Caltrain, a commuter rail line serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Santa Clara Valley, is within the strategy of electrifying its system to allow electrical trains to function from San Jose to San Francisco.

Now the transit company has obtained funding to pilot a twin electrical/battery-powered prepare.

The California Transportation Fee permitted funding for one battery-equipped electrical prepare to assist with the transition to completely electrified service and develop zero-emission service to non-electrified tracks.

The funds will enable Caltrain to function zero-emission trains on each the electrified sections of the hall and the stretch between Tamien Station in San Jose and Gilroy, which doesn’t but have overhead electrical strains. The brand new prepare will cost whereas working on overhead energy within the electrified service areas, then use battery cost to journey via non-electrified areas.

The funding additionally covers the price of testing on the Transportation Check Middle in Colorado and upgrades to the San Jose Central Upkeep Facility and Gilroy layover and station space to facilitate charging and upkeep.

“Silicon Valley has a status for improvements, and our transportation sector is not any totally different,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan mentioned. “This challenge will pave the best way for Caltrain to retire their diesel fleet and function a totally zero-emission service.”

Supply: The Almanac