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
Pinned
Funding is a major, underappreciated contributor to the high construction costs and long timelines that hold back electrification. In our new policy paper, Against Patchwork Funding, we propose a smarter way to fund rail: Multi-year Investment Frameworks. 🧵 calelectricrail.org/against-patc...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Help kick off the effort to STOP devastating cuts to transit in the Bay Area on 1/23.
We need to gather 200,000 signatures to get Connect Bay Area, the regional transit funding measure, on the ballot.
This is an all hands on deck moment w/ events through the Bay. Details> luma.com/le1g7slf?tk=...
We need to gather 200,000 signatures to get Connect Bay Area, the regional transit funding measure, on the ballot.
This is an all hands on deck moment w/ events through the Bay. Details> luma.com/le1g7slf?tk=...
Signature Gathering Kickoff for Connect Bay Area Transit · Luma
To avoid devastating Bay Area transit service cuts, we need to gather 200,000 signatures to get Connect Bay Area, the regional transit funding measure enabled…
luma.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Help kick off the effort to STOP devastating cuts to transit in the Bay Area on 1/23.
We need to gather 200,000 signatures to get Connect Bay Area, the regional transit funding measure, on the ballot.
This is an all hands on deck moment w/ events through the Bay. Details> luma.com/le1g7slf?tk=...
We need to gather 200,000 signatures to get Connect Bay Area, the regional transit funding measure, on the ballot.
This is an all hands on deck moment w/ events through the Bay. Details> luma.com/le1g7slf?tk=...
Missed yesterday's webinar? Watch the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIka... @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social
January 9, 2026 at 9:33 PM
Missed yesterday's webinar? Watch the video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIka... @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Daily reminder that the primary benefit of railway electrification is not to reduce railway emissions.
It is to enable faster acceleration which reduces travel time and thereby increases frequency without adding operating cost.
That then attracts more riders and thereby more revenue.
It is to enable faster acceleration which reduces travel time and thereby increases frequency without adding operating cost.
That then attracts more riders and thereby more revenue.
January 9, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Daily reminder that the primary benefit of railway electrification is not to reduce railway emissions.
It is to enable faster acceleration which reduces travel time and thereby increases frequency without adding operating cost.
That then attracts more riders and thereby more revenue.
It is to enable faster acceleration which reduces travel time and thereby increases frequency without adding operating cost.
That then attracts more riders and thereby more revenue.
In 2024 the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program covered an average of 10% of the total need for the funded projects. And many projects don't get funded! We need to invest more in transit, but this program as structured is not getting projects to the finish line. calsta.ca.gov/-/media/cals...
January 9, 2026 at 7:55 PM
In 2024 the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program covered an average of 10% of the total need for the funded projects. And many projects don't get funded! We need to invest more in transit, but this program as structured is not getting projects to the finish line. calsta.ca.gov/-/media/cals...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Metrolink next!
⚡FULL ELECTRIFICATION ⚡
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
January 9, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Metrolink next!
⚡FULL ELECTRIFICATION ⚡
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
January 9, 2026 at 2:13 AM
⚡FULL ELECTRIFICATION ⚡
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
@governor.ca.gov shouts out Caltrain electrification in his State of the State speech.
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
It turns out that transit ridership increases when service is faster and more frequent 🤯
January 8, 2026 at 9:44 PM
It turns out that transit ridership increases when service is faster and more frequent 🤯
Starting now!
Join us @icgee.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social and @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social for a webinar about how transit funding holds back ambitious investments like electric rail that we need for climate action & affordable transportation. January 8th, 1-2 PST.
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 8, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Starting now!
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
It would be nice if rolling stock funding/financing were optimized so operators didn’t need 12 different capital partners to deliver new trainsets.
January 8, 2026 at 5:26 PM
It would be nice if rolling stock funding/financing were optimized so operators didn’t need 12 different capital partners to deliver new trainsets.
Tomorrow! Don't forget to RSVP.
Join us @icgee.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social and @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social for a webinar about how transit funding holds back ambitious investments like electric rail that we need for climate action & affordable transportation. January 8th, 1-2 PST.
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 7, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Tomorrow! Don't forget to RSVP.
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
“UPRR indicated that there could be no further concessions and would not agree to further reducing capital improvement requirements.”
January 7, 2026 at 1:53 AM
“UPRR indicated that there could be no further concessions and would not agree to further reducing capital improvement requirements.”
You see this again and again. JPA management, limited staff capacity, patchwork grant programs -> budget overruns, longer timelines descoping, less service for riders in rapidly-growing areas. This time for Valley Rail in the Central Valley. Will 2026 be the year we take action?
Valley Rail isn’t looking so healthy
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
Costs have only increased while they try and scale back initial investment phases to deliver something which has now become a 5th RT for ACE to San Jose, 1 ACE and 1 Gold Runner RT to Natomas
South extension of ACE to Merced delayed
www.sjrrc.com/event/sjrrc-...
SJRRC Special Station/Facilities Development Committee - January 8, 2026 10:30 am - San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
Station Facilities Development Committee January 8 2026 Special Meeting Packet Meeting Location: San Joaquin Council of Governments First Floor, Board Room 555 E. Weber Avenue Stockton, CA 95202 Join ...
www.sjrrc.com
January 7, 2026 at 1:07 AM
You see this again and again. JPA management, limited staff capacity, patchwork grant programs -> budget overruns, longer timelines descoping, less service for riders in rapidly-growing areas. This time for Valley Rail in the Central Valley. Will 2026 be the year we take action?
While 2025 was a tough year for many, last year we saw electric rail continue to move forward, with lots of good news for the future. Here's a look at some of what we accomplished last year: 🧵https://calelectricrail.org/2025-year-in-review/
2025 Year in Review – Californians for Electric Rail
calelectricrail.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:32 AM
While 2025 was a tough year for many, last year we saw electric rail continue to move forward, with lots of good news for the future. Here's a look at some of what we accomplished last year: 🧵https://calelectricrail.org/2025-year-in-review/
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Coming up this Thursday!
Join us @icgee.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social and @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social for a webinar about how transit funding holds back ambitious investments like electric rail that we need for climate action & affordable transportation. January 8th, 1-2 PST.
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Coming up this Thursday!
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Happening in one week! RSVP today!
Integrated, accessible, through-running electrified regional rail could transform Southern California and move high-speed rail forward. Join us on January 12th for a webinar from 5-6 pm to learn why this is so important and how we make it happen. actionnetwork.org/events/elect...
Electrolink Webinar
Southern California deserves a modern, green, and accessible rail system. In their new whitepaper, Electrolink, Californians for Electric Rail presents a vision for how to get there, through investmen...
actionnetwork.org
January 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Happening in one week! RSVP today!
Want to reduce US reliance on oil? Fund transit and electrify our trains!
January 4, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Want to reduce US reliance on oil? Fund transit and electrify our trains!
"Missing middle" regional rail is the missing link for car-free living. When nonresidents don't need to drive to access the city, there are less opponents of safe streets and more local transit riders. Electrification + through-running allow the same train to serve local and regional riders.
18% of Americans want to go car-free. 40% are open to going car-free. This is in addition to the 10% of Americans who don't drive. Congress needs to match federal transportation policy and funding to this market shift:
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
humantransit.org/2025/12/many...
Many Americans Are Open to Car-Free Living — Human Transit
Are Americans a “car culture” or are they “car dependent”? Do they drive because they love driving, or are they in an unhealthy relationship with a substance they would be happy to do without? Obvio...
humantransit.org
January 3, 2026 at 2:06 AM
"Missing middle" regional rail is the missing link for car-free living. When nonresidents don't need to drive to access the city, there are less opponents of safe streets and more local transit riders. Electrification + through-running allow the same train to serve local and regional riders.
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
January 2, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Happy New Year! Start the year off right with our webinar on how to better fund transit infrastructure for quicker, more cost-effective projects, next Thursday at 1 PM PST. @seamlessbayareaca.bsky.social @publicenterprise.bsky.social actionnetwork.org/events/trans...
California High-Speed Rail has received *30* offers from private investors to help finance the project. Trump can't stop this train! www.sfgate.com/politics/art...
California's 'train to nowhere' embarks on its second act
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is looking for a private investor.
www.sfgate.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:53 PM
California High-Speed Rail has received *30* offers from private investors to help finance the project. Trump can't stop this train! www.sfgate.com/politics/art...
Rail electrification!!
What projects or trends do you hope to see with transit in 2026?
December 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Rail electrification!!
Integrated, accessible, through-running electrified regional rail could transform Southern California and move high-speed rail forward. Join us on January 12th for a webinar from 5-6 pm to learn why this is so important and how we make it happen. actionnetwork.org/events/elect...
Electrolink Webinar
Southern California deserves a modern, green, and accessible rail system. In their new whitepaper, Electrolink, Californians for Electric Rail presents a vision for how to get there, through investmen...
actionnetwork.org
December 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Integrated, accessible, through-running electrified regional rail could transform Southern California and move high-speed rail forward. Join us on January 12th for a webinar from 5-6 pm to learn why this is so important and how we make it happen. actionnetwork.org/events/elect...
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
If this is an argument for CAHSR or CalTrans to consolidate publicly owned or utilized ROW into a single body that can actually drive an upgrade agenda, you’ll hear no argument from me. CA’s addiction to Joint Powers boards operating assets owned/maintained by counties is worst of all worlds
December 29, 2025 at 3:17 AM
If this is an argument for CAHSR or CalTrans to consolidate publicly owned or utilized ROW into a single body that can actually drive an upgrade agenda, you’ll hear no argument from me. CA’s addiction to Joint Powers boards operating assets owned/maintained by counties is worst of all worlds
Reposted by Californians for Electric Rail
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink - Streetsblog California
I made a mistake covering the CTC grants last week that impacts a story Streetsblog has been covering. Let's set the record straight.
cal.streetsblog.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:55 AM
State Grant Will Pay for Better Diesel Trains, Not Zero-Emission Trains, for Metrolink
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
A mea-culpa by @damientypes.bsky.social s
Thanks for the heads up from @calelectricrail.org and Metrolink
cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/15/s...
Small scale and local control over transit is the status quo in much of the state, especially Southern California, and has led to:
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
This ridiculous new post by Strong Towns correctly identifies a problem - we build too many failing transit capital projects - and completely misses the mark with its proposed solutions - stopping federal funding for them and instead making projects small and phased.
Are Federal Transit Grants Hurting, Not Helping, Public Transportation? | Strong Towns
Three case studies reveal how top-down funding creates rigidity, waste, and systems that cities cannot afford to fix or abandon.
www.strongtowns.org
December 13, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Small scale and local control over transit is the status quo in much of the state, especially Southern California, and has led to:
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule
- OCTA's neglect closing the Surfliner for over a year
- the SBCTA hydrogen train
- Incremental improvements like the Serra siding stalled & SCORE behind schedule