included installing an overhead system to electrify the trains and a new signal system, according to Caltrain.

The new electric trains offer faster service between San Francisco and San Jose, traveling the route in under an hour, compared to 65 minutes or more with other trains. Caltrain also expects the trains to increase service by 20 percent, because they can accelerate and decelerate faster than diesel trains, providing more flexible access to cities throughout the rail system.

The trains are also expected to help California meet regional and state climate action goals by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and relieving traffic congestion, Caltrain said in a statement.

The agency estimates the trains will cut 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions from the air, the equivalent of removing 55,000 cars from the road each year.

The new rail cars will also offer customers wifi and power outlets for each forward-facing seat, energy-efficient lighting, and an improved climate control system.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed celebrates the debut of electric trains in the city. (Caltrain)

Visiting officials applauded the new train system Saturday.

“Today marks a historic milestone with the unveiling of California’s first electrified commuter rail system,” said U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla. “Caltrain’s Peninsula Corridor Electrification project will not only reduce emissions and air pollution in neighboring communities, but it will also deliver more reliable transportation for commuters in the Bay Area.”

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the new electric fleet was an important step to bring Caltrain to the heart of downtown San Francisco.

“I am thrilled that passengers from San Francisco all the way down the peninsula to Gilroy will now be able to enjoy these impressive new trains,” Breed said in a statement provided by Caltrain.