Passenger Trains > Caltrain Bombardier car fun

Caltrain Baby Bullet Cars Entering Service

Caltrain will be putting the first new cars that will eventually operate in its "Baby Bullet" fleet into service the week of Oct. 21, giving both crews and passengers an opportunity to see how the cars perform in daily use.

Initially, five of the 17 new Baby Bullet cars will be put into passenger service, making one midday round trip. Three Baby Bullet trainsets should be in use by Thanksgiving.

The first trips will take place Oct. 22. Caltrain will run the cars with its current fleet of diesel locomotives until six new Baby Bullet engines, with a distinctive aerodynamic body, arrive early next year.

Built by Bombardier Corp., the Baby Bullet cars are set apart not only by a new color scheme but by their design, which includes lower floors for boarding and more doors than the current fleet of gallery cars.

Although the equipment will soon be in service, express train schedules will not be implemented until bypass tracks, signal work and other improvements are completed. These are being constructed as part of the CTX construction project, which will be completed in mid-2004.

One reason why Caltrain wanted to put the cars into service now is so crews who have been trained on them don\'t lose familiarity with their operation. When the cars first go into service, Caltrain and Bombardier officials will be on board to answer questions and assist customers.

Some points to note:

Bike space is in the cab car, which will still be on the north end of the train. Each bike car has space for 16 bikes, so eventually each train will have two bike cars next to each other, providing 32 bike spaces. Initially, however, the first trainset will only have space for 16 bikes.

Wheelchair space is in the second car from the north, next to the south door of the car. Passengers in wheelchairs will use portable lifts at the stations to board the cars.

Luggage should be placed on the lower level in a safe position.

Information about when the Baby Bullet cars will be in service is available by calling the Customer Service Center at 1.800.660.4287.

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from http://www.caltrain.com

Caltrain Takes Fans to the World Series at Pac Bell Park

Caltrain will take baseball fans to Pacific Bell Park next week for the World Series pitting the San Francisco Giants against the Anaheim Angels.

In addition to its regular service, Caltrain will offer extra service for the championship games Oct. 22, 23 and, if necessary, Oct. 24. The games start at 5 p.m.

Extra trains will run ahead of northbound Trains 71 and 73. Following the game, extra trains will depart approximately 20 to 30 minutes after the last out, or when full. Regular service trains depart San Francisco at 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Caltrain\'s starting rotation for the Series will offer something new for sports fans: the railroad\'s new "Baby Bullet" rail cars will enter passenger service on Oct. 22. The first Baby Bullet trainset will take fans to the ballpark before the first pitch, as well run as an extra train after the game.

Purchase round-trip tickets at staffed stations or ticket vending machines before boarding the train to Pac Bell Park.

For fare and schedule information, call Caltrain at 1.800.660.4287 (or TDD only 650.508.6448).

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from http://www.caltrain.com

So that must mean the VRE\'s are put on waivers for their unconditional release!

samreeves wrote:

> So that must mean the VRE\'s are put on waivers for their unconditional release!

Maybe so Sam. We now have enough of the gallery cars back (from rebuild) to run baseball specials without the use of the VRE cars. But you never know... especially with Caltrain...

One more car is lined up on the tail of the freight car waiting to be coupled to a southbound soon. There is also one in the couch yard. All in Seattle BTW.

The new cab cars and locomotives will all be modified to have the same P-2 horns that have been applied to the current F-40 and cab car fleet.

Five Chime Consultants made a serious effort to encourage JPB to go with the old SP standard P-3 horn mounted on the roof for the new equipment but they choose not to make any changes. A new P-3 costs $430. I\'m not sure how much it costs to make a cage and plumb the air line down to the pilot mounted horns.

The new cab cars should be running around with the as delivered K5LA\'s until they start modifications.

Jim Evans, Five Chime Consultants

Will the modifications take place in Seattle or California?

Jim the Amtrak Materials room in Seattle has a NEW M5R24 in stock... lots of dust on it. It is inventoried as a K5LA. That would make a very plesent sound on the cab cars ;)