Metrolink Needs to Draw Inspiration from Caltrain's Electrification Success - Streetsblog Los Angeles
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Electrification means faster, more frequent, cleaner and quieter trains. If Caltrain (and trains all over the world) can do it, so can Metrolink.
  • zabadoh@ani.social
    2·
    10 days ago

    CalTrain electrification is an overnight success that was decades in the making.

    When I worked there in the 00s, they were working on it already.

    Among other things, the agency had to elevate the entire track way above street level for pedestrian and traffic safety and reduce suicides, replace all the wood creosote ties with concrete, and straighten the uneven curves in the tracks in order for higher speed trains to run smoothly.

    It’s not as easy as plopping electric rolling stock on tracks.

    And that was with Nancy Pelosi bringing home the Federal transit funding bacon.

    That Metrolink false statement about electrification not being possible due to mixed ownership of tracks might indicate they’re not even working on it yet.