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Caltrain electric train set now at TTCI for testing.
Caltrain
Caltrain’s first electric trainset has arrived at the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo. for testing, marking a major milestone in the electrification of the railroad.
This facility will test the Electrical Multiple Units (EMUs) at high speeds under numerous conditions, as required by the Federal Railroad Administration as part of their safety standards. This testing will ensure that the new vehicles are ready for service. Tests include braking, propulsion, ride quality, noise and vibration, door operation, Positive Train Control (PTC), Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), and more. This testing will take approximately eight months.
All photos courtesy of Caltrain.
Caltrain’s Stadler-built KISS EMU (electric multiple-unit) No. 1 has arrived at Transportation Technology Center, Inc. in Pueblo, Colo.
At TTCI, trainset No. 1 will undergo a comprehensive set of instrumented operational tests, at velocities exceeding maximum operating speed, on the AC-catenary-electrified RTT (Railroad Test Track), which is capable of supporting speeds up to 170 mph.
Testing of the seven-car EMU is expected to take eight months and will include braking, propulsion, ride quality, noise and vibration, door operation, Positive Train Control (PTC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) tests. The tests, required under Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) safety rules, will ensure that the new fleet is ready for service.
First complete new Caltrain set heading to Colorado
While Caltrain crews have been busy stringing wire on the mainline, over in Utah construction continues on its electric train sets. The first one is now completed and, as seen in the lead photo, is getting a ride out to Pueblo, Colorado, for testing. From Caltrain’s release:
Electric trainset #1 is on its way to the Transportation Technology Center, a railroad testing and training facility in Pueblo, Colo. There it will be tested at and above the top speeds allowed on our corridor and undergo tests simulating operating conditions.
For those not familiar, Pueblo is home to a 52-square mile facility with test tracks for certifying American railroad equipment. Part of that is a “13.5 mile long Railroad Test Track … used for high-speed testing up to 165 mph.” Basically, it’s a huge loop with overhead electrification. That’s well within the planned top speeds of Caltrain’s equipment (on a related note, this is why Califo