Passenger Trains > Caltrain Increasing Stadler EMU Order

The availability of additional funding has allowed Caltrain to exercise an option with Stadler to add
37 more cars to their EMU order.  Caltrain initially had 16 6-car sets planned but now each of those
trainsets will be expanded to 7-car sets(16 more cars).  Three more new 7-car sets will also be added
(21 cars) giving a total electric fleet of 19 7-car trains.  Caltrain's news release:

http://www.caltrain.com/about/MediaRelations/news/New_Funding_Allows_Caltrain_to_Purchase_Additional_Electric_Cars.html

It's worth noting that at the same board meeting Caltrain confirmed that the Gilroy trains would continue 
to operate through to San Francisco as there had been concern they would start to terminate in San
Jose and force riders to transfer to electric trains to continue north.  This ensures there will be some
diesel services operating under the wires post-electrification.

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/08/18 09:23 by milepost20.

milepost20 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The availability of additional funding has allowed
> Caltrain to exercise an option with Stadler to
> add
> 37 more cars to their EMU order.  Caltrain
> initially had 16 6-car sets planned but now each
> of those
> trainsets will be expanded to 7-car sets(16 more
> cars).  Three more new 7-car sets will also be
> added
> (21 cars) giving a total electric fleet of 19
> 7-car trains.  Caltrain's news release:
>
> http://www.caltrain.com/about/MediaRelations/news/
> New_Funding_Allows_Caltrain_to_Purchase_Additional
> _Electric_Cars.html
>
> It's worth noting that at the same board meeting
> Caltrain confirmed that the Gilroy trains would
> continue 
> to operate through to San Francisco as there had
> been concern they would start to terminate in San
> Jose and force riders to transfer to electric
> trains to continue north.  This ensures there
> will be some
> diesel services operating under the wires
> post-electrification.
>
>  

I’m glad they’re increasing the length as 6 cars wasn’t an increase in train capacity as much as simply faster service. The extra car should definitely ease overcrowding.

For the remaining diesel trains, I’m betting they’ll replace the power with dual mode diesels long run.

Posted from iPhone

When Caltrain added the Bombardier cars from Metrolink to their consists, extending them to 6 car trains, it did not take very long for those trains to fill again.  Increasing to 7 cars is great, provided additional frequency is also added to the mix, or the same thing will happen.

Caltrain still have 59 (96-37) car option left, with the goal of 24 8-car sets. Don't know when the option expired though.

The 37-car option is reported to be the "option 1" with the pricing expired at 12/31/2018.

zorz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> I’m glad they’re increasing the length as 6
> cars wasn’t an increase in train capacity as
> much as simply faster service. The extra car
> should definitely ease overcrowding.
>
> For the remaining diesel trains, I’m betting
> they’ll replace the power with dual mode diesels
> long run.
>
> Posted from iPhone

Existing dual-mode locomotive is too heavy and slow.

Having a few diesel locomotives equipped with automatic coupler stationed at San Jose and/or Tamien would also do the job, with the advantage of not hauling diesel engines around for the whole length and one-seat ride for the passengers.

I believe Stadler can also insert diesel power and/or battery modules such as the ones on FLIRT for use on the non-electrified sections.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/18 16:13 by will74205.

bobs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When Caltrain added the Bombardier cars from
> Metrolink to their consists, extending them to 6
> car trains, it did not take very long for those
> trains to fill again.  Increasing to 7 cars is
> great, provided additional frequency is also added
> to the mix, or the same thing will happen.

If Caltrain had purchased a fleet of married pair MU's instead of euro-crap trainsets this wouldn't be a problem.  They could have near perfect flexibility in matching train length to demand.

will74205 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Existing dual-mode locomotive is too heavy and
> slow.
>

What are you talking about?  The ALP-45DP's on NJT will probably have longevity issues because of their diesel prime movers, but they have otherwise functioned just fine.  Caltrain could have bought a bunch of those and then kept most of it's existing rolling stock for a significant cost savings.  Applying 6000 electric hp to a 6-7 car trainset is like a rocketship to the moon.

mbrotzman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> will74205 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> >
> > Existing dual-mode locomotive is too heavy and
> > slow.
> >
>
> What are you talking about?  The ALP-45DP's on
> NJT will probably have longevity issues because of
> their diesel prime movers, but they have otherwise
> functioned just fine.  Caltrain could have bought
> a bunch of those and then kept most of it's
> existing rolling stock for a significant cost
> savings.  Applying 6000 electric hp to a 6-7 car
> trainset is like a rocketship to the moon.

None of what you said contradict with ALP-45DP being "too heavy and slow".

ALP-45DP is one of the heaviest passenger locomotive currently in operation mainly because of its dual-mode nature, so it cannot accelerate faster than pure diesel or electric locomotives in either modes, and thus will not perform any better than locomotives Caltrain currently uses.

Any existing locomotives will be sluggish in acceleration compare to the Stadler KISS Caltrain ordered, which will have 6000kW or 8000hp each set.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/18 16:14 by will74205.

Not sure how many Caltrain platforms can handle longer trains without being extended.

Jim B