Californians for Electric Rail
@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
Pinned
Funding is a major, underappreciated contributor to the high construction costs and long timelines that hold back electrification. In our new policy paper, Against Patchwork Funding, we propose a smarter way to fund rail: Multi-year Investment Frameworks. 🧵 calelectricrail.org/against-patc...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink - Streetsblog California
I made a mistake covering the CTC grants last week that impacts a story Streetsblog has been covering. Let's set the record straight.
cal.streetsblog.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 AM
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
Small scale and local control over transit is the status quo in much of the state, especially Southern California, and has led to:
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
This ridiculous new post by Strong Towns correctly identifies a problem - we build too many failing transit capital projects - and completely misses the mark with its proposed solutions - stopping federal funding for them and instead making projects small and phased.
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation? | Strong Towns
Three case studies reveal how top-down funding creates rigidity, waste, and systems that cities cannot afford to fix or abandon.
www.strongtowns.org
December 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Small scale and local control over transit is the status quo in much of the state, especially Southern California, and has led to:
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Caltrain Named America’s Fastest-Growing Transit Agency in APTA’s 2025 Transit Wrapped, read more: https://www.caltrain.com/news/caltrain-named-americas-fastest-growing-transit-agency-aptas-2025-transit-wrapped .
Caltrain Named America’s Fastest-Growing Transit Agency in APTA’s 2025 Transit Wrapped | Caltrain
Caltrain has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Transit Wrapped 2025 list as the fastest growing U.S. transit agency over the last year.
www.caltrain.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Caltrain Named America’s Fastest-Growing Transit Agency in APTA’s 2025 Transit Wrapped, read more: https://www.caltrain.com/news/caltrain-named-americas-fastest-growing-transit-agency-aptas-2025-transit-wrapped .
Electrolink - electrification, level boarding, and through-running - would bring the Surfliner to 2.5 hours travel time. California deserves a train like the Northeast Corridor - let's make it happen! calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
December 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Electrolink - electrification, level boarding, and through-running - would bring the Surfliner to 2.5 hours travel time. California deserves a train like the Northeast Corridor - let's make it happen! calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
the people of this great republic yearn for locomotive transport
Amtrak reports Mardi Gras service among most successful ever https://mynbc15.com/news/local/amtrak-provides-boost-to-mobile-businesses
Amtrak's Mardi Gras service boosts Mobile tourism with higher than expected ridership
Amtrak says the new Mardi Gras service that connects Mobile to New Orleans is one of the most successful services ever launched and it's on track to double the
mynbc15.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
the people of this great republic yearn for locomotive transport
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Would love to see the ridership modeling for LOSSAN Optimization Study - 1 TPH and 2.5 hour travel time (from 1/2 TPH and 3 hour travel time).
I suspect Surfliner would be NEC levels of profitable.
www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...
I suspect Surfliner would be NEC levels of profitable.
www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...
December 12, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Would love to see the ridership modeling for LOSSAN Optimization Study - 1 TPH and 2.5 hour travel time (from 1/2 TPH and 3 hour travel time).
I suspect Surfliner would be NEC levels of profitable.
www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...
I suspect Surfliner would be NEC levels of profitable.
www.amtrak.com/content/dam/...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
extremely good and cool job with @airresources.bsky.social running the Transportation division, come work on lowering the #1 source of GHGs in the state calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/...
Chief, Division of Sustainable Transportation and Communities, C.E.A.
Looking to make a difference? Join our strong and mighty workforce. We offer benefits and growth opportunities and impact the lives of millions of Californians.
calcareers.ca.gov
December 11, 2025 at 5:02 PM
extremely good and cool job with @airresources.bsky.social running the Transportation division, come work on lowering the #1 source of GHGs in the state calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Building good transit requires building good systems to deliver it - planned networks; ridership models; engineered standards and cost/benefit analyses.
The problem is precisely that we require each locality to reinvent what should be a well-understood wheel, discarding learning after each project.
The problem is precisely that we require each locality to reinvent what should be a well-understood wheel, discarding learning after each project.
December 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Building good transit requires building good systems to deliver it - planned networks; ridership models; engineered standards and cost/benefit analyses.
The problem is precisely that we require each locality to reinvent what should be a well-understood wheel, discarding learning after each project.
The problem is precisely that we require each locality to reinvent what should be a well-understood wheel, discarding learning after each project.
Join us @icgee.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social and @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social for a webinar about how transit funding holds back ambitious investments like electric rail that we need for climate action & affordable transportation. January 8th, 1-2 PST.
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
December 11, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Join us @icgee.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social and @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social for a webinar about how transit funding holds back ambitious investments like electric rail that we need for climate action & affordable transportation. January 8th, 1-2 PST.
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
The CTC's patchwork, small grant model incentivizes small but low ROI investments like new diesel locomotives over bigger sticker price but higher value investments like systemwide electrification. We need to fix funding to get Metrolink electrification off the ground. #AgainstPatchworkFunding
This isn't just climate damage, it's fiscally irresponsible. These new engines will lock Metrolink into decades of high fuel costs and will likely end in accelerated depreciation. Southern Californians can't afford this.
CA is investing $53m in new diesel locomotives that will last for decades. It's good that Metrolink can retire its dirtiest locomotives, but where is the plan to electrify? #ElectrifyMetrolink www.gov.ca.gov/2025/12/08/g...
December 9, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The CTC's patchwork, small grant model incentivizes small but low ROI investments like new diesel locomotives over bigger sticker price but higher value investments like systemwide electrification. We need to fix funding to get Metrolink electrification off the ground. #AgainstPatchworkFunding
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
This isn't just climate damage, it's fiscally irresponsible. These new engines will lock Metrolink into decades of high fuel costs and will likely end in accelerated depreciation. Southern Californians can't afford this.
CA is investing $53m in new diesel locomotives that will last for decades. It's good that Metrolink can retire its dirtiest locomotives, but where is the plan to electrify? #ElectrifyMetrolink www.gov.ca.gov/2025/12/08/g...
December 9, 2025 at 11:29 PM
This isn't just climate damage, it's fiscally irresponsible. These new engines will lock Metrolink into decades of high fuel costs and will likely end in accelerated depreciation. Southern Californians can't afford this.
CA is investing $53m in new diesel locomotives that will last for decades. It's good that Metrolink can retire its dirtiest locomotives, but where is the plan to electrify? #ElectrifyMetrolink www.gov.ca.gov/2025/12/08/g...
December 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
CA is investing $53m in new diesel locomotives that will last for decades. It's good that Metrolink can retire its dirtiest locomotives, but where is the plan to electrify? #ElectrifyMetrolink www.gov.ca.gov/2025/12/08/g...
The State Rail Plan has over $100 B of projects across every major region of the state that will greatly improve transit access in car-dependent areas. But there is no plan to fund it - the state just expects local goverments to apply for small competitive grant programs with unrelated incentives.
California Air Resources Board: "To achieve climate goals, we need less driving"
Transportation Researchers: "To reduce driving, we need fewer lane miles"
Caltrans: "We need billions of dollars to keep widening highways."
California Legislature: "You got it."
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/o...
Transportation Researchers: "To reduce driving, we need fewer lane miles"
Caltrans: "We need billions of dollars to keep widening highways."
California Legislature: "You got it."
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/o...
Opinion: One Less Lane Ought To Fix It — Streetsblog USA
Federal inaction means states must lead on reducing emissions — but their reluctance to reallocate road space for cars may doom climate goals.
usa.streetsblog.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The State Rail Plan has over $100 B of projects across every major region of the state that will greatly improve transit access in car-dependent areas. But there is no plan to fund it - the state just expects local goverments to apply for small competitive grant programs with unrelated incentives.
Rail electrification reduces direct emissions *and* VMT by unlocking faster, more frequent service via faster acceleration, higher top speeds, and lower operating costs. Electric rail must be central to any VMT reduction strategy.
December 9, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Rail electrification reduces direct emissions *and* VMT by unlocking faster, more frequent service via faster acceleration, higher top speeds, and lower operating costs. Electric rail must be central to any VMT reduction strategy.
Caltrans' engineering resources overwhelmingly go to highways in spite of state goals to reduce driving, while transit projects rely on the slow process of hiring expensive consultants. We need a #JustTransitionForCaltrans to meet climate goals.
December 9, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Caltrans' engineering resources overwhelmingly go to highways in spite of state goals to reduce driving, while transit projects rely on the slow process of hiring expensive consultants. We need a #JustTransitionForCaltrans to meet climate goals.
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Bay Area transit farecard upgrade, which includes transfer discounts, starts this Wednesday 12/8! Cards will be upgraded in batches over the next 8-12 weeks.
To transition your card faster, starting 12/8, log onto www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/ and request an upgrade. mtc.ca.gov/news/next-ge...
To transition your card faster, starting 12/8, log onto www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/ and request an upgrade. mtc.ca.gov/news/next-ge...
Next Generation Clipper to Set Sail in December
mtc.ca.gov
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Bay Area transit farecard upgrade, which includes transfer discounts, starts this Wednesday 12/8! Cards will be upgraded in batches over the next 8-12 weeks.
To transition your card faster, starting 12/8, log onto www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/ and request an upgrade. mtc.ca.gov/news/next-ge...
To transition your card faster, starting 12/8, log onto www.clippercard.com/ClipperWeb/ and request an upgrade. mtc.ca.gov/news/next-ge...
Union Pacific (modern descendant of Southern Pacific) today: electrification is impossible.
Southern Pacific’s electrification & modernization of Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda suburban rail.
- 29 miles of upgrades
- 21 miles of extensions
- 7 year schedule
- standardized pole spacing and specs
- self built power generation
- budget from conceptual design to final acceptance $4m —> $10.5m
- 29 miles of upgrades
- 21 miles of extensions
- 7 year schedule
- standardized pole spacing and specs
- self built power generation
- budget from conceptual design to final acceptance $4m —> $10.5m
December 6, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Union Pacific (modern descendant of Southern Pacific) today: electrification is impossible.
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Ridership on the Bay Area's Caltrain continues to rise in the wake of the route's electrification, hitting a new post-COVID high last month
Ridership through the first 10 months of 2025 is 45% higher than last year!
Ridership through the first 10 months of 2025 is 45% higher than last year!
December 5, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Ridership on the Bay Area's Caltrain continues to rise in the wake of the route's electrification, hitting a new post-COVID high last month
Ridership through the first 10 months of 2025 is 45% higher than last year!
Ridership through the first 10 months of 2025 is 45% higher than last year!
Environmental documents and preliminary designs for High-Speed Rail between Los Angeles and Anaheim are out. They call for electrifying two tracks owned by BNSF, proving freight railroads are no obstacle to a public agency with teeth. SoCal could chose to implement this early to #ElectrifyMetrolink
🎉Exciting news! The Los Angeles to Anaheim Project Section Draft EIR/EIS is now available for review & public comment through Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
🔗More information on how to comment & information on the planned open houses & public hearings: bit.ly/3YffIL2
🔗More information on how to comment & information on the planned open houses & public hearings: bit.ly/3YffIL2
December 5, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Environmental documents and preliminary designs for High-Speed Rail between Los Angeles and Anaheim are out. They call for electrifying two tracks owned by BNSF, proving freight railroads are no obstacle to a public agency with teeth. SoCal could chose to implement this early to #ElectrifyMetrolink
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Today, the Authority released a video featuring the nearly 60 completed structures to date, with highlights including:
✅ 68% of guideway completed
✅ 91% of utilities relocated
✅ 99% of right-of-way purchased
Watch: youtu.be/lMf3rnWBDbY?...
✅ 68% of guideway completed
✅ 91% of utilities relocated
✅ 99% of right-of-way purchased
Watch: youtu.be/lMf3rnWBDbY?...
The Future of Transportation Is Growing from the Ground Up in California’s Central Valley
YouTube video by California High-Speed Rail Authority
youtu.be
December 3, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Today, the Authority released a video featuring the nearly 60 completed structures to date, with highlights including:
✅ 68% of guideway completed
✅ 91% of utilities relocated
✅ 99% of right-of-way purchased
Watch: youtu.be/lMf3rnWBDbY?...
✅ 68% of guideway completed
✅ 91% of utilities relocated
✅ 99% of right-of-way purchased
Watch: youtu.be/lMf3rnWBDbY?...
High-Speed rail is one step away from laying track and putting up overhead wires next year!
The Authority has issued a Request for Proposals, officially soliciting bids from qualified vendors to build the nation’s first high-speed rail track and systems beginning next year. 🚅💨
Learn more about the contract here: bit.ly/4rjFIm9
Learn more about the contract here: bit.ly/4rjFIm9
December 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
High-Speed rail is one step away from laying track and putting up overhead wires next year!
With the Tesla Tunnels officially canceled, the opportunity to invest in the SBL is here. Electrolink would transform San Bernardino County - let's make it happen!
With electrification and level boarding, Rancho Cucamonga and Brightline West will be less than an hour on Metrolink from downtown LA. If SBCTA wants to improve access to Brightline, they should get on board with Electrolink - and plan for a rail extension to ONT. calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
Electrolink: Modern Passenger Rail Service for Southern California – Californians for Electric Rail
calelectricrail.org
December 3, 2025 at 10:19 PM
With the Tesla Tunnels officially canceled, the opportunity to invest in the SBL is here. Electrolink would transform San Bernardino County - let's make it happen!
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
SBCTA just voted unanimously to cancel this boondoggle. But it's still been 6 years and millions of public dollars that could have gone to real transit while VMT and GHGs keep going up - all because Elon Musk scammed the public.
It's hard to believe a "Tesla Tunnel" type project would still be on the books in 2025, but at least SBCTA is likely to kill the project tomorrow.
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
SBCTA Could Finally End One of the Country’s Worst Zombie Projects: The ONT Connector - Streetsblog California
“The ONT Connector is an inappropriate investment. Ridership capacity and public transportation utility do not support spending billions of dollars for it. Scrapping the project is the right decision....
cal.streetsblog.org
December 3, 2025 at 7:17 PM
SBCTA just voted unanimously to cancel this boondoggle. But it's still been 6 years and millions of public dollars that could have gone to real transit while VMT and GHGs keep going up - all because Elon Musk scammed the public.
Clipper 2 makes Caltrain transfers much more cost competitive for short trips. With electrification, frequent service, and now fare parity, the Bay Area is closer than ever to a modern, integrated urban-suburban rail system.
Starting Dec 10, most Bay Area transit transfers will be free for two hours. If you take AC Transit to BART then transfer to Muni, your fare today is $9.10. With Clipper 2, the free AC and Muni transfers mean your fare will be just $3.90
1/
1/
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Clipper 2 makes Caltrain transfers much more cost competitive for short trips. With electrification, frequent service, and now fare parity, the Bay Area is closer than ever to a modern, integrated urban-suburban rail system.