@calelectricrail.org
Bringing together transit riders, environmentalists, and union members for fast, clean, safe catenary electric regional, intercity, and freight rail in California. #CatenaryNow #ElectrifyMetrolink
Fresno is studying a possible regional rail line! Talk to agency reps this Sunday from 10-12 at the Woodward Farmer's Market to give input and learn more about the project. publicinput.com/regionalrail...
The time is now to build fast, frequent, zero emissions electric rail around the state. Our climate can't wait!
Help keep transit throughout the Bay alive, come gather signatures. We need 200,000 by June to get a funding measure on the ballot in time to stop the cuts. Details here
luma.com/connectbayar...
Cc @theoverheadwire.com @nextdoorsv.bsky.social @elisejoshi.bsky.social @thetransitguy.com
CARB's often-cited "Trucks vs. Trains" analysis intentionally discounts the significant air quality impacts of truck tires. calelectricrail.org/why-carb-is-...
Another reason we need mode shift to rail - with steel wheels, not tires. Fewer cars and trucks on the road = less plastic in your lungs.
a black and white British Rail poster titled "The argument for electrifying our railways, will become clearer in time." with four panels showing scenes from 1978, 1987, 1995 and 2005 with oil running out over that period
"The argument for electrifying our railways will become clearer in time."
British Rail, 1979.
The best time to electrify freight railroads was 50 years ago. The second best time is now.
The new electric Caltrains are amazing! I ride it everyday from SF to Palo Alto and it is an excellent experience
Imagine if we had more 2 SCORE program projects complete, and were seeing full half-hourly SBL service now, instead of in 2029. bsky.app/profile/cale...
Imagine if the 3rd track to Roseville was complete and we had 10 trains per day between Roseville and Sacramento! Instead we are 12 years in and construction hasn't started. Legislators: if you want affordable transportation, prioritize project delivery reform. calelectricrail.org/project-deli...
Gas prices are skyrocketing. If California cares about affordability, they need to provide Californians around the state with access to fossil fuel-free transportation: electric regional rail. Accelerate the state rail plan and electrify rail!
www.reuters.com/business/ene...
if we did this to Caltrain we can do it again and again and again across the state
When will California grant enhanced permitting authority to transit projects?
Leaders with @calelectricrail.org rail and @movecalifornia.bsky.social talk with Streetsblog about the Governor's Race and all the news on California High-Speed Rail.
cal.streetsblog.org/2026/03/05/s...
How electrifying a Bay Area rail system made trains faster, cleaner, and more frequent | grist.org/transportati....
Electrification of transportation is a national security and economic resilience strategy, which would work well for this exact scenario we are in right now.
Leaders with @calelectricrail.org, @calbike.bsky.social and @movecalifornia.bsky.social talk with Streetsblog about what to expect...and not expect...from the legislature in 2026 in part 1 of this week's StreetSmart podcast.
cal.streetsblog.org/2026/03/04/s...
Why are Metrolink service improvements (SCORE) going to miss the Olympics?
1. lack of dedicated funding
2. (mis)management by county DOTs that are hyper-deferential to NIMBYs, leading to cancelled projects
3. lack of staff capacity to design projects
Metrolink has confirmed that Tripper will be operating once Link Union Station is complete - in 2035.
Recommended Growth Scenario Compared to baseline: Train Miles increase by 93% Operating support increases by 21-31% (with high/low ridership forecasts)
Example of crew efficiency gains: With peak-only service, one crew has a long hotel rest, with only short periods of revenue service With regional rail all-day service, two crews cover the same amount of work time as the peak only service, but a much higher percentage is revenue service.
These improvements will increase service by 93% while requiring only 25% more funding, due to the efficiencies that come with all day, regional rail-style service. Imagine the further gains with electrification and level-boarding!
legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/atta...
Plan Highlights FY 25 Metrolink Reimagined: strategies applied to weekdays FY 28: strategies applied to weekends FY 29: Half-hourly SBL, Hourly VCL, AVL, OCL and other improvements systemwide, including weekends FY 32: Completion of further SCORE project segments FY35: LinkUS project completion FY35: New VCOC line FY 37 Southside island platform project completion, half hourly: OCL (part of VCOCL)
New information on Metrolink SCORE is out:
- SCORE Phase 1 not complete until after Olympics
- Half-hour service on SBL, AVL, VCL by 2032 - but not on OCL until 2037
- LinkUS will combine VC and OC lines, delivering the Tripper service we modeled in #Electrolink!
Good projects, slow timeline.
Santa Clarita: Speak up for more Antelope Valley Line service! Tell Metro to fund the Balboa Double Track and Canyon Siding, which have a $188m budget gap! Today at 3 pm. www.eventbrite.com/e/north-coun...
Concerned about impending oil and gas shortages? Invest in zero emissions electric trains, powered by California's clean grid, that take people where they need to be. NOT hydrogen trains - the H2 comes from fossil gas.
No idea why this dropped on a Saturday but we got the 2026 draft business plan
little late for new legislation unless there is some gut and replace actions.
hsr.ca.gov/2026/02/28/n...
Signature gathering for the regional transit funding measure is in full swing! There are 16 events across the Bay Area this weekend; you can find events in your area by using the Luma map and the tags on the event calendar:
luma.com/connectbayarea
One way California can get more out of our infrastructure dollars is waiting until projects are close to shovel ready before giving out the money.
This avoids the issue of unused money losing value to inflation, and also encourages efficient design.
When you orient planning around customer demand (“service”) you can often solve problems without expensive rolling stock or civil works.
Where civil works can unlock big service gains at a decent cost, build them.
Learn more on March 2 at 6pm at OakStop in Oakland.
bsky.app/profile/seam...
There are currently no battery EMUs operating in the state, though Caltrain is ordering one for Gilroy.
This tragedy in Colton is a deadly reminder of the dangers of hydrogen in transportation. We need to electrify freight rail for a safe, zero emissions way to haul goods. abc7.com/post/1-dead-...