Caltrain Electrification deferred

[squizzler]

Hot on the heels of British electrification delays, on the other side of the pond...

The US Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has deferred a decision on whether to award a $647 million grant to fund the Peninsula Corridor Electrification Project (PCEP) in California.

So much for "Making America Great Again" by investing in infrastructure! This was a "shovel ready" project with Balfour Beatty and Stadler signed up and chomping at the bit.

I don't suppose this deferment was on account of tight OLE clearances under 175 year old bridges.

 

[43096]

Have to keep those F40PHs and MP36s rolling a bit longer then!

 

[MarkyT]

On the other side of the pond...

So much for "Making America Great Again" by investing in infrastructure! This was a "shovel ready" project with Balfour Beatty and Stadler signed up and chomping at the bit.

I don't suppose this deferment was on account of tight OLE clearances under 175 year old bridges.

There is underlying antipathy to the 'blended solution' due to longstanding Republican opposition to the Californian high speed project, a favourite of Obama. The long planned blended solution would see high speed trains share electrified tracks with Caltrain into Central San Francisco, where existing diesels will not be allowed to enter the new city centre tunnel and shared terminus. Without an electrified and fully doubled Caltrain network, with level crossings removed, speeds raised and overtaking loops added at certain stations, the HS trains will not be able to get into the city at all unless they build an enormously expensive and disruptive completely independent parallel route that will not bring any benefits to locals along the corridor. The blended solution is an excellent value for money compromise bringing benefits to local and long distance travellers. It is a tragedy that short term political shenanigans has stalled this for the time being, despite incoming Trump allegedly being in favour of large infrastructure work, including many rail projects elsewhere in the US. It should be noted that whatever the presidential position, much of the GOP, particularly the libertarian tea party wing, remain rabidly anti passenger rail and public transport in general, which like public health care many view as one short step from Stalinism!

 

[Groningen]

Maybe those words of Donald Trump are just hollow words about trains. For DT the airlines are of more interest. Although i know nobody who wants to fly from San Jose to San Francisco. If this does not get through; it will never happen elsewhere. The Wikipage does not know this new development.

 

[b0b]

Have to keep those F40PHs and MP36s rolling a bit longer then!

nothing wrong with a F40PH, some of them get a little claggy too

 

[Shinkansenfan]

The San Jose Mercury News is the largest newspaper of the South Bay Area.

They have more reporting here: http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/17/feds-delay-caltrain-electrification-money/

Note: the decision is delayed, not outright cancelled.

If you read the reader's comments which follows the article, you would believe the Republic is on the verge of disintegration.

 

[Groningen]

Who longer you wait; the more expensive it will become.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

Who longer you wait; the more expensive it will become.

Generally yes.

If Caltrain did not plan to electrify, then CAHSR would have to foot the bill and pay for electrification (and find suitable funding). Then Caltrain could simply piggyback upon this by running electric trains under those wires and paying for incremental electrification (such as to the maintenance depots).

There are those who argue that by hiving off the cost of electrification to Caltrain, it makes the CAHSR capital cost numbers look better.

But, there is something is a bit unusual. Normally under the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) procedures, the grantee (agency) does not award contracts for major procurement (such as OLE or rolling stock) until a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) is approved. Sort of like you don't obligate yourself to home contractor for a major home expansion until you secure and receive your bank financing.

For the record, I do support an electrified Caltrain. But I find the proposed per mile electrification costs to be high.

 

[Groningen]

Maybe the price of new trains is included. And maybe some roadcrossings must be wiped out.

 

[squizzler]

The San Jose Mercury News is the largest newspaper of the South Bay Area.

They have more reporting here: http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/02/17/feds-delay-caltrain-electrification-money/

Note: the decision is delayed, not outright cancelled.

If you read the reader's comments which follows the article, you would believe the Republic is on the verge of disintegration.

I suspect that California will be one of the first to leave the Union. Better idea - why not swap Britain's EU membership with California's membership card for the USA?

“Here’s the irony,” said Carl Guardino, CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group that has long championed the electrification project. “This opposition was intended to stop high-speed rail. It’s only a flesh wound to high-speed rail, but it could be a mortal wound in our efforts to electrify Caltrain.”

Spokesman for computer nerds indeed - he managed to get in a Monty Python reference!

 

[MarkyT]

Maybe the price of new trains is included. And maybe some roadcrossings must be wiped out.

AFAIK it's a complete route modernisation and to make it compatible with the eventual HS service extra fast tracks need to be added in places for overtaking which will also be used by the faster Caltrain express services. I believe some, maybe all, level crossings are to abolished and they may be adjusting platform heights as well. While some despeccing might be possible just for Caltrain use of the corridor, that could risk greater costs and disruption at some future stage when the route has to be dug up again to make it ready for HS. With Caltrain work taking place in parallel with dedicated HS route construction in the Central Valley area, HS services into San Francisco will likely be able to commence much sooner.

 

[Taunton]

This line has a huge number of level crossings along its length, which has grown up since the rail line was built to be solid suburban development. The crossings are surrounded by expensive housing which makes any bridge alternative difficult.

I haven't been there for some years, but the urban development was the same then. A good number of office commuters into San Francisco, hardly any demand outside this peak, just 2-car all-stations trains then (mostly empty) once an hour. Most of the stock just made one return journey a day, in morning, out evening. A surprising electrification project.

 

[NSEFAN]

This line has a huge number of level crossings along its length, which has grown up since the rail line was built to be solid suburban development. The crossings are surrounded by expensive housing which makes any bridge alternative difficult.

I haven't been there for some years, but the urban development was the same then. A good number of office commuters into San Francisco, hardly any demand outside this peak, just 2-car all-stations trains then (mostly empty) once an hour. Most of the stock just made one return journey a day, in morning, out evening. A surprising electrification project.

Having recently travelled on the route, I agree with your observations. Infact I saw a notice about a public consultation to reduce the service frequency from hourly to every 90 minutes on weekends. That's hardly going to help attract any more passengers.

I saw some crossings with what looked like railway staff in hi-viz keeping watch, possibly due to high levels of abuse in those areas?

The current push-pull diesel service is rather sluggish, only the limited stop and Baby Bullet services seem to get up to any real speed. I'm surprised that the line hasn't already been electrified, given California is supposed to be more forward thinking when it comes to pollution.

 

[MarkyT]

Mostly empty, once an hour.

Chicken and egg to an extent. Although it's a highly populated, wealthy area, at such low frequency the railway's utility is always going to be limited outside peak hour congestion busting for city commuters. There's also the new Transbay terminus in the mix which will take rail right into the heart of the city and provides a huge convenient interchange facility with other urban and regional transport.

Having recently travelled on the route, I agree with your observations. Infact I saw a notice about a public consultation to reduce the service frequency from hourly to every 90 minutes on weekends. That's hardly going to help attract any more passengers

Agreed. When you say recently, what sort of timescale is recent in your case, as it appears they go through funding crises on a regular basis. Wikipedia claims farebox recovery has been steadily increasing, mostly due to fare increases that have not discouraged passengers as ridership has also increased with a renewed focus on the baby bullets. These, with limited stops, seem to remain an attractive proposition. Perhaps Caltrain have seen that speed sells and want electrification to offer better performance and frequency all round, and not least to be able to serve the potentially hugely popular new terminus.

 

[Taunton]

There's also the new Transbay terminus in the mix which will take rail right into the heart of the city and provides a huge convenient interchange facility with other urban and regional transport.

As I understand it the Transbay Terminal extension is still only a proposal for Caltrain; the only certain bit is the bus terminal for the Bay Bridge buses (in other words, just what the old 1930s Transbay terminal next door once did. As far as Caltrain is concerned, the extension will be less convenient for the Muni Metro, which was expensively extended direct to the current Caltrain (I nearly wrote SP ) station at 4th Street a while ago.

As the extension will be underground, is electrification a necessity for the rail part of the scheme to go ahead?

 

[MarkyT]

As I understand it the Transbay Terminal extension is still only a proposal for Caltrain; the only certain bit is the bus terminal for the Bay Bridge buses (in other words, just what the old 1930s Transbay terminal next door once did. As far as Caltrain is concerned, the extension will be less convenient for the Muni Metro, which was expensively extended direct to the current Caltrain (I nearly wrote SP ) station at 4th Street a while ago.

Most or all Caltrain services will continue to stop at 4th/King I understand, before diving into the new tunnel. Some terminal roads are also planned to be retained there. Passengers would still be able to interchange with Muni Metro there if that is most convenient.

As the extension will be underground, is electrification a necessity for the rail part of the scheme to go ahead?

I understand that is the case. If no rail scheme materialises, I wonder what they'll do with the massive basement under the new bus terminal?

See attached image - Google Earth, 2014

 

[NSEFAN]

Agreed. When you say recently, what sort of timescale is recent in your case, as it appears they go through funding crises on a regular basis. Wikipedia claims farebox recovery has been steadily increasing, mostly due to fare increases that have not discouraged passengers as ridership has also increased with a renewed focus on the baby bullets. These, with limited stops, seem to remain an attractive proposition. Perhaps Caltrain have seen that speed sells and want electrification to offer better performance and frequency all round, and not least to be able to serve the potentially hugely popular new terminus.

Recent as in last week or so! Slide 9 of this presentation from the Caltrain website describes the proposed changes. The service does seem to be getting better at covering its costs, based on the past 15 or so years of data (listed on the Caltrain wiki page). With EMUs the service should get even closer to paying for itself, both with reduced operating costs and a better service attracting more customers. I hope the electrification doesn't get completely canned.

 

[Taunton]

One thing that will improve distribution around central San Francisco is the new crosstown MuniMetro line to Union Square and Chinatown (mostly finished, open in 2 years time), at right angles to the established Market/Mission Street axes, moving passengers away from the very office-oriented-but-little-else area to the more busy downtown commercial areas.

It wonderfully runs directly in front of the current Caltrain terminus at 4th Street, but of course goes nowhere near any new TransBay Terminal location.

 

[Shinkansenfan]

This line has a huge number of level crossings along its length, which has grown up since the rail line was built to be solid suburban development. The crossings are surrounded by expensive housing which makes any bridge alternative difficult.

I haven't been there for some years, but the urban development was the same then. A good number of office commuters into San Francisco, hardly any demand outside this peak, just 2-car all-stations trains then (mostly empty) once an hour. Most of the stock just made one return journey a day, in morning, out evening. A surprising electrification project.

Ridership patterns have dramatically changed!

Part of my growing up years were in Silicon Valley, and I regularly rode the Southern Pacific commute service (now Caltrain). During college, I even started a volunteer group to repaint and refresh four graffiti scarred Caltrain stations (California Avenue, Castro, Mountain View, Sunnyvale; all which have been since rebuilt with new stations or in the case of Castro, closed).

Today's Caltrain ridership demographic and distribution is so different from 25 years ago--whereas it was once SF oriented, today ridership is better distributed in both directions along the line during peak hours and even off peak hours. San Francisco is still the busiest station, followed by Palo Alto. This spread of ridership in both directions is something that us transportation planners dream about-- productive loads of customers conveyed in both directions and to intermediate points as well. No unproductive deadheads (empty stock) moves.

As others have pointed out, there are numerous level crossings, and in many instances, these level crossings are near major arterial roadways with insufficient space to build an over or underpass--nor would the affected communities easily succumb to needed property acquisition. Contrast the property required for a grade separation at San Antonio Road on the Palo Alto/Mountain View border with the level crossing at Charleston Rd in Palo Alto (readily viewable via any number of aerial mapping websites).

The costs do include new rolling stock, and also include additional tracks for overtaking--some which may not be needed if it were just used for Caltrain and not for a co-mingled Caltrain and CAHSR service. Still the per mile cost for just the OLE elements alone is high.

 

[gsnedders]

As others have pointed out, there are numerous level crossings, and in many instances, these level crossings are near major arterial roadways with insufficient space to build an over or underpass--nor would the affected communities easily succumb to needed property acquisition. Contrast the property required for a grade separation at San Antonio Road on the Palo Alto/Mountain View border with the level crossing at Charleston Rd in Palo Alto (readily viewable via any number of aerial mapping websites).

And many of the stations have level crossings immediately adjacent to them, so any work to remove the level crossings would likely need to also move the station.

I think the other thing to bear in mind is that some of the stations have very little in way of public transport links (though many do admittedly have sizeable car parks) in areas which are pretty sparse.

 

[najaB]

I suspect that California will be one of the first to leave the Union. Better idea - why not swap Britain's EU membership with California's membership card for the USA?

I don't have much to add to this discussion other than to note that California is the 5th largest economy in the world (the UK is the 6th).

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Caltrain project deferred 4 months to give more time to solve the funding problems.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...-seeks-to-save-electrification-programme.html

Caltrain had been expected to issue ‘Notice to Proceed’ for both contracts by March 1, subject to confirmation of federal funding for the work. The delay to June 30 is designed to allow a decision to be made by the Federal Transit Administration on implementation of a $647m funding agreement. On February 17, FTA had announced that execution of the grant would be delayed until President Trump finalises his budget proposal to Congress

 

[WatcherZero]

Who says British companies don't bid for foreign rail contracts? The California High Speed Rail Authority has released the five initial qualified bidders for a $30m contract to bring real world experience on operating railways to the design process, its seen as a first step to winning the contract to operate the system.

China HSR ETO Consortium
China Railway International;
Beijing Railway Administration;
China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group;
China Railway Corp.

DB International US
DB International USA;
Deutsche Bahn;
Alternate Concepts;
HDR Inc.

FS First Rail Group
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane;
FirstGroup;
Trenitalia;
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana
CentoStazioni;
Italferr;
McKinsey & Co.
RENFE
RENFE Operadora;
Globalvia Inversiones;
ADIF.

Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc;
Coach USA Administration Inc.

 

[Groningen]

But not operate the trainservice?! That should of course be done with an US operator. USA first!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

But not operate the trainservice?! That should of course be done with an US operator. USA first!

They'll no doubt have to set up US-majority subsidiaries, like Virgin America had to.
That's if it ever goes ahead in the Trump world.

The "FS" bid has maxed out its Italian dimension by listing all the FS major constituent companies!

 

[Groningen]

There is now a pressconference going on about Caltrain and electrification at SF main station (i believe).

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1zqKVAygedMxB