New Electric Commuter Trains in California A Small Step towards Railway Electrification in the US
On August 13, it was reported that California in the US has put into use two brand-new all-electric commuter trains for the first time, which might indicate that the US is finally ready to catch up with other countries in railway electrification.
The two new trains are operated by California Trains. California Governor Gavin Newsom and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi attended the inaugural ceremony last Saturday. And from Sunday, these trains began to operate officially along the San Jose to San Francisco line.
It's been nearly 20 years since California first proposed the concept of electric trains.Officials insist that these new trains will be quieter and faster than existing diesel trains while providing passengers with a better riding experience. By mid-September, 17 more new trains will join the operation.
The California Trains company said that due to the more efficient acceleration and deceleration of the new trains, the operating speed will be 20% higher than that of diesel trains. In addition, the new trains will also improve the quality of life of residents along the railway by reducing air and noise pollution.
In promoting electric trains, the US lags behind other countries, which is not surprising. Although many light rail lines have adopted electric power, almost all heavy-duty railways in the US still use diesel.
India is about to achieve 100% electrification of its railway lines, China's electrified railway network coverage is nearly three quarters, and more than 57% of the railway system in the European Union has been electrified. The US has always preferred to prioritize private cars rather than high-capacity passenger trains, but now it can proudly announce that it has two electric trains and there will be more in the future.
There are many reasons for the slow progress of railway electrification in the US, among which the opposition of the American Association of Railroads (AAR), a major lobbying organization in the industry, is the most notable. The organization claims that the cost of transforming the US railway system to be suitable for electric trains is extremely high, especially considering that most of the current track systems are designed for diesel locomotives. These transformation costs far exceed the possible benefits of the electrified railway system.
The AAR has even released a policy document detailing the reasons for opposing railway electrification. Even in the face of the impending threat of climate change, the US railway executives have not changed their positions.
The US railway is one of the largest diesel consumers in the country, consuming about 4.2 billion gallons of diesel in 2018 alone. Some experts point out that railway monopoly is the main reason why electrification work is repeatedly blocked. Major operators such as CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway in the east, and BNSF and Union Pacific Railway in the west have been constantly refusing to invest in improving infrastructure. As industry expert Maddock Thomas commented last year, they are reluctant to fund for electrification but focus on cutting costs and services to pursue higher profits.
In the absence of the cooperation of freight railway operators, state-owned commuter railways have the opportunity to seize the moment and take the right actions. The new California electric trains, although just a drop in the bucket, should help prove that electric trains can bring benefits to both the community and the environment.