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
Utah's UTA is state-managed, funded by 5-year investment frameworks, and uses service-led planning. It's no wonder FrontRunner has plans for electrification while Metrolink and LOSSAN are still avoiding the issue, despite serving more people. rideuta.legistar.com/LegislationD...
November 5, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Utah's UTA is state-managed, funded by 5-year investment frameworks, and uses service-led planning. It's no wonder FrontRunner has plans for electrification while Metrolink and LOSSAN are still avoiding the issue, despite serving more people. rideuta.legistar.com/LegislationD...
New Mineta Institute report on CA High-Speed Rail explains that CAHSR was given certain "superpowers", but lack of special powers on eminent domain or 3rd party permits slow the project. CAHSR needs to be empowered to finish faster - but imagine if Metrolink had even CAHSR's powers?
November 5, 2025 at 12:37 AM
New Mineta Institute report on CA High-Speed Rail explains that CAHSR was given certain "superpowers", but lack of special powers on eminent domain or 3rd party permits slow the project. CAHSR needs to be empowered to finish faster - but imagine if Metrolink had even CAHSR's powers?
Zero-emissions rail isn't new. We need to electrify the nation's freight rail network, and replace the dirtiest engines with cleaner ones while we build out the wires.
October 28, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Zero-emissions rail isn't new. We need to electrify the nation's freight rail network, and replace the dirtiest engines with cleaner ones while we build out the wires.
Not only is 3% of CA's transportation budget for transit agencies, the vast majority of that huge Caltrans budget supports highway projects - while rail gets the scraps. We need a #JustTransitionForCaltrans that shifts those workers into delivering green rail projects quickly and cost effectively.
October 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Not only is 3% of CA's transportation budget for transit agencies, the vast majority of that huge Caltrans budget supports highway projects - while rail gets the scraps. We need a #JustTransitionForCaltrans that shifts those workers into delivering green rail projects quickly and cost effectively.
The amount budgeted for *all* transit, not just regional rail - is far less than we need to complete the State Rail Plan on time. And starting soon, all of it will be awarded as competitive grants that cause years of delay. CA urgently needs to fix funding to meet climate goals.
October 23, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The amount budgeted for *all* transit, not just regional rail - is far less than we need to complete the State Rail Plan on time. And starting soon, all of it will be awarded as competitive grants that cause years of delay. CA urgently needs to fix funding to meet climate goals.
At a recent NCTD board meeting, Caltrans staff presented on their decision-making process for running costly-to-operate, unproven hydrogen trains on the US's 2nd busiest rail corridor. Notably absent from consideration? Current and planned service. lfportal.nctd.org/weblink/0/ed...
October 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
At a recent NCTD board meeting, Caltrans staff presented on their decision-making process for running costly-to-operate, unproven hydrogen trains on the US's 2nd busiest rail corridor. Notably absent from consideration? Current and planned service. lfportal.nctd.org/weblink/0/ed...
Funding delay added *3 years* to the timeline of the SMART extension to Windsor. 3 extra years of extra driving and greenhouse gas emissions. We need to end patchwork funding and fully fund the State Rail Plan if we want a modern rail network on the timescales demanded by climate change.
October 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Funding delay added *3 years* to the timeline of the SMART extension to Windsor. 3 extra years of extra driving and greenhouse gas emissions. We need to end patchwork funding and fully fund the State Rail Plan if we want a modern rail network on the timescales demanded by climate change.
LinkUS would transform Southern California regional rail, offering completely new service patterns, including better connections to high-speed rail - but we hear little from agencies about its benefits.
October 16, 2025 at 8:10 PM
LinkUS would transform Southern California regional rail, offering completely new service patterns, including better connections to high-speed rail - but we hear little from agencies about its benefits.
Electrifying the Coaster would make an Oceanside-San Diego trip 45 minutes, competitive with driving cutting 25% off the travel time. But LOSSAN and CalSTA want to run slow, unreliable hydrogen trains instead! calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
October 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Electrifying the Coaster would make an Oceanside-San Diego trip 45 minutes, competitive with driving cutting 25% off the travel time. But LOSSAN and CalSTA want to run slow, unreliable hydrogen trains instead! calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
October 7, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Happy #CleanAirDay! The Inland Empire has the US's dirtiest air, and LA is not far behind. The top source of ozone precursors is cars and trucks. Let's get dirty cars and trucks off the road by electrifying freight and passenger rail!
October 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Happy #CleanAirDay! The Inland Empire has the US's dirtiest air, and LA is not far behind. The top source of ozone precursors is cars and trucks. Let's get dirty cars and trucks off the road by electrifying freight and passenger rail!
Celebrating the #WeekWithoutDriving? Don't leave out regional rail! Ride Metrolink, Capitol Corridor, ACE, Coaster, SMART or Caltrain for those >10 mile trips that make up the lion's share of VMT. If we want people to give up their cars, we need fast, frequent ELECTRIC regional rail.
October 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Celebrating the #WeekWithoutDriving? Don't leave out regional rail! Ride Metrolink, Capitol Corridor, ACE, Coaster, SMART or Caltrain for those >10 mile trips that make up the lion's share of VMT. If we want people to give up their cars, we need fast, frequent ELECTRIC regional rail.
We wrote about how these reforms would impact the SMART extension to Healdsburg. The state is paying for 73% of the project, but cost escalations due to early commitments are dragging out the project. SB 125 can fix this! calelectricrail.org/how-the-sb-1...
September 23, 2025 at 11:32 PM
We wrote about how these reforms would impact the SMART extension to Healdsburg. The state is paying for 73% of the project, but cost escalations due to early commitments are dragging out the project. SB 125 can fix this! calelectricrail.org/how-the-sb-1...
11 years ago, RailPac put forth a similar Electrolink proposal. Metrolink dismissed it with the same arguments they're still using now. In that time, Caltrain electrified, while Metrolink has made only modest improvements. But a lot has changed since 2014. Will Metrolink change their tune this time?
September 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
11 years ago, RailPac put forth a similar Electrolink proposal. Metrolink dismissed it with the same arguments they're still using now. In that time, Caltrain electrified, while Metrolink has made only modest improvements. But a lot has changed since 2014. Will Metrolink change their tune this time?
Southern California rail ROW ownership is fractured, with each county owning the ROW in its borders. Any improvements to service proceed at the pace of the least interested county. Caltrain has unified ROW ownership under its 3 county governance structure, which helped deliver electrification.
September 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Southern California rail ROW ownership is fractured, with each county owning the ROW in its borders. Any improvements to service proceed at the pace of the least interested county. Caltrain has unified ROW ownership under its 3 county governance structure, which helped deliver electrification.
Together, these interventions can make regional rail competitive with driving. The Antelope Valley Line under Electrolink becomes an appealing option for people traveling between DTLA and Santa Clarita/Lancaster midday, evenings and weekends. The San Bernardino Line cuts 1/3 of its current time.
September 15, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Together, these interventions can make regional rail competitive with driving. The Antelope Valley Line under Electrolink becomes an appealing option for people traveling between DTLA and Santa Clarita/Lancaster midday, evenings and weekends. The San Bernardino Line cuts 1/3 of its current time.
New service with through-running includes Metrolink's proposed Tripper service from the San Fernando Valley to Laguna Niguel, which would be faster than driving under Electrolink, and single-seat service from Santa Clarita to San Diego, just a short bus ride away from HSR in the Central Valley.
September 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
New service with through-running includes Metrolink's proposed Tripper service from the San Fernando Valley to Laguna Niguel, which would be faster than driving under Electrolink, and single-seat service from Santa Clarita to San Diego, just a short bus ride away from HSR in the Central Valley.
Electrification can reduce trip times up to 20% by improving acceleration and speeds.
Level boarding can reduce dwell times and potential for delay at stations.
Through running unlocks services across downtown cores connecting seemingly disparate parts of the region.
Level boarding can reduce dwell times and potential for delay at stations.
Through running unlocks services across downtown cores connecting seemingly disparate parts of the region.
September 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Electrification can reduce trip times up to 20% by improving acceleration and speeds.
Level boarding can reduce dwell times and potential for delay at stations.
Through running unlocks services across downtown cores connecting seemingly disparate parts of the region.
Level boarding can reduce dwell times and potential for delay at stations.
Through running unlocks services across downtown cores connecting seemingly disparate parts of the region.
Today, CER launches our paper “ElectroLink: Modern Passenger Rail Service for Southern California.”
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
September 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Today, CER launches our paper “ElectroLink: Modern Passenger Rail Service for Southern California.”
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
CalSTA plans to run hydrogen trains on portions of LOSSAN/Metrolink that must be electrified for high-speed rail and are ID'd as such in the State Rail Plan.
If Metrolink had a plan to electrify, we could have avoided this. #ElectrifyMetrolink
If Metrolink had a plan to electrify, we could have avoided this. #ElectrifyMetrolink
September 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
CalSTA plans to run hydrogen trains on portions of LOSSAN/Metrolink that must be electrified for high-speed rail and are ID'd as such in the State Rail Plan.
If Metrolink had a plan to electrify, we could have avoided this. #ElectrifyMetrolink
If Metrolink had a plan to electrify, we could have avoided this. #ElectrifyMetrolink
This is the type of totally new service LinkUS would unlock. It benefits Stern's constituents, is located in LA county, and has nearly $1B in missing funding, yet it's been absent from LA's funding demands. The proposed cuts to regional rail funding could put it further in jeopardy.
September 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
This is the type of totally new service LinkUS would unlock. It benefits Stern's constituents, is located in LA county, and has nearly $1B in missing funding, yet it's been absent from LA's funding demands. The proposed cuts to regional rail funding could put it further in jeopardy.
Disappointing comments from Stern here. LinkUS will directly help Stern's district long before HSR arrives, by allowing run-through Metrolink service linking the Valley to Orange County's jobs and beaches - but apparently Stern didn't bother to learn anything about the projects he's cutting.
September 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Disappointing comments from Stern here. LinkUS will directly help Stern's district long before HSR arrives, by allowing run-through Metrolink service linking the Valley to Orange County's jobs and beaches - but apparently Stern didn't bother to learn anything about the projects he's cutting.
Senator Stern, who has leading LA's Cap and Trade demands, gets into his motivations in this piece. His priorities: bailing out street improvements impacted by LA's budget cuts, and zero-emissions buses. Neither improve service nor advance high-speed rail.
www.planningreport.com/2025/08/28/s...
www.planningreport.com/2025/08/28/s...
August 30, 2025 at 5:42 AM
Senator Stern, who has leading LA's Cap and Trade demands, gets into his motivations in this piece. His priorities: bailing out street improvements impacted by LA's budget cuts, and zero-emissions buses. Neither improve service nor advance high-speed rail.
www.planningreport.com/2025/08/28/s...
www.planningreport.com/2025/08/28/s...
At the latest Transit Transformation Task Force, Metro representatives expressed concerns about recommendations for increased state oversight over cost escalations. Seemingly, they would prefer to seek bailouts for over-budget projects rather than get costs under control.
August 30, 2025 at 12:20 AM
At the latest Transit Transformation Task Force, Metro representatives expressed concerns about recommendations for increased state oversight over cost escalations. Seemingly, they would prefer to seek bailouts for over-budget projects rather than get costs under control.
A one-time $3.3B would electrify 75% of Metrolink at Caltrain costs. SCORE and LinkUS have big funding gaps. But the LA delegation's proposed capital $ would mostly go to local improvements that are vaguely defined or don’t improve service - like ZE buses and grade separations.
August 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
A one-time $3.3B would electrify 75% of Metrolink at Caltrain costs. SCORE and LinkUS have big funding gaps. But the LA delegation's proposed capital $ would mostly go to local improvements that are vaguely defined or don’t improve service - like ZE buses and grade separations.