As we prepare for electrified passenger service in fall 2024, there are many testing activities that need to occur before the system and trains can be placed into service. Testing of the infrastructure includes energization of the traction power facilities and overhead wires.
Each of the new electric trainsets has to also undergo a series of tests once they arrive on Caltrain property.
Learn more about the different tests and check out the recent progress below.
Monthly Testing Update
Each month, we are getting closer to Caltrain Electrification. Check out May's progress below. For more information on the progress of the electric train testing, see the table below for a snapshot on how close we are to bringing passengers greener, faster and more frequent service!
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For the upcoming week, the activities associated with the electrification infrastructure component of Caltrain Electrification are the following. Sign up for weekly updates here.
For additional information about construction, please visit our Construction page.
San Francisco
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the 22nd Street station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Brisbane
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Bayshore station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
South San Francisco
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the South San Francisco station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
San Bruno
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the San Bruno station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Millbrae
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Millbrae station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Burlingame
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Burlingame and Broadway stations all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
San Mateo
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the San Mateo, Hayward Park and Hillsdale stations all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Belmont
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Belmont Station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
San Carlos
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the San Carlos Station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Redwood City
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Redwood City Station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Unincorporated San Mateo County
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Atherton
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Menlo Park
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Menlo Park Station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Palo Alto
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
During work hours at the Palo Alto and California stations all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Mountain View
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Caltrain is currently testing electric trains on weeknights between San Jose and Mountain View. Testing is expected to continue until Summer 2024. Each trainset must be tested for 1,000 miles before being placed into service, which is planned for September 2024.
Testing will be conducted Monday through Friday evenings between 8 pm and 4 am with an expected 1-2 test trains per hour. Residents may hear additional noise during testing hours, including grade crossing activations and train horns. We appreciate your patience as we complete this transformational project.
During work hours at the Mountain View and San Antonio stations all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Sunnyvale
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Caltrain is currently testing electric trains on weeknights between San Jose and Mountain View. Testing is expected to continue until Summer 2024. Each trainset must be tested for 1,000 miles before being placed into service, which is planned for September 2024.
Testing will be conducted Monday through Friday evenings between 8 pm and 4 am with an expected 1-2 test trains per hour. Residents may hear additional noise during testing hours, including grade crossing activations and train horns. We appreciate your patience as we complete this transformational project.
During work hours at the Sunnyvale and Lawrence stations all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Santa Clara
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Caltrain is currently testing electric trains on weeknights between San Jose and Mountain View. Testing is expected to continue until Summer 2024. Each trainset must be tested for 1,000 miles before being placed into service, which is planned for September 2024.
Testing will be conducted Monday through Friday evenings between 8 pm and 4 am with an expected 1-2 test trains per hour. Residents may hear additional noise during testing hours, including grade crossing activations and train horns. We appreciate your patience as we complete this transformational project.
During work hours at the Santa Clara station all passengers will board and de-board from the same platforms. Please look for the signs to indicate which platform to use. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
San Jose
June 1 to June 7, Caltrain will be working during the day to perform tree watering. Caltrain will be working during the night to install bridge barriers. Day work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Night work hours will be from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and the field team will work as quietly as possible.
Caltrain is currently testing electric trains on weeknights between San Jose and Mountain View. Testing is expected to continue until Summer 2024. Each trainset must be tested for 1,000 miles before being placed into service, which is planned for September 2024.
Testing will be conducted Monday through Friday evenings between 8 pm and 4 am with an expected 1-2 test trains per hour. Residents may hear additional noise during testing hours, including grade crossing activations and train horns. We appreciate your patience as we complete this transformational project. If you have any questions, feel free to call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287
Overhead Contact System Testing
Multiple tests are conducted to verify the safety and readiness of the overhead contact system before they can provide power to the new electric trains. These evaluations confirm the system's ability to either automatically shut down or recover in case of any problems. Additionally, they check that the system is appropriately sectionalized, allowing for power to be selectively disconnected in specific segments if necessary.
Live Wire Runs
Each segment of the overhead contact system is tested with new electric trains in a "Live Run Test". During this test, the train's pantograph connects to the contact wire for the first time and the trains are tested at speeds from 5 mph and gradually increase to 79 mph. A camera is attached to the top of the train to ensure the position and integrity of the contact wire.
1,000 Mile Tests
Each train set is tested for 1,000 miles before passenger service to ensure safety and reliability. These tests involve simulating a high volume of train operations within a compressed time frame ensuring these trains are ready for daily passenger service.
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