A Ride on CalTrain's Evolving Peninsula Corridor! CalTrain L5 from Millbrae to San Jose | CalTrain

Hello! Welcome to Millbrae station on the south west side of San Francisco international airport! Today we are going to be taking a ride on CalTrain’s Limited 5 service from here to San Jose Diridon in the heart of San Jose.
Check out the previous video where I checked out the Incredible Moynihan Train hall and rode on the LIRR to Jamaica, and on to JFK : • The Incredible Moyniha...
--- Train Information ---
Train Number: CalTrain L5 #512
Locomotive: EMD F40PH-2-CAT #900 "San Francisco"
Consist: Five Nippon Sharyo Gallery Cars
Departure Time: 1:34pm
Arrival Time: 2:28pm
Journey Time: 54min
Top Speed: 80 mph
Ticket Price: $8.25
I also recommend checking out the main channel, where I post more rail and aviation videos.
Thanks for watching and I hope you enjoyed!
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Equipment Used:
Camera: iPhone 12 Pro Max
Camera: GoPro Hero 9 Black
Camera: Sony AX-43
Mic: Rode Videomic Pro+
Tripod: Coman DF06 + Manfrotto 502 Head

[@TohaBgood2]

Can't wait to ride those beautiful Stadler Kisses! Caltrain made the correct choice with those!

[@LonestarTrips]

Me too! They look incredible, and I can't wait to see them out on the rails!

[@jimstraveladventures3961]

The engine on your train is a F40PH-2CAT. The main engine is an EMD 645 with a seperate Catipiller engine for HEP.

[@LonestarTrips]

Oh, is that the case? In my research I read that the main engine was swapped from an EMD to a Caterpillar engine. Makes sense though.

[@AlexCab_49]

I rode on Caltrain when I was in the Bay Área December and while I'm not a huge fan of the gallery cars or the seats, Caltrain is by far the most successful regional/commuter rail system on the west coast. With 68,000 riders on a weekday and about 800 passengers per mile in a system that's only 77 miles and composed of one line connecting San Francisco, San Jose, Gilroy and other stops in between them!

[@himbourbanist]

and now that it's electrifying / getting the new Stadler EMUs? Only going to improve the system and increase demand for ridership with the newer, more modern hardware and infrastructure. Huge step in the right direction.

[@winsomesmith5412]

THAT IS WHAT THE METRA TRAIN LOOKS LIKE!

[@himbourbanist]

lmao I thought the exact same thing! Idk a lot about Caltrain but I do wonder if some of those weird bilevel cars are hand me downs from Metra; wouldn't rule it out

[@MagicalBread]

The new trains are beautiful. Just wish the whole project wasn’t delayed. If I remember correctly, the original completion date was fall 2022 but the pandemic delayed it til 2024.

[@gb9727]

I hope the stadler trains are a sign of things to come for American commuter rails

[@jessicaburdell7779]

Caltrain: Literally the one and only road, other than VIA and Metra, that still rosters and gives love to the classic F40PH of yesteryear

[@LonestarTrips]

Unfortunately the time of the F40 will be coming to an end in September as CalTrain launches electric service on the corridor.

[@acde9355]

Have driven this model of train sets in TSW2 many times. Even the cabin configuration is not the most practical one, but I have to say they are amusing and exciting to play with.

[@MacMyKitty]

I wish we had access through Dumbarton bridge to to the east bay, Facebook wants to help build that lane, I hope one day we have access to Stockton one day as well.

[@kennethmccann6402]

After Tanman station is owned Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Caltrain is leasing track per mile to UP between Tanman station to Gilroy. It's up to Union Pacific property to have electrify but they'll charge Calrrain more leasing by using their electricity too.

[@gb9727]

More commuter rails should get Stadler kisses (Especially MBTA)

[@LMB222]

7:10 electrification in process!

[@justahillbilly7777]

1) Today I learned that CalTrain named their F40’s. 2) I said it on a video on the official CalTrain TubeYou channel, I’ll say it here. From Southern Pacific steamers and Harriman coaches to Stadler KISS EMU’s, the Peninsula Commute has come a long way. 3) Whilst it wasn’t really talked about in this video, apparently the Peninsula Corridor is planned to play host to both CalTrain AND CAHSR trains, but with only two tracks at multiple points along the line, there’s gonna be capacity issues from the start. Quadruple tracking, as much as the NIMBY’s might hate it, will help prevent those problems, if not outright solve them before they appear. 4) EMD fans are gonna have a blast when those AEM-7’s hit the rails for testing.

[@TohaBgood2]

The capacity requirements were carefully modeled and studied. There won't be any capacity issues when CAHSR starts running. In fact, Caltrain is running "baby bullets" that mimic the running pattern of some planned CAHSR services and they do fine. What will be an issue is future capacity increases. That will likely require more passing tracks and more run-through stations than are currently built. But all of that is known and in some case already coming. Some of these efforts were successfully shot down by the notorious Bay Area NIMBYs, but it will eventually be dealt with.

[@KcarlMarXs]

Interesting thoughts @toha, and I guess it's most important to get the hsr built and then deal with these problems once success is beyond question

[@barbarakilpatrick3859]

⭐️Trader Joe.

[@emvvehicles_8]

I can honestly see the gallery cars getting a rehab and being sent to Chicago’s CTA to replace their aging cars that still date back to the 1950’s.

[@LonestarTrips]

Are you referring to Metra? Because I’m not so sure that Metra will be taking them, as they recently signed an contract with Alstom to replace their fleet of gallery cars with Coradia Multilevel cars. It’s possible they’ll take them in the interim between now and delivery of the new cars, but who knows.

[@commodoresbank]

(Reposting due to some heated replies) I can see why you rounded the speed to the nearest number, I personally like it exactly how it is supposed to be for speed stats at 79 MPH, not 80, but that’s okay. I will say be careful, because confusing it for 80 would sound like its dedicated for commuter trains while in actuality theres freight blended on the line. Nevertheless your review was done alright.

[@kennethmccann6402]

Gallery cars is okay for me for years and years and many years as I rode on. Next time try Bomberliner car is twice nicer! Bomberliners has more red on exterior side then you'll know which is the one. Cheers.

[@TheFarmanimalfriend]

Back in 1978, a friend and I took the train from San Mateo to San Francisco. We chose a smoking car for the ride north. Try to imagine being an ashtray on wheels. We did not repeat that mistake for the ride south. 😥😡😙

[@Aqua_108]

i back to MAURITIUS 🇲🇺 visit all metro express and return to carlifornia USA 🇺🇸

[@himbourbanist]

thank goodness this line is getting electrified. The Stadler EMUs are going to be a perfect fit to get rid of those weird bilevel Metra-style cars. It's cool to see a system electrify in 21st Century.

[@barbarakilpatrick3859]

Walt Disney World is BART limited five service.

[@commodoresbank]

8:38 Facts that need to be fixed. Caltrain operates at speed of 79 MPH on the entire Peninsula Corridor. That goes to every Limited and Baby Bullet train. The new Stadler KISS EMUs will only be able to run 79 MPH when they debut in 2024 and until blended service with the up and coming CaHSR, they will engage running speeds at 110 MPH and not 125 MPH since many grade crossings still exist in the corridor. Future grade separation of the entire line would help substitute higher speeds.

[@LonestarTrips]

The facts aren't incorrect per se, but rather I worded them in a weird way. I did state that the entire Peninsula Corridor operates at a top speed of 80mph, which, if you want to get picky, isn't _technically_ correct, as the top speed is 79, but I stuck with 80, as it's closer to a standard across most commuter systems in the US. As for the new EMUs, I made a general statement about their potential top speed of 100-125 mph, as is the general specification from Stadler. I then went on to say that hopefully they will reach that margin, which they will, once CaHSR service begins.

[@tankman_tv9332]

Another thing; the engine is NOT a Caterpillar V16, That is only a separate engine to power the lighting, air conditioning, etc. The engine is an EMD 16-645 prime mover. Edit: Looks like someone already beat me to it

[@nascarspankin2128]

So new electric trains wont run until 2024? And they will only reach 110mph when or where the crossings are raised to not impede traffic?

[@commodoresbank]

@@nascarspankin2128 all what I am aware is the new EMU’s won’t run until 2024. Testing is scheduled this summer since the line is about to be energized. Speeds on the line for the next few years will be at 79 MPH. In 2029 when the blended service with CaHSR begins, that’s where we could see 110 MPH.

[@nascarspankin2128]

@@commodoresbank ok thanks for reply

[@rhntx]

Evolving btw.

[@aaronmiller5012]

What of the Gilroy route?

[@LonestarTrips]

I just mentioned it at the end of the video to remind people that San Jose is not technically the final terminus of CalTrain, even though the majority of trains end their routes here.

[@aaronmiller5012]

@@LonestarTrips I’m just making sure and once the main corridor is full electric Gilroy will remain diesel passenger service as what I know for now.

[@TohaBgood2]

@@aaronmiller5012 That's still the plan. Basically a few trains will continue to be diesel to service that section from Tamien to Gilroy until it's also upgraded electrified by CHSR.

[@aaronmiller5012]

@@TohaBgood2 Gilroy route tracks after Tamien is owned by UP!!! So yeah, Caltrain will still operate diesel trains to Gilroy even though the main corridor is full electric.

[@arniegreenberg2719]

Will Gilroy have CalTrain service after electrification of SJ to SFO?

[@AlexCab_49]

Yes but it will still be diesel :(

[@justinbourget1560]

@@AlexCab_49 you sur? Caltrain ordered aem locomotive :)

[@AlexCab_49]

@@justinbourget1560 for Gilroy and San Jose section?

[@justinbourget1560]

@@AlexCab_49 i don’t know but there I learn for now :)

[@TohaBgood2]

For now they are sticking to diesel for the Tamien to Gilroy sections. CAHSR will finish the upgrade and electrify all the way to Gilroy eventually though.

[@olafgogmo5426]

That gallery design is ridiculous.

[@winsomesmith5412]

WHY IS THE ENGINE CALLED CATTEPILLAR

[@Schola718]

No different than VRE coach cars, bathrooms are slightly different and VRE takes care of their equipment.

[@samtrak1204]

I agree, Millbrae Station is nasty. I expect way better in rail-friendly California.

[@TohaBgood2]

I assure you we do too! Unfortunately, this whole station and SFO extension project was not managed very well, and you can see the results. They really let a bunch on NUMBYs wreck the whole thing. That being said, at least the area around the station is now becoming a lot nicer. A real town center is developing around the station. Hopefully, they can keep going and eventually return to redo the station as well, or at least make it more livable.

[@gdrriley420]

Millbrae is a real mess of a station as is the whole BART extension to SFO. It was one politicians dream and they made it the worse way possible. F40 are powered by an EMD645 not a Cat engine. Caltrain has all 3 head end power options, Factory was a gear drive off the main engine so the engine had to run a fixed RPM. rebuilt ones feature a Cat or Cummins generator. 5 gear driven 15 CAT 3 Cummins The KISS are built for 110mph top speed and should run at that when CAHSR starts. Until then they will be capped to 80mph

[@PDXLibertarian]

I called it the suicide express. I think in 3 out of 4 trips I ever took on that train, I would be delayed hours due to a suicide. It was just plain unreliable.

[@trainrover]

what compels you into corporateered, PR'ish production, pray tell...?

[@LonestarTrips]

I am very passionate about transit across the US, and I do my best to make professional and entertaining videos so that others may see what each system has to offer. All of the opinions expressed in the video are my own. This channel is not nearly big enough for companies to even consider reaching out to me about partnerships, let alone paid videos.

[@trainrover]

I see no need to match passion with some obligatory sense of professionalism, such that priorities get muddled...thank you for replying though; I just wish folks'd revert to output from the heart

[@LonestarTrips]

@@trainrover I see no problem with making professional videos? My priorities are to make entertaining and professional videos, so I don’t see how they would get muddled.

[@trainrover]

...and leave passion by the wayside oh well

[@LonestarTrips]

@@trainrover How am I leaving passion by the wayside?

[@stevenjohnson6532]

KISS trains not until 2024.................PATHETIC.

[@MagicalBread]

Blame the pandemic and usual American construction delays for that one.