Caltrain Substation ‘Juiced Up’

Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
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Caltrain photo

Caltrain’s Electrification Project, expected to be completed in 2024, attained a major milestone on Aug. 29 when its San Jose Traction Power Substation, one of two such facilities, was energized with power from Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). With “juice” in the catenary, Caltrain can commence vehicle and infrastructure testing.

Caltrain’s other Traction Power Substation is in South San Francisco. Together, with eight smaller facilities along the corridor, they provide, distribute and regulate electricity to the catenary that will power Caltrain’s new high-performance Stadler EMUs (electric multiple-units), which will replace the agency’s 30-year-old diesel-electric locomotive-hauled fleet.

Caltrain illustration

The infrastructure upgrades from PG&E include construction of two, double-circuit 115 kV transmission connections from its East Grand Substation in South San Francisco and FMC Substation in San Jose to Caltrain traction power stations in those communities; rebuilding the East Grand and FMC substations to enable PG&E to support Caltrain’s request for redundant transmission feeds, and additional upgrades to three PG&E and two third-party remote end substations. Caltrain noted that PG&E’s work to complete the project “was substantial and needed to be safely conducted while maintaining reliable service to more than 20,000 customers also served by the existing infrastructure.”

Caltrain illustration

As Caltrain crews continue to install more poles and wire for the electrification system, the agency is embarking on a public outreach campaign “to educate passengers, residents, and businesses about best safety practices along the corridor. The agency has sent out mailers, hosted community meetings and embarked on social media campaigns to remind everyone that all overhead wires on Caltrain property should be assumed to be energized now.”

Caltrain photo

“This is a critical step forward in the Caltrain Electrification project, signifying power availability along a six-mile stretch of the corridor between Santa Clara and San Jose,” said Caltrain Acting Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “Before activating this southern segment, we are ensuring that all employees and contractors receive the necessary safety awareness training to work in electrified territory. Availability of power will enable us to begin testing and commissioning the overhead contact system and new EMU trains. We want to thank PG&E for their help and coordination with this complex undertaking.”

“With this energization, PG&E is proud to help Caltrain modernize and electrify a critical transportation link for the Bay Area and California as a whole,” said Ahmad Ababneh, PG&E Electric Operations Vice President of Projects and Construction. “We couldn’t have achieved this important milestone without the tenacity and nimbleness of the entire PG&E team who worked together to safely construct and upgrade numerous facilities including substations and transmission lines to support Caltrain’s project.”

Caltrain said electrification “will deliver major benefits to the communities that it serves. It will reduce Caltrain’s greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate the particulate matter caused by the aging diesel engines. Engine noise created by the trains will also be reduced. Service will become both more frequent and more comfortable. Electrification has also created thousands of jobs locally and throughout the country, both to electrify the corridor and to assemble the new trains. The infrastructure that is being installed will be compatible with future high-speed rail on the corridor.”

Caltrain photo
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