Passenger Trains > Caltrain Updates EMU Fleet Availability Status

As of yesterday Caltrain has updated their EMU fleet availability page as follows(have seen
some conflicting numbers online but we'll go with this):
https://www.caltrain.com/testing

In summary Stadler has delivered 14 of the 23 trains ordered.  10 have passed their burn-in
testing of which 8 are in revenue service.  14 will be required for the start of the new weekday 
timetable on 9/23.  Most commuter operators would probably be happy with 90% availability of a
given fleet so this is pretty ambitious.  Can we expect to see some limited diesel operation
SF-SJ that week?

A northbound is seen approaching San Bruno on 8/25.  Living a half mile from the Caltrain main
I can hear the test trains/burn-in runs hooting away into the wee hours on a nightly basis as
they go down to the wire leading to day one.

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Im sure the general public will love the new rides.    

As a railfan......its "Trains from Outer Space" 

You have quickly adapted to working with the catenary for some really nice images!  

I thought maybe I would make it out there tomorrow and Friday but things happened.. It will have to wait until who knows when, possible several years from now, so I appreciate your updates.

Jim

Caltrain is offering free rides the weekend of Sept 21 and 22.

10/20 and 10/21st for me will be my days to check out and ride the brand new Stadler cars. I’m very excited! On 10/20th, after coming off of an early morning Amtrak Capitol Corridor train at Santa Clara University from Sacramento when heading to my hotel in Millbrae, I’m going to take a scenic route-Caltrain up the peninsula from Santa Clara University to Millbrae! After checking in at my hotel, I’m going to take Caltrain into Downtown SF, have lunch, and then spend a lot of the afternoon railfanning Caltrain between SF and Burlingame.

On 10/21, I head to Mountain View on an early morning local Caltrain, railfan in the SJC area, and then take a super express Caltrain back to Millbrae.

Posted from iPhone

2 more sets should be delivered by the start of revenue service. They are sitting at the factory pretty much complete. The wreck-damaged unit should be delivered back in January.




 

As of Friday September 5, they still had at least 10 diesel sets that I counted being used in service. I saw trains being tested out on the line. So they are working on it, but a bit still to go.  

The 315/316 and 331/332 sets are almost there. Last check shows them in Oakland as of about 8:30PM tonight. Look for UP 6298 to bring them to San Jose in a few hours.

Thanks BLE692. 

Informed Caltrain observer said this weekend might be diesel only with the power shut off. Milepost20 your thoughts?