At today’s Peninsula Joint Powers Board meeting, the Caltrain board approved the agency making a $4million offer on 11 surplus rail cars from Metrolink in Los Angeles. The cars would ease the capacity problem that Caltrain has been experienced with recent rapid ridership growth. The purchase would allow Caltrain to add a sixth car to 11 trains, providing 20% more capacity on the crowded trains. The money comes from Caltrain’s surplus revenue from recent growth in ridership.
Metrolink’s board will need to approve the purchase, and will need to negotiate to get out of a lease agreement for the unused cars. Then, according to head of operations Chuck Harvey, it will take a year and another ~$4million to rehab the cars. Caltrain has nearly enough room on platforms to fit the sixth car, though it will be tight in a few stations including Burlingame and Menlo Park. Some station changes may be needed, including moving where the train stops, and shifting the wheelchair platforms.
Ridership has doubled over the last decade, and continues to grow. the most popular peak hour trains are standing room only, and the average ride is over 20 miles, which is uncomfortable for standing. Caltrain plans to electrify by 2019, but it is a long 6 years til then. In the most recent monthly results, ridership was up another 10% over the previous year, and there were over 53,000 riders on an average weekday.
If growth continues – and the transportation and land use trends suggest that it will – that capacity may be filled before Caltrain electrify also.  The Caltrain Citizens Advisory Council will be looking at the capacity issue at its next meeting. Caltrain is looking at other ways to ease the capacity crunch, including some additional service, encouraging riders who can to use “shoulder peak” trains, and more ideas they will present at at the CAC meeting. If you’re interested in learning more and commenting on the topic, come on Wednesday, January 15 at 5:40pm at Caltrain HQ, 1250 San Carlos Ave, a few minutes walk from San Carlos Caltrain. Or send email to cacsecretary@caltrain.com, or leave comments and we’ll forward them on to the CAC.
Caltrain board approves $4M to buy rail cars to ease capacity crunch http://t.co/jEmmwHGWjx
@bayrailalliance http://t.co/czY5iARMnR
Can’t happen fast enough RT: @bayrailalliance: Caltrain board approves $4M to buy rail cars to ease capacity crunch http://t.co/q1WlFZxSnH
it’ll take another year and another $4 million to rehab the newly purchased cars before they’re in Caltrain service http://t.co/cBIll0mTIw
Caltrain approves purchase of additional passenger cars to ease commute crunch by @alevin http://t.co/LDE172ytjE
@Caltrain_News @cyclelicious , yes, blog post says that 🙂 http://t.co/gD1Dk56bSf
@stevevance @ndnoahsaid http://t.co/ulwxDs9ng8
@erik_griswold @cyclelicious @ladyfleur @pathlesspedaled Now we’re adding Metrolink discards to our Sounder discards: http://t.co/xpKlEoeOxe
[…] Caltrain Board Approves Purchase of 11 Rail Cars (Green Caltrain) […]
Caltrain has 93 Gallery and 25 bombardia cars, each consist with 5 car trains, means 23 sets of 5 car train. Caltrain runs 92 trains/weekday. 92/23=4:, Each trainset runs only 2 round trips a day.
Given requirement for maintenance/spare, utilization is more than 2 round trip/day but less than 3.
On the other hand, 2-door Bombardia Car makes more sense with Caltrain.
So, I propose increase utilization by reducing turn around time and sell same number of Gallery Car to reduce (fixed) maintenance cost.
If they can sell 11 Gallery car for 1~2 Millon, they can buy another 2~5 more Bombardia car.
[…] of Caltrain, the Joint Powers Board approved the tentative purchase of surplus Bombardier bi-level coaches from Metrolink in the Los Angeles area. The “Bomb” cars are the more modern low-floor […]
I went 4th and King yesterday with Train 219 (arrive 8:19). Same trainset back to San Jose as Train 230 (Depart 8:44). So, turnaround time of 25 minutes is reasonable. However, there were 3 more trainsets in the station. One depart 8:59 (waiting for 40+ minutes), the other depart noon and 4 pm respectively. So, those trainset are just sittting in the station and while there is need for more capacity.
Caltrain should really think about utilization efficiency before buy the additional car.