CALTRAIN REVIEW! Last round for the diesel train before the electrification

Howdy folks,
A frequently asked review, here's Caltrain! Welcome to this trip report onboard Caltrain service between San Francisco and San Jose in California !
Enjoy :)
- TRIP INFORMATION -
RECORDED IN JUNE 2021
Railroad company: Caltrain
Train type : F40PH #909 and Gallery coaches
From : San Francisco at 4th & King station to San José Diridon
Time : 1h22
Price : $14,45 - 11,86€
- PATREON PAGE : / simply_railway
- INSTAGRAM - / simply_railway
- TWITTER - simply_railway?la...
- TIKTOK - / simplyrailway
- SIMPLY RAILWAY PRODUCTS : teespring.com/stores/simply-r...
Massive thanks to my following Patreon for their help :
Claudio Bickel ; Iwan Di Tullio ; Martin Haynes ; Cyril ; Laurent Gilson ; Louis Haywood ; D Austin Horowitz ; Thomas Alfred Roell ; Jos Bowmaster ; Captain Ginyu ; Beni Heiniger ; Andreas Konrad ; Greg Wenzler ; Christopher Style ; Dick DeBartolo ; Brian Sikorski ; Guillermo Franco ; Sandeep Ayyappan ; Nicholas Torres ; Peter N ; Claire Nat ; Killua , Nick Reed , Randy Dean ; Philippe Branco ; Erorus ; Tom Van Baren ; Ian Earle ; Robin Roemisch ; Hannah Slovek ; Michael Romero ; Fin Ross Russell ; Vel ; Benny AndTheJets ; Ciana Dassonville ; James Pickup ; Frederic R Merchant , Jeremiah Pettus ; Liz Wallace ; Roy Hunte ; Peter Sandri ; Robyn Jackson ; Jeanette ; William George ; Alessandro Anfuso ; John Michael Dornoff ; Trevor Key ; David Nayer; Fabricio ; John Christopherson ; Frank Schmidt ; RJ Avnet ; Linda Vainomae-Hoffmann
- EQUIPEMENT - Iphone 12 Pro and Dji Mobile Go 2

[@HSMiyamoto]

This is the oldest train track in California, and in fact, part of the first transcontinental railway. 90 years under steam, nearly 70 behind diesel and now electricity! Most people don't realize how many different locos have pulled a "Commute."

[@TohaBgood2]

Hang on! Didn’t the railroads get to Oakland first? Or were all of those older right of ways paved over?

[@pacificostudios]

@@TohaBgood2 - The Central Pacific actually built east out of Sacramento, not Oakland, to reach Utah. California had a railroad network before the Pacific Railroad Act was passed, and the justly named "San Francisco & San Jose R.R.", was completed between 1860 and 1864.

[@TheRicsilver48]

Also, this was never part of the transcontinental rail system

[@jg-7780]

If you travel on Amtrak to SF, you can also get off at Richmond and take BART into downtown, for a train only trip into SF.

[@marvwatkins7029]

That includes bus to SF.

[@jg-7780]

@@marvwatkins7029 No it doesn't, BART is a train, and the transfer at Richmond requires no buses.

[@NozomuYume]

@@marvwatkins7029 No bus needed since you're taking BART. If you're coming from the east, Richmond is an excellent place to transfer to BART. Not only can it take you to SF, but it can take you to many destinations throughout the bay area quickly!

[@NozomuYume]

One caveat, all Amtrak trains *EXCEPT* the Coast Starlight stop at Richmond. The reason the Coast Starlight does not stop there is because it arrives late in the evening, and if it is delayed there is the potential for people to be dropped off after the last BART train leaves, stranding them in the not-very-nice area that the station is in. Thus, they decided to axe the Richmond stop on the CS. All other Amtrak trains (including the California Zephyr) still stop there.

[@NozomuYume]

@Dante McKimmey Inside the BART faregates it isn't too bad. There's only one set of escalators and faregates so it acts as kind of a choke point. Criminals like to hit at stations where they have options to run. Coliseum and Fruitvale stations rank way, WAY higher in crime. Richmond station doesn't even rank in the top 10. Generally if I have to wait at Richmond BART at night for Amtrak, I wait inside the paid BART area. The problem with Richmond BART is more the area outside the station where it gets very sketchy very fast. A good general rule is to never walk around that area at night, and never ever miss the last train out of there.

[@skipton9511]

Sadly, direct rail into San Francisco from the north ended in 1962 when the rail deck of the Oakland Bay Bridge was reconfigured for automobile traffic. Another case where rail service being sacrificed to make way for the automobile. Another great video!

[@tompao7832]

Key System ran the last train on the Bay Bridge 1958, not 1962. Only interurban and suburban trains operated on these tracks, no long distance trains.

[@shanewalters2565]

Boy, it makes me pissed to see something like this happen thanks to dumb people that want a road vehicle that has more accidents than planes and trains combined alongside congestion and pollution

[@Neville60001]

@@shanewalters2565, the people of the past had their priorities and likes/choices, you have yours. May you find your way as pleasant _without_ blasting theirs.

[@samuelitooooo]

@@Neville60001 Ohh, this is much more than just pleasant nice things.

[@ProvingBeatle16]

@@shanewalters2565 I'm sure the rails could return on the tracks one day. The San Francisco Bay Area is really into transit so we could see a movement to bring back rail on the bay bridge.

[@OriginalMinifig]

Ah memories. Used to take this train from 22nd street to Milbrae every day, then bike over to the airport where I worked. I now live in Norway but drive this train on sim every now and then for some nostalgia❤️

[@Kaizoku_Zoro]

San Jose to gilroy will use Baby bullets, Bi level coaches, an F40PH-2Cs. F40PH-2CATs and F40PH-2s will retire

[@trevorderper5050]

@@Kaizoku_Zoro f40ph-2c's will actually stay because they are 13 years younger and were recently rebuilt.

[@Kaizoku_Zoro]

@@trevorderper5050 I said f40ph-2c's will be used San Jose to Gilroy. F40PH-2CATs and F40PH-2s will retire.

[@trevorderper5050]

@@Kaizoku_Zoro well that is what I mean they will stay but are demoted.

[@EpicThe112]

you mean Train Sim World Caltrain

[@edisonz2006]

Still need to wait another 3 years until the KISS's are in service!😭

[@Noodle_Train]

Enjoy the Nathan P2 horn, mechanical train bells, and powerful Diesel engine while we still can

[@user-uw7to9um9r]

No thier coming like next year 2022

[@Noodle_Train]

@@user-uw7to9um9r that’s when the first one will be in delivered. They still have to test it and then add it to service. The whole set of emus won’t all be in service for a couple of years

[@bahnspotterEU]

ジュィッサ KISS service has been delayed to 2024 due to supply chain issues.

[@Spaceshotx7]

@@bahnspotterEU I can't believe the line will be electrified in 2022, but won't be running on the track until almost 2025? That is ridiculous. Why do construction projects have to take so long? What do they even accomplish each day, or each week? Also, why can't the MBTA consider buying some of these electric trains as well for its commuter rail service? If not the Caltrain version because the trains are too tall, and the cab cars too long, then the MBTA should buy a modified version of the Stadler Kiss that would fit the existing Commuter Rail, and would also be useable on the NEC?

[@LisaMarli]

Diridon, that is My Home Station. Glad to see you in my neck of the woods. I prefer taking CalTrain when possible. The cars are old, but still work. But I admit I'll be glad when electrification is completed and we get the new cars. Have fun in California. And yes, I do hope we can get high speed rail to Los Angeles. But I'm not holding my breath. The auto and airline industry want to kill rail in America. Which is so environmentally stupid.

[@Neville60001]

How the almighty frak do you (truly) know that they do?

[@pepsdeps]

I've always wanted to make the train trip from LA to SF but it is just too long. High speed rail will be really good if it doesn't get axed by legislators before it is completed. Here's to hoping for America's rail revival.

[@Neville60001]

@@pepsdeps, HRS between SF and L.A. _might_ never happen because of said length (but If HSR cuts down the time between SF and L.A. down to, say, three hours from however it is that's too long, it will work.) What _won't_ work about it, however is if such a trip on a HSR train between both cities is still ten hours long, something that was brought up to me a detractor against HSR in North America who mentioned how a New York-L.A. train would still take ten hours to do, even if the train's a bullet train.

[@pepsdeps]

@@Neville60001 that's true but for example the SF to LA HSR would be about 500 km long, about the same distance from Tokyo to Osaka, and that trip is about 2 and a half hours long on really mountainous terrain with 5 stops. The SF to LA is on flatter terrain and would have less stops, so it could possibly take 2.5 hours as well, making the connection much easier. The main issue right now is legislators trying to kill the prpject and making it unviable by ordering the construction of the middle empty part first and then expecting that section to be profitable. It doesn't make sense if it doesn't include SF and LA, but they expect it to work like that first instead of actually making it happen

[@Neville60001]

@@pepsdeps _The main issue right now is legislators trying to kill the project and making it nonviable by ordering the construction of the middle empty part first and then expecting that section to be profitable. It doesn't make sense if it doesn't include SF and LA, but they expect it to work like that first instead of actually making it happen_ That's stupid planning, but what does one expect from out of touch retrogressive neocon politicians like the people mentioned.

[@delurkor]

For those who don't know: If you ride from San Jose to S.F. and go the the cab car, you have a "cab ride view". There are several videos showing the whole ride. Will not work on the GO cars because of the shape. Of the two AEM-7s, one is for testing the other is for parts, or so I have heard. Two of the Harriman coaches that ran into the Eights are at the Western Railroad Museum in Solano county. Now open weekends and Thursdays(shameless plug). Agree on the Smart Train ride in Marin. Also try a BART train ride plus the E-BART extension. Clipper card works both, I think.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

It won't work on the Bombardiers as the cab is the whole front of the car, instead of on an upper level for the Gallery Cars

[@mr.bl0ckm4nn]

I don't mind the gallery cars I guess since I grew up with them on Metra, they are older, but are one of the few styles remaining from when rail was king

[@Spaceshotx7]

Why can't Metra electrify the rest of the lines, and buy EMUs? Why are they still using diesal powered locomotives?

[@mr.bl0ckm4nn]

@@Spaceshotx7 Money.... they are completely underfunded

[@liambrady8014]

@@Spaceshotx7 metra doesn’t own the tracks to all there lines,

[@Spaceshotx7]

@@liambrady8014 So those freight operators like Union Pacific won't allow electrification on their lines?

[@renegadetenor]

Yeah, and its a little hard to imagine E units pulling the new cars.

[@OnkelPHMagee]

Your spoken narration at the start and finish is an excellent addition.

[@johnmcqueen4883]

My feelings exactly.

[@EllieMaes-Grandad]

Better if he spoke clearly and kept his eyes forward . . .

[@KarlKornel]

The two Caltrain staff at the entrance to the platform (on the San Francisco end) are there to check tickets. If they did not check yours, it was probably because they heard the "BEEP" of the Clipper card reader (it makes a different sound when there is a problem, or when you are "tagging off" at the end of a trip). There are often ticket inspections done during the trip. The staff doing the checks have a handheld reader (you can see one at 2:55) that can read a Clipper card and quickly display a "OK" or "NOT OK" message & sound. I'm guessing they did not check yours during the trip. That is either because inspections have been reduced during COVID, or because your early-morning service was rarely one that people take without paying.

[@lindavainomae3489]

I am not a fan of the gallery car either - but if you grew up with them they would have a place in your heart. Stadler seems to be taking over the regional rail market everywhere! The shot of the 3 locos at thh start - would be best screen saver ever :)

[@paulw.woodring7304]

On Amtrak, the crews call "ticket control" the "ticket lift". Sounds like in a few years a whole bunch of older commuter equipment will come onto the used market, so maybe another community can get it's feet wet in the commuter rail game. That's how many of them started, like MARC and VRE, with other authority's cast-off equipment. VRE leased a Seattle "Sounder" train set for awhile in the late '90s/early '00s before they bought their bi-level cars. Also, always great to see AND hear the old EMD "screamers" in full operation. I never thought I'd miss the F40s on Amtrak, but I do. Hopefully the test electric AEM7s will end up in someone's museum after CalTrain is done with them. The "meatballs" are looking a little toasty.

[@snoopyloopy]

agreed, maybe we can put one in the state rail museum in sacramento and send the other one to the socal railway museum in perris where they might be able to actually operate it.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@snoopyloopy Outside of being used for the electrification tests, AEM7s really don't have much significance in California. I was thinking that whatever usable parts are left get made into one decent display unit to go back east somewhere. There were far, far more GG1s saved than these, so getting one for museum display in the Northeast is going to be a rare thing. I have NO hope of one ever actually being used as an operating example.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Check out IRM

[@Neville60001]

@Paul, why would _anybody_ in their right mind want any old diesel multiple unit trains? The goal should be to go _completely_ towards electrification, as Caltrain is doing.

[@paulw.woodring7304]

@@Neville60001 Politically, you have to prove the practicality of the concept to your local politicos on the cheap first. Many (especially Republican/Libertarian anti-taxing and spending ideologues) are going to be hesitant, if not outright hostile, to spending large sums of tax money for a "new" service, so buying used equipment to get started as economically as possible can be the difference between starting and not ever getting service.

[@rodrigoalvesdepaula5262]

A thing I like on US commuter rail is almost all stations have park and ride lots.

[@osasunaitor]

Everything has parking lots in the US. Even pharmacies. It's insane

[@Brettski_1234]

Same in Australia, many stations especially in outer suburbs have parking lots

[@ertio1297]

That's not good. The point of public transit is getting cars OFF the road.

[@joevalentine2048]

@@ertio1297 it does get cars off the road and into parking lots. The US is a very spread out country and people don’t live within walking distance to the train. Some stations have bike parking too and as you can see there is a place for bikes on the train.

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

@@ertio1297 If you can't get to a station, it won't take cars off the road

[@ZZGinger2789]

What a lovely video - no unnecessary music or talking.

[@Beargizmo3]

Thanks for this review! I watched this mainly because I grew up in the Bay Area. This Cal Train route passes right through towns I grew up in Belmont and San Carlos, and lived in later (Mountain View) I remember this route when steam locomotives were in use! My mother would put my brother and I on the train to SF where our dad would meet us for baseball games! I live on the East Coast now. Very nice report!

[@PCRC-tt2lz]

Since I'm not from the US, and I haven't boarded Caltrain, I can't have my own opinion about F40PH locomotives or the Gallery passenger coaches. However, what I CAN say, is that, if they are retired, maybe some can be preserved and put into display

[@Cal90208]

Pretty sure some of them are. The F40 is famous for its work with Amtrak. Not too sure about the gallery cars

[@samuelitooooo]

I can tell you that ten of a particular version of gallery car EMUs called Highliners are preserved!

[@lucasaccount573]

@@Cal90208 doesn’t the Illinois Railway Museum have some C&NW gallery car’s preserved? I know Exporail in Quebec has one old CP car preserved

[@Cal90208]

@@lucasaccount573 No idea

[@Trainlover1995]

In all likelihood, Caltrain’a F40s and gallery cars are destined for Chicago-based Metra.

[@dsop]

Thanks for reviewing Caltrain! I grew up along the route and really like taking it up to SF. Can't wait for it to get electrified!

[@BurpaTerp]

I think each of those gallery cars actually do have outlets near a few of the seats (maybe only a couple) but they are very difficult to locate. They are on the top level if I remember correctly and they may only be in certain layouts (e.g. accessible, bicycle, standard). I remember feeling like I won the lottery of I found a seat with an outlet during rush hour.

[@mrbreadcrumb]

14:03 nice doubleheader catch + 920

[@SeligsTrainsandTravels]

lol the gallery cars on caltrain do actually have a power outlet, about 4-5 seats from the doors on the upper level. you wouldn't know its there unless you knew where to look tho

[@stevenmontoya9950]

The Nippon Sharyo builders plate is also familiar for Los Angeles Metro Rail riders, as they built the P865 and P2020 for the Blue and Green Lines. Sadly both models now retired...

[@justagiraffe2868]

As far as short/medium distance trains in the US go, I’d be interested in seeing you review Brightline once they hopefully reopen later this year

[@bobmmann3917]

Another great trip report.I love your straightforward and honest opinion of rail travel. Great job.

[@scottyerkes1867]

Great video!! Love your spoken narration before and after!! Adds a personal touch👍👍😄😄

[@candacelubin3813]

Once again Simply Railway is technically and production wise probably the best rail recording on u-tube and i'm sure beyond. In particular the audio was spot on in sync with the image. When moving from one car to the you only got the change in ambient Sounds but the sounds made by door ( open, slide, close) perfect some other that I missed. And I was looking. In every Simply Railway is head head and shoulders anything else. Thank you again for your attention, to detail.

[@chesapeakerailphotography]

I was waiting for this video to come out! Awesome video!

[@justin10347]

Can't wait for Texas to get its own rail service from San Antonio to Dallas

[@peterjohnson1012]

Thanks for a great, informative video. The race near the end was fun, love to see that when riding!

[@RailfanTurner]

Terrific catches! Terrific video!

[@TheBeagle58]

Merci, great video of Caltrain. I haven't been back to San Fran since 2015. They really do take great care of the equipment. Nice to see the progress of electrification, nearing it's final stages. I am an EMU fan largely so this will be nice to come back and try.

[@ILoveTrains]

Spectacular Caltrain documentary, wow!

[@jasonpolaris]

Brings my memories back when I was staying Mountain View for a month 17 years ago.. time flies..

[@heartsforchristhomeschool9057]

May I just say that no one makes train videos like you!. I I seen your video first and when I watched others I am always disappointed and have come to appreciate the time and effort you put in making videos. You give great details about the train, your experience, with plenty of views of the scenery. Really, really good videos.

[@anteeklund4159]

Congratulations on 100k subscribers!

[@GildaLee27]

Hey, I love those gallery coaches! I used to take Caltrain regularly. Glad to hear they are electrifying the line.

[@IamTheHolypumpkin]

I like that I see a, lot of space next to the tracks. If someday California High-speed rail and Caltrain are at capacity, thry can add one or two additional tracks. And with the huge delays in HSR, the corridor will probably already be at capacity with caltrain only, by the time HSR is built

[@PrograError]

I think they could just stack the services, tho depending the signalling it might be the constraint... Tho I doubt they could run it on Japan time. (I mean with Japanese precision with Seconds in planning)

[@ShoresRailfan]

Great video. I always enjoy your analysis of the rail service you are riding on. I’m old enough to remember the Southern Pacific commuter service in the early 1950’s when they were still running steam locomotives. During the 1970’s I worked in San Francisco and road the SP commute service between SF and San Carlos.

[@iancypes5911]

There's talk of CalTrain and Bart (San Fran's metro) merging into a single transit agency. This would actually be perfect because their service patterns (after a BART expansion finishes construction) would create a perfect loop around San Francisco Bay

[@danielcarroll3358]

Not only that, there is talk of forming a Verkehrsverbund with the 29 different transit agencies in the Bay Area. Right now you can use a Clipper card on almost all of them, but the fare systems and timings are almost totally uncoordinated.

[@Neville60001]

Let's hope that happens, Ian.

[@trevorderper5050]

I am against the bart and caltrain merger mainly because of the crime ridden east bay and maybe crime ridden SF will increase the amount of crime into the peninsula.

[@Neville60001]

@@trevorderper5050, that's not a good (or great) enough reason to be against a merger of these agencies, and is just a ton of (neocon-inspired) racist nonsense.

[@Jon.Morimoto]

@@Neville60001 Trev did not mention race. You did. Everyone of every background deserves a society of peace and prosperity. So who's the real racist? You. I am a true progressive. You and your comrades are regressives.

[@RobertKrebill]

Great video as usual!

[@shanghai264359]

Great report. Thank you for posting. We have family in Mountain View (we're from Europe) and know the Caltrain line very well. Hopefully we can get back to the valley soon!

[@alexpaumen3937]

Oh my god. The mighty AEM-7s! I already know the soundtrack to expect from them. Those gorgeous 1980s K5LAs they have on them make some of the most beautiful sounds you’ll ever hear when they’re working correctly.

[@trevorderper5050]

and they welll restrict those k5la's

[@amtrakfandeangelo8276]

LOVE CALTRAIN THX FOR THE VIDEO

[@jasongoldie8133]

I'm from Palo Alto and used to ride the Caltrain all the time! 14:41 on the left is my high school

[@benjamintocchi7909]

I generally love railway equipment from the 1950s and 1960s, the designs, the fluted stainless steel....but I completely agree with you regarding the gallery cars, I have never found the exterior or the interior to be that appealing.

[@roderick.t]

You were in our neck of the woods! Safe travels! 👊🙌

[@MetraEmdF40PH]

As being a Metra and Caltrain fan, 10:58 is basically insult to injury lol

[@josephpak4277]

Exactly, I always have the urge to dislike the video because of that. (I did on his Metra video, since he did not have the full experience of Metra. He took absolutely the worst possible journey combo in that video. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️🙈🙄)

[@MetraEmdF40PH]

@@josephpak4277 yeah and he chose the worst station to ride it

[@CrazyDash9]

@@MetraEmdF40PH yeah the racetrack is one of the best Metra routes. So much action

[@MetraEmdF40PH]

@@CrazyDash9 indeed you get freight, Amtrak and metra

[@CrazyDash9]

@@MetraEmdF40PH and 150 daily trains combining all operators together

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video !!

[@TrekRoadbiker]

Good report Thibauld. Not sure why you don’t like the gallery car? I like to sit up there with the privacy of a single seat and good view since it is elevated. Enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@tankman_tv9332]

It looks pretty ugly, the upstairs is cramped, these cars can be rattly and are loud when moving at high speeds, the interior is…terrifying, the bathrooms are prison-like and the upstairs are cramped and claustrophobic yes im replying a year late

[@rickloduca394]

Nice to see you here in California! Will you now be riding a Capitol Corridor train to Sacramento? There you can board the California Zephyr to Chicago. The Capitol Corridor is Amtrak’s 4th or 5th busiest route in the US. You MUST visit the California State Railway Museum in Old Sacramento, next to the Amtrak station. It’s fully open now and awesome! And as you prolly know, Sacramento was the western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad which opened up the Country coast to coast. And, prior to rail, the Pony Express! Welcome to my home!!! And have a drink on the Delta King moored in Old Sac!

[@edisonz2006]

He has already done the Capitol Corridor and the California Zephyr. The video will be out soon!

[@utahrailfan1946]

He did the California Zephyr 2 weeks ago. I got to meet him on the train!

[@jeromekay2106]

Nice trip. Thanks.

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Awesome!!!

[@Ellary_Rosewood]

Ahhh, I used to take Caltrain ALL THE TIME. I wish there were more stops around the Bay Area, but perhaps in the future. This video brings back so many good memories. Also, the newer trains are much nicer and have power outlets, as well as tables so you can get some work done! It was always a treat when I was able to ride one of those instead of the older ones.

[@lyricof3003]

It's nice to see the F40PH CAT

[@FalconsEye58094]

about damn time! it will be a massive undertaking but well worth it

[@dangelohartley5977]

Speaking of Gallery cars from Nippon Sharyo, if you do come back to Chicago, you should check out the electric version of them on the Metra Electric District, you can find this line at Millennium Station. You should also check out the South Shore Line operated by NICTD, they also have the Gallery cars. but have more doors and they have single deck cars. They recently obtained some cars from Metra to be used for a upcoming branch on the South Shore Line. I know you don't like the Gallery cars but its only a suggestion. Also Metra has announced they're getting some new cars from Alstom Transportation Inc. they're expected to arrive in the next three years to replace the oldest cars dating back to 1953.

[@caltrain_acefoamer907]

The gallery cars were built somewhat in the mid 1980s, specifically 1985.

[@catshepherd3102]

Now you’re in my neighbourhood! I used to live a block from the line.

[@garywilson9640]

While you are here be sure to check out the new SMART train servicing the North Bay. The train is gorgeous. Plus there is a link in downtown SF to a Ferry across the Bay to Larkspur terminal where it terminates. I live about 8 miles north of the northern terminus at Sonoma County Airport. There are plans to extend to Windsor, Healdsburg (where I'm at), and terminate at Cloverdale.

[@Cal90208]

This was filmed two weeks ago, he’s no longer in the Bay Area

[@normbroel4633]

Nice video, especially racing that Amtrak train

[@mateojames3231]

I was on that train two days ago. You must have been lucky on those Nippon Sharyo Cars. I was heading to Palo Alto from S.F., and the car was so bumpy, especially at the end car of the tale.

[@traingalaxy]

awesome ❤

[@Noodle_Train]

Awesome! This is my favorite local commuter rail. You should also ride ACE (San Jose-Stockton) and Coaster (San Diego-Oceanside). Those are my other favorite commuters.

[@RR16V]

The KISS1 Trains runs her in Germany since 2012 with Rail Company ODEG. The Caltrain EMU´s are KISS3 Models.

[@pastequepapayee5434]

Viveeee la franceeeeeeee ! Très bonne video !

[@Strasburg_Railfaner611]

The good thing is they are still doing diesel service to gilroy but they recently ordered a battery electric EMU and if it goes successful then the full diesel fleet would be replaced

[@zamboldi]

Just rode it today!

[@kastandlee]

Many years ago, I commuted on Caltrain regularly between Mountain View and San Mateo, where Caltrain's administrative offices are located. I was one of Santa Clara County's (San Jose area) appointees to the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board's Citizens' Advisory Committee, back when the early versions of the Environmental Impact Statements for the electrification were grinding their way through the process. (Ironically, if I ever wanted to attend a Caltrain PCJPB meeting, I had to drive, as the shuttles that connected my office to the San Mateo station didn't run during the middle of the day when those meetings happened.) During my time on the CAC, we got a tour that included looking inside #915 _South San Francisco_ (the engine on the track next to the one from which you departed), and we also had some feedback on the refurbishment of the gallery coaches to the seats in which you rode. They showed us several types of seat, and we as a group agreed that they should get the firmer ones. That surprised the staff who assumed we would want softer seats. I said, "I assume you aren't going to do enough maintenance on these seats, so you need to start with firm ones so that as they age they will still hold up." They didn't like hearing that kind of cynicism. Those 40-year-old gallery coaches, as you noted, date back to the days when conductors had to pass through the train punching (and selling) paper tickets, which they would stick into holders above the lower level seats. True double-deck cars would have been much harder to manage, given the short trips. Nowadays, the entire system is "proof of payment" so they don't sell tickets on board and instead have random fare enforcement and a fine for not having a valid proof of payment. The 40-year-old coaches, however, soldier on. Your stop at Mountain View, where there is a connection to the Valley Transportation Authority light rail system, reminds me that when they were rebuilding that station during the time I lived in Mountain View, they removed an old siding that had been used to maintain maintenance-of-way equipment. My wife and I noted that the roll dates on some of those removed rails were 1896! I wish we had gotten a picture of it. I have since moved to Northern Nevada, where my home overlooks the tracks on which you traveled on the California Zephyr. I am glad that the Caltrain electrification is finally nearing completion. It's absurdly long overdue. Indeed, as I recall, when Harriman controlled the Southern Pacific in the early 20th century, one of the plans was to electrify the tracks and extend them to a station that would have been located under the Southern Pacific Headquarters building at 1 Market Street in San Francisco. What a wonder that would have been!

[@buz_iness]

yooo how beautiful is the design of the kiss

[@samuelitooooo]

I got a new fridge today with stainless steel doors and immediately thought of Thibault's reaction to America's obsession with stainless steel on their trains haha P.S. Liking the vlog-style intro!

[@natehill8069]

I keep nursing my Almond fridge in the hopes that by the time it truly fails, that color will have come back around and I dont have to get a fingerprint-magnet.

[@MrAronymous]

Not just the trains. Their new public spaces as well. Everything looks hospital-like these days.

[@Neville60001]

Samuel, there's _nothing_ wrong with stainless steel trains; stop being such a snob.

[@samuelitooooo]

@@Neville60001 I know that. How am I being a snob?

[@Neville60001]

@@samuelitooooo, Amtrak using stainless steel is not a problem except for silly people who want everything to be like Europe and Scandinavia 'just because'.

[@solarflare623]

I actually once drove by the SF station. I didn’t go inside but it was still cool.

[@bdtransit]

Yess! This is gonna be a great video, I know it!!!!

[@branchmedo]

Living in the Greater Toronto Area, a lot of Caltrain is familiar (the Bilevel cars were first designed and built for GO Transit here, and we have MPI MPXpress locomotives too). It's also cool to see what the electrification in progress looks like - GO (and the provincial body Metrolinx that governs them) are keen to start electrification as soon as they can. I'm sure one day soon I'll be driving on the 401 and finally see the first catenary poles going up.

[@iemv8900]

At least trains sim world is the closest memory we have to remembering this

[@luci5274]

Yeah but they do do a great job at it

[@user-rm6de9pz2v]

@@luci5274 except from the broken services, yea

[@imaginox9]

Super vidéo ! Je suis jamais allé là-bas mais j'ai déjà beaucoup conduit sur la Peninsula Corridor sur Train Sim World du coup c'est comme si j'y étais déjà allé ^^

[@sammy7068]

hey ur in my home town love it

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for a great review ! The Gallery type cars have been around for a very long time - the Chicago and North Western Railway introduced them in the 1950s to the Chicago area ! Americans generally like them, though Metra in Chicago is about to place a huge order for double deck stock to replace their Gallery cars, but from the computer drawings, the exterior will still look like a Gallery car !

[@user-rm6de9pz2v]

The new Metra cars looks like the bombardier bi-levels with the end areas filled in

[@AVeryRandomPerson]

Metra isn't replacing all the Galleries, only the legacy non-Nippon Sharyo ones

[@brianmurdock5482]

When you rode, Caltrain was operating on less than 80trains a day. Now they operate on 104trains during the weekday. More trains now then they were operating before covid shutdown.

[@MrSquareart]

good video!!!!!!!!!

[@calebtrains2261]

VRE Also Uses Gallery Coaches.

[@iancarisi8342]

They really need to 4 track this line to effectively have it be used simultaneously by Cal-Train (Local Commuter Railroad) and CHSR (Express long distance train).

[@joshsharp7897]

That would cost millions to upgrade every station and they would have to buy thousand and thousands of properties to make room

[@TohaBgood2]

@@joshsharp7897 Not to even mention that the friendly neighborhood billionaires in Atherton would definitely sue the bejesus out of any such initiative. Ah, the megarich, aren't they just swell human beings?

[@djjamar]

Too many very wealthy homeowners that will hire lawyers. NIMBY

[@TohaBgood2]

@@djjamar This is literally the snake pit of rich entitled arsholes. C’est la vie

[@archstanton5973]

@@joshsharp7897 "they would have to buy thousand and thousands of properties to make room" *WRONG.* The entire corridor between San Francisco to San Jose is wide enough tor four tracks thanks to E.H. Harriman: yes THAT E.H. Harriman. When the original SF&SJ Railroad corridor was constructed it was - as typical of the time - a single track line with the corresponding width. However when Harriman gained control of the Southern Pacific (that had acquired the SF&SJ RR in 1868) at the end of the 1800s, Harriman had BIG plans for the Peninsula Corridor. Harriman went about acquiring land on both sides of the existing corridor which proved very cheap as in the 1890s the Peninsula was still very lowly populated. Harriman's plan was to double track the corridor as industry was rapidly growing along the Peninsula and were reliant on the existing rails but the single track would be insufficient. The double-tracking was achieved by Harriman (as was the Bayshore Bypass) but Harriman had much bigger plans as was shown by the large amount of land that the Southern Pacific/Harriman acquired along the entire corridor: Harriman's plan was to have four tracks along the entire corridor from San Francisco to San Jose. This plan was based on what the Pennsylvania RR had done/was doing in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Maryland in creating the four track "Broadway Corridor". Harriman wanted to create a similar corridor in San Francisco where SP LA to San Francisco express trains and transcontinental trains coming from the Sierras and Sacramento could operate as express trains on the Peninsula without being clogged up with the increasing freight traffic growing on the Peninsula Corridor. Unfortunately Harriman's "Peninsula Broadway" never got constructed as the federal government forced Harriman and the Union Pacific to divest the Southern Pacific because of the UP-SP merger was ruled in violation of the Sherman Antitrust. *NOTE: the VAST majority of persons are not aware of the huge amount of freight traffic that used to operate along the Peninsula rail corridor as the entire length from San Francisco down to San Jose was HEAVILY industrialized and thus the massive freight rail traffic. Of course this all came to an end starting in the 1970s as massive DE-industrialization commenced in San Francisco and in the entire Peninsula and thus the disappearance of the need for freight trains.* If you want ot see this "wide" existing corridor, just go and watch a youtube video taken from the front in the cab car going from San Jose to San Francisco and you WILL see the WIDE empty lots on both sides of the tracks. This wide existing corridor is why CA High Speed looked at four tracking the entire Peninsula as the LAND OWNERSHIP along the entire Peninsula corridor already existed but was mainly UNUSED.

[@johnburke1317]

Nice video 📹

[@rdgk1se3019]

@5:35.....the yellow item is the Head End Power (HEP) generator.

[@darthmaul216]

It’s about time

[@tonymento7460]

Caltrain now has 2 X -Amtrak AEM - 7 numbers are # 929 and # 938 # 938 has been completed rebuild and is in Caltrain colors it looks great too

[@DanielsUKT]

Great trip report the stainless steel on the inside and the seats look good what was veey bizzare is when you said the train has to be driven from the upstairs how is that possible 😂 it shouldd be downstairs

[@donnlino]

I tried this train from.san jose going to san feancisco There are several trip going there such as non stop and every other station. 😀

[@brianhenderson9124]

@9:34 tell me about it! I've sat in similar cars back when I used to ride the Virginia Railway Express. I've sat on both levels and I have to admit, the twisty staircase can be weird/problematic, etc. I find the seats on these newer cars more comfortable than the older galleries.

[@piemadd]

I looked and I just realized we rode on the same exact car on caltrain (not at the same time tho)

[@geoffreyhansen8543]

Have you thought about doing a review on the San Francisco Muni and/or the Los Angeles Metrolink? Keep up the good work.

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Boa viagem ai simply lindo trem gostei

[@Cal90208]

Great video, as always.

[@oscarchicalucena7980]

In June 2021, Caltrain announced that electric service would be delayed to late 2024

[@MrJimheeren]

What seriously. Why does everything take so goddamn long in America. Electrification shouldn’t take so fucking long

[@oscarchicalucena7980]

@@MrJimheeren www.progressiverailroading.com/passenger_rail/news/Caltrain-announces-rail-electrification-delay-cost-hike--63690

[@Neville60001]

Big fat deal, Oscar-it'll probably take that long for electrification to happen anyway.

[@michlo3393]

​@@MrJimheeren Red Tape. Inefficient and obstructive Bureaucracy is a much loved pastime in America

[@JuanSanchezGuerra]

The Seattle Sounder is also operated by BNSF on behalf of Sound Transit.

[@maestromecanico597]

The gallery cars were a way of expanding seating on a standard 85’ vehicle platform without the exotic split center sill creating a lower level and clearance for an upper. They have served well but their time is running out. Caltrain is getting KISS and Metra will shift to a new design multilevel from Alstom in the not too distant future.

[@mrbreadcrumb]

Glad the diesels will be around for a few more years

[@Neville60001]

The point is, they _shouldn't_ be, though.

[@alexandrac591]

My first ever gallery coach was on Virginia Railway Express. So weird!

[@renegadetenor]

I was there on the day they switched from SP to Caltrain equipment. I still prefer the gallery cars, having grown up with them in Chicago.

[@cameronclemente7773]

I have taken the CalTrain before from Irvine train station to San Diego train station

[@NozomuYume]

Aww if I'd known you were in SF I would've given you a tour and shown you the secrets of Muni! Some of the Muni metro lines have reopened now, including all of the underground stations! Also, regarding the terminus, about half the trains continue on to Tamien, just south of Diridon. It's the only station south of Diridon that sees frequent service. They do this because it's a faster interchange with the VTA light rail system, which if you're coming from the south has to take a bit of a circuitous route to get to Diridon. This way on at least some of the trains, people can make a transfer from the Santa Teresa light rail route that the would otherwise miss if they had to continue on to Diridon. The downtown sections of VTA light rail are slow and windy and really need to be replaced with a dedicated underground section.

[@philrabe910]

I've been as far as King St to Palo Alto. Wouldn't it have been nice if the CA High Speed Rail had started from either end towards the middle- so that the maximum number of transit impacted people could get HSR service? I mean it' great that there will be that isolated HSR line zipping up and down the Central Valley- population one tenth either the SF or LA metro areas.

[@danielcarroll3358]

The Central Valley line will also serve as the test track as there is no existing place in the US to test at speeds over 165 mph (265 kph). The population may be lower but Fresno, for example, has a larger population than the largest city in a majority of the states. California is large. Its southern end is at the latitude of Morocco and its northern end is north of southernmost Canada (barely).