The successful completion of several live runs, short circuit testing and the arrival of new train sets are keeping the Caltrain electrification project on pace, but unanticipated challenges, including increased instances of theft and vandalism, raise concerns about potential cost implications.
During a meeting Jan. 4, Caltrain Modernization Chief Officer Prayana Shrestha updated the Caltrain Board of Directors that out of the six train sets currently on property, three have successfully completed their 1,000 mile live runs — federally mandated tests ensuring the new trains travel a specified minimum distance before carrying passengers — with two additional train sets scheduled to arrive this month. All of the 23 anticipated trains are assembled in Salt Lake City and take about two days to arrive on-site.
While Shrestha ensured the project is currently on schedule and on budget, one of the unexpected challenges — from both a safety and financial perspective — involves more than 100 acts of theft or vandalism since the beginning of construction, the majority of which involve impedance bond cables.
“We are working with law enforcement,” Shrestha said. “This is an ongoing problem, and we are looking at a long-term solution, so that means looking at our impedance bond and how it’s installed so it is basically hidden. And unless you work for Caltrain, you wouldn’t know where these impedance bonds are.”
While Shrestha acknowledged it would cost extra money to redesign the cable installation, he emphasized any financial burden incurred would still be lower than ongoing replacement and repair costs due to theft.
Impedance bond cables ensure the higher voltage and lower voltage currents do not interfere with one another. Such incidents of theft are highly concerning as the project’s completion inches closer, as they would likely result in serious injury or death when attempted with energized equipment, Caltrain spokesperson Dan Lieberman said.
“We have seen it on other projects. We implemented some asphalt overlayments and things like that,” Balfour Beatty Project Director Keith McCoy said. “Anytime you’re in a municipal area, this presents a challenge … and from talking to other folks in the rail industry, these are challenges.”
Short circuit testing, as well as the remainder of live runs, still must be completed in time for the April 1 deadline, at which point Balfour Beatty, the project’s primary builder and designer, will hand off remaining testing to Caltrain. About four more weekend shutdowns are anticipated to accommodate the live runs.
Passengers can start expecting the new electrified service in September, which will include at least 20% more stops at each station. The Caltrain electrification project broke ground around 2017, and it marks the first time in at least three decades a diesel railway has converted to an electrified system in the country.
(1) comment
The best deterrent for fighting theft of copper cabling is to keep it energized. All utilities have camped with this problem and have had to post signs, fencing and other measures to keep thieves from cutting these cables. Thieves run a risk of horrible injuries and some even perished when attempting to steal. That should have sent a harsh message to would be robbers.
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