Caltrain to receive federal funds for electrification project

The electrification project is the first of its kind in North America, adding more modernized trains with new safety equipment and digital trip information for passengers.

Electrification also helps Caltrain reach regional and state goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.

“It is with great pride that the Democratic Congress has passed an omnibus appropriations package that delivers for San Franciscans and working families across our nation,” U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “As a proud Representative of San Francisco, it was my privilege to help ensure that this legislation invests in quieter neighborhoods, cleaner air and faster commutes for the Bay Area. With $33M in new funding for Caltrain’s electrification, this legislative package marks a key step toward a fully electrified rail corridor across our region.”

Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard said the electrification of Caltrain is one of the biggest milestones in its 160-year history.

$10 million of the federal funding was secured by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., as a community project, and $33 million came from the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grant program for pre-existing projects with grants.