Passenger Trains > Peru's Caltrain Equipment Fiasco

The following report is from www.travelandtourworld.com.  Attached photo(no, that's not snow)
shows the Caltrain equipment crammed into a trackless paved enclosure.

Lima’s ambitious commuter rail project has encountered significant setbacks after an inspection 
revealed critical issues with the second-hand rolling stock purchased from Caltrain, a US-based 
commuter operator. The 19 EMD F40PH diesel locomotives and 90 double-deck coaches, which were 
part of a $US 6.32 million deal, have been found to be in much worse condition than expected, 
complicating the 46.2km commuter service planned to connect Alfonso Ugarte station in Lima 
to Ricardo Palma.

After the initial batch of rolling stock arrived in July 2025, local media raised concerns about
the feasibility of the project. Engineering reports highlighted severe issues with the infrastructure
and equipment. These reports suggested that, under current conditions, the commuter service would 
be limited to speeds of 20km/h(12 mph), as freight trains on the line operate at similar low speeds.

César Sandoval, the Minister of Transport and Communications, acknowledged the challenges, stating,
“There is no double track, no stations and no signalling, which makes it impossible to guarantee 
service safety.” Furthermore, no official implementation schedule or funding plan has been confirmed 
by  the municipality of Lima, despite ongoing discussions between the parties.

A comprehensive inspection commissioned by the municipality of Lima and conducted by US consultancy 
firm Rail Electrical Service has further complicated the situation. The inspection revealed that the 
rolling stock suffers from critical mechanical and structural deterioration, with some vehicles 
deemed beyond repair. 

Among the findings:
--Structural fatigue and corrosion, rendering several coaches beyond repair
--Several locomotives requiring a complete engine rebuild
--Oil and coolant leaks, seized engines, and turbocharger failures
--Missing windows, doors, and cab components
--Inoperative HVAC systems and damaged electrical wiring
--Critical components that are obsolete and no longer supported by the manufacturer

The report even suggested that at least one of the locomotives should be scrapped entirely and salvaged for 
spare parts. In light of these findings, the MTC has announced plans to initiate legal and administrative
proceedings against the state of the rolling stock purchased from Caltrain. The findings will be referred
to the Comptroller General, Congress, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate possible 
administrative or criminal liability.

The Lima commuter project now faces an uncertain future as local authorities struggle to address the
numerous challenges posed by the defective rolling stock and the lack of necessary infrastructure. 
While legal proceedings are underway and the municipality seeks alternative solutions, the project’s 
timeline and overall success remain unclear. It is now believed that Lima must look for other ways to 
develope a commuter service that can address the severe congestion and air quality issues affecting
the region.

---

Sounds like BS to me.   These were all retired from active service, not from a 25 year dead line...

If the "findings" are to be believed, it's possible the missing windows, doors, and cab components were theft that occurred during the post-retirement storage of the equipment when they were not protected from vandalism.  The damaged electrical equpment could be from copper theft.

WP921 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If the "findings" are to be believed, it's
> possible the missing windows, doors, and cab
> components were theft that occurred during the
> post-retirement storage of the equipment when they
> were not protected from vandalism.  The damaged
> electrical equpment could be from copper theft.

Yes..storing the equipment unprotected was just typical govt stupidity. 

This is Peru we're talking about.  Let's blame California when we have no viable line on which to operate a passenger train.  Storing the trains on tracks in a secure yard might have been a good idea too.
And so it goes

Would the Peru entity be foolish enough to buy the Horizon cars after this ? 
A EXO/Alstom "conductor" told me last summer EXO's 700's, 24 of them, retired in 2023, are being sent to Mexico. 

Clearly Peru sent officials to come and inspect the Caltran equipment before it was purchased and  money handed over? So compare reports from the time of purchase to the time of delivery. Was it the "storage" of the equipment in California before it was moved the issue. The corrosion and structural defects would have been - or should have been - noted in the original report. That wouldn't have necessarily changed. But wiring and other items that could be "plucked out" by scavengers while the trains were stored and awaiting shipment to Peru - different story. Overall, sounds like they got bigger problems - a huge fleet of used commuter cars for a commuter line that can barely move freight trains - 12 mph as top speed??? Yikes!

Wow, that's quite a picture.  Most, if not all of the cars appear not to be on rails - but rather sitting on blocks in a big storage yard.

Maybe Peru realized that they don't have the same "standard" gauge we use and the trucks won't fit on the rails.  So, they blame it on something else.  

pdt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like BS to me.   These were all retired
> from active service, not from a 25 year dead
> line...

I think I have to agree with you. I wonder who is declaring the equipment defective. All this equpment was bought for 6.3 Million ?  , or 8 San Fransisco houses. 

The Chinese belt and road project in Bogota, all new from the bottom up is going to be a monumental flop, obsolete the year it opens and never to be fully paid for.  
I think emerging countries should use models developed in North America during the last century as a base to build on, not infrastructure in the sky. 

https://www.trains.com/pro/mechanical/passenger-cars/caltrain-equipment-will-be-used-to-launch-new-commuter-operation-in-peru/

Story here says the equipement is to refurbished, by a shop staffed by 200 people. 


 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/25 08:40 by CEGalka.

They'll state the project is infeasible and the equipment will be given away to a political crony that will broker the equipment out to rebuilders and scrappers for a profit.  There was never an intention to build the commuter line, it was always a scam from the beginning to get the equipment to Peru using someone elses dime.

 

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

Meanwhile, back here in California where us taxpayers paid for this equipment, we need more service on new lines.  Some of these engines were still viable, along with the coaches, to start up a SAC-REDDING service, or additional service over Altamont, or other routes.  And these cars, while older, had better seats than the new SIEMENS junk.  You could actually ride in them without your butt going numb.  So frustrating that government officials are so dumb / give stuff away.

No dobt IMHO the engines and cars would have been useful in the US.  

I have long wondered why ten or so of these things could not have been used for the axle count cars needed in the midwest by CN.  They must have the same profile and roughly same weight as a superliner car.  Hard to imagine some could not have been used in this role freeing up valuable superlliner cars for something that might earn at least $10 in revenue.

ssarcadia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have long wondered why ten or so of these things
> could not have been used for the axle count cars
> needed in the midwest by CN.  They must have the
> same profile and roughly same weight as a
> superliner car.  Hard to imagine some could not
> have been used in this role freeing up valuable
> superlliner cars for something that might earn at
> least $10 in revenue.

They are a bit lighter than Superliners. 

The ex-Caltrain equipment defiiciencies are entirely within expectations after Caltrain deferred their overhaul with electrification nearly complete at the time. Useng a few locomotives as parts car to keep others running should also be within expectation when accepting used equipments that's out of production, although new F40 parts shouldn't be that hard to source. Despite millions likely needed to be spent to return these ex-Caltrain to running state, Peru still got a good deal considering a new locomotive can cost well above what they paid for for the entire rolling stocks.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ssarcadia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I have long wondered why ten or so of these
> things
> > could not have been used for the axle count
> cars
> > needed in the midwest by CN.  They must have
> the
> > same profile and roughly same weight as a
> > superliner car.  Hard to imagine some could
> not
> > have been used in this role freeing up valuable
> > superlliner cars for something that might earn
> at
> > least $10 in revenue.
>
> They are a bit lighter than Superliners. 

Also the Galleries have EP-Hold brakes, which aren't compatible with the Graduated Release setup on Amtrak equipment.  So even if CN accepted them as axle-count cars they couldn't be mixed with Amtrak equipment.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Meanwhile, back here in California where us
> taxpayers paid for this equipment, we need more
> service on new lines.  Some of these engines were
> still viable, along with the coaches, to start up
> a SAC-REDDING service, or additional service over
> Altamont, or other routes.  And these cars, while
> older, had better seats than the new SIEMENS junk.
>  You could actually ride in them without your
> butt going numb.  So frustrating that government
> officials are so dumb / give stuff away.

More service on new lines.  I guess you can't have less service on new lines.  While the idea of "oh, we have some surplus equipment, lets start running trains to Redding" sounds so good, so easy, so simple . . . its not.  Rolling stock is probably the least difficult part in getting a new line running.  I haven't yet heard of any rail project placed on hold simply because rolling stock couldn't be acquired.  Buying and adding necessary capacity to run the trains, building the stations and paying for it is far, far harder.  In fact getting the money to build it is relatively easy.  Politicans love this, one-time money and a big groundbreaking followed by a big ribbon-cutting.  And they can do it every year with there little pot of discretionary money.  But they hate paying for it year after year.  Groundbreaking and ribbon-cuttings are sexy.  Doing a 92-day inspection on a diesel isn't.  Thats money they can't celebrated with next year.

I like the idea of a Sacramento-Redding service.  I just drove my oldest grandson the other way from the Tacoma area to Redding for school.  We looked at taking the Coast Starlight, but the unstaffed Redding station has, of course, no checked baggage.  The amount of baggage he had would have completely blown through every known checked baggage requirement that Amtrak ever had in the past, has now or will ever have.  I did take a look at the Amtrak Redding stop, which is at the downtown transit center.  The old SP station, though, is still there, and its platform is one the Coast Starlight uses.  I wonder if Richard Anderson "unstaffed" that station.

NPRocky Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I like the idea of a Sacramento-Redding service. 
> I just drove my oldest grandson the other way from
> the Tacoma area to Redding for school.  We looked
> at taking the Coast Starlight, but the unstaffed
> Redding station has, of course, no checked
> baggage.  The amount of baggage he had would have
> completely blown through every known checked
> baggage requirement that Amtrak ever had in the
> past, has now or will ever have.  I did take a
> look at the Amtrak Redding stop, which is at the
> downtown transit center.  The old SP station,
> though, is still there, and its platform is one
> the Coast Starlight uses.  I wonder if Richard
> Anderson "unstaffed" that station.

I've wanted this for years.  Via Roseville, Lincoln, Marysville, Chico and Red Bluff.  Three RTs a day extended via the San Joaquins (Er, sorry...  "Gold Runners") to Bakersfield.  I've had the (semi-realistic) operations on this planned out in my head for years.

Southbound there'd be a morning train (Approx 6pm) and a midday train (1pm) operating from Redding to Bakersfield, with an evening (6pm) train from Redding to Sacramento.  There'd also be a morning southbound out of Sacramento (Current 701)

Northbound a morning (7am) train from Sacramento to Redding, with trains coming up from Bakersfield and continuing on from Sacramento to Redding around noon and 5pm, and one evening trip from Bakersfield terminating in Sacramento (Current 704).

You'd wind up with 8 trains.  One RT from Sacramento to Redding, two RTs from Bakersfield to Redding, and one RT from Bakersfield to Sacramento.

Southbound
701: ---------------------SAC 7:00am - BFD 12:30pm
703: RDD 7:00am -- SAC 11:00am - BFD 4:30pm
705: RDD 1:30pm -- SAC 5:30pm - BFD 11:00pm
707: RDD 6:30pm -- SAC 10:00pm ------------------

Northbound:
702:  ----------------------SAC 8:00am - RDD 11:30am
704:  BFD 7:00am --- SAC 1:00pm - RDD 4:30pm
706:  BFD 1:00pm --- SAC 7:00pm - RDD 10:30pm
708:  BFD 5:00pm --- SAC 10:30pm ------------------


(Sorry, nerded out for a moment...  I did say this has been on my mind for YEARS, right?  I really wish I could easily talk to someone who actually runs these agencies, although UP would probably be a pill about such an expansion)