By: Nischal Jasti

SAN JOSE, CALIF.- Caltrain’s Electrification project is coming to a close next year as the new electric trains are unveiled in San Jose Diridon Station and San Francisco’s 4th and King station. The line will be electrified from SF “to a point approximately two miles south of Tamien Station in S.J.,” according to Caltrain’s project FAQ.

While this is exciting for many Bay Area residents, many thought that this excitement was increasing evidence of America’s passenger railroads, which seem to be stuck in the past. As Jyothsna Kuchipudi, a local resident and former Caltrain commuter, said when asked about it “Really, I didn’t know that the trains were not electric. That is really pathetic for America.”

A big problem for Caltrain is that the limited service of stations south of Tamien will still be Diesel, as Union Pacific owns the line. This is unfortunate because Capitol Station and Blossom Hill stations, both of which are relatively close to residents of the western portions of Evergreen, will still have infrequent and lackluster services. However, Caltrain says that they will start battery-powered Diesel Electric services to try and bridge the gap. There will be a fourth service, both Northbound and Southbound, added to Gilroy starting Sept. 25. These changes will  make train travel a slightly better option for many more South County residents.

There are many positives which come from this project, however. Electric trains are very energy efficient, since they are directly connected to the grid of electricity by the overhead line. In contrast, diesel trains are powered by a diesel engine, which pulls the train cars holding the people. The diesel trains also have to run slower because of this. According to a study by the Environmental and Energy study institute, a non-profit environmental organization who promotes green energy, Diesel trains only transfer 30-35 percent of the energy generated to the wheels, whereas Electric trains transfer 95 percent of energy. While electric trains might not be necessary, there’s no denying that this project will help thousands of commuters get to their destination faster.