After 20 years of discussion, California opens two electric trains for the first time

According to news on August 13, two new all-electric commuter trains were put into use in California for the first time, which may be a sign that the United States is finally ready to catch up with other countries in railway electrification.

The Governor of California announced the first electric trains to begin operating

The two new trains are operated by Caltrain. California Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi personally attended the launch ceremony last Saturday. Starting Sunday, the trains will begin operating along the route from San Jose to San Francisco.

Source: Caltrain

Advantages of electric trains:

• It has been nearly 20 years since the idea of ​​electric trains was first proposed in California.
• The new trains will be quieter and faster than existing diesel trains, while providing passengers with a better ride experience.
• The new train accelerates and decelerates more efficiently, and its operating speed will be 20% higher than that of diesel trains.
• The new trains will also improve the quality of life of residents along the railway line by reducing air and noise pollution.

US lags behind other countries:

• The US lags behind other countries in promoting electric trains, and while many light rail lines have gone electric, nearly all US heavy rail still uses diesel.
• India is on the verge of electrifying 100% of its rail lines, China has nearly three-quarters of its electrified rail network, and over 57% of the EU’s rail system is already electrified.
• The United States prefers to prioritize the development of private cars rather than large-capacity passenger trains.

Resistance to railroad electrification in the United States:

• The electrification of U.S. railroads is advancing slowly, mainly due to the opposition of the Association of American Railroads (AAR).
• AAR claims that the cost of adapting the U.S. rail system to accommodate electric trains is extremely high and far outweighs the potential benefits of an electrified rail system.
• U.S. railroads are among the largest consumers of diesel in the country, consuming approximately 4.2 billion gallons of diesel in 2018 alone.
• The rail monopoly is the main reason why electrification efforts have been repeatedly hampered, with major operators refusing to invest in improving infrastructure.

California Electric Train Significance:

• The new California Electric Train is just a drop in the bucket, but it should help prove that electric trains can bring benefits to communities as well as the environment.

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