Passenger Trains > Caltrain 2040 Service Vision

Looks to increase peak period trains, but as usual, the problem is how to pay:

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-more-frequent-increase-service-traffic-14492795.php#photo-12402701

Article also has pictures of electric cars under construction.

It will be great when Caltrain is electrified along the route from San Francisco to San Jose. That will help enable faster and more frequent trips, even for local trains. I rode Caltrain only once and that was in 2006. I think many of the stops are close to each other on the route from San Jose Diridon to San Francisco. I also hope that they are adding third track wherever they can as that will help with express trains overtaking locals.

"With its commitment to increasing its trains, the group said its ridership could nearly triple to 180,000 daily riders by 2040, estimating that much growth could "eliminate 825,000 car trips daily"

So current ridership is about 65K daily. Adding 115K more riders is going to eliminate 825k car trips? Does anyone stop to question this math? Or do we feel like were just going to have 115k people who just like to get off and on trains all day long.

ChrisCampi Wrote:
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> "With its commitment to increasing its trains, the
> group said its ridership could nearly triple to
> 180,000 daily riders by 2040, estimating that much
> growth could "eliminate 825,000 car trips daily"
>
> So current ridership is about 65K daily. Adding
> 115K more riders is going to eliminate 825k car
> trips? Does anyone stop to question this math? Or
> do we feel like were just going to have 115k
> people who just like to get off and on trains all
> day long.

Thanks. I always welcome credibility checks like yours.

Back when the SP was running the "commutes" the standard power for many years was Fairbanks Morse H-24-66 units.  They probably weren't as fast as electric multiple unit trains with all cars powered, but they did get out of town in a hurry.  First time I rode one of these trains back in 1967, I hopped off, took a photo, advanced the film, and by the time I got the second shot the train was well on its way to the next stop.
 

Passfanatic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It will be great when Caltrain is electrified
> along the route from San Francisco to San Jose.
> That will help enable faster and more frequent
> trips, even for local trains. I rode Caltrain only
> once and that was in 2006. I think many of the
> stops are close to each other on the route from
> San Jose Diridon to San Francisco. I also hope
> that they are adding third track wherever they can
> as that will help with express trains overtaking
> locals.

Not going to add any third track AFAIK.  There are two 4-track sections on the line now for several years.
One is near South City.  The other is near Sunnyvale.  Both are used a few times per day (in morning and evening) for a few express trains to overtake and pass local trains.