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
Which reduces emissions by reducing driving.
January 9, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Which reduces emissions by reducing driving.
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?
But overall, electric rail continues to move forward. We are excited to keep the fight to electrify California's trains in 2026! /end
January 7, 2026 at 1:02 AM
But overall, electric rail continues to move forward. We are excited to keep the fight to electrify California's trains in 2026! /end
Some of our initiatives, like 3rd party permit reform #SB445 or ending patchwork funding, weren't successful. And the Trump administration's war on renewable energy, freight emissions regulations, high-speed rail funding, immigrant transit riders, and the City of Los Angeles are all setbacks 11/
January 7, 2026 at 1:01 AM
Some of our initiatives, like 3rd party permit reform #SB445 or ending patchwork funding, weren't successful. And the Trump administration's war on renewable energy, freight emissions regulations, high-speed rail funding, immigrant transit riders, and the City of Los Angeles are all setbacks 11/
Capitol project delivery was almost left off the SB 125 task force recommendations, but after we got thousands of letters sent to the task force, several key recommendations made it in: service-led planning, permit streamlining, and state capacity 10/ www.seamlessbayarea.org/blog/2025/12...
State Task Force issues report setting stage for progress on funding, coordination, capital reforms — Seamless Bay Area
In December, the State Transit Transformation Task Force issued its final report (which still isn’t posted on the website). The Task Force had been established as part of the 2023 budget agreement wit...
www.seamlessbayarea.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Capitol project delivery was almost left off the SB 125 task force recommendations, but after we got thousands of letters sent to the task force, several key recommendations made it in: service-led planning, permit streamlining, and state capacity 10/ www.seamlessbayarea.org/blog/2025/12...
6 months after we turned out 42 pages of comments opposing the project, SBCTA killed the ONT connector Tesla Tunnels - and is now looking at increasing service on the Metrolink San Bernardino Line 9/ cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
SBCTA Could Finally End One of the Country’s Worst Zombie Projects: The ONT Connector - Streetsblog California
“The ONT Connector is an inappropriate investment. Ridership capacity and public transportation utility do not support spending billions of dollars for it. Scrapping the project is the right decision....
cal.streetsblog.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:55 AM
6 months after we turned out 42 pages of comments opposing the project, SBCTA killed the ONT connector Tesla Tunnels - and is now looking at increasing service on the Metrolink San Bernardino Line 9/ cal.streetsblog.org/2025/12/02/s...
In an unexpected upside to the Trump administration's lawless attacks on anything green, California shut down ARCHES - the hydrogen hub that pushed hydrogen trains on transit agencies around the state - after Trump revoked its funding. 8/ archesh2.org/california-p...
California Pauses Hydrogen Hub Activities Amid Federal Funding Changes - Arches H2
In response to recent changes in federal funding priorities, the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) will immediately pause hydrogen hub activities
archesh2.org
January 7, 2026 at 12:53 AM
In an unexpected upside to the Trump administration's lawless attacks on anything green, California shut down ARCHES - the hydrogen hub that pushed hydrogen trains on transit agencies around the state - after Trump revoked its funding. 8/ archesh2.org/california-p...
Also in September, Caltrain celebrated the one year anniversary of electrification - a benchmark that saw ridership grow by 57%, weekend ridership double, and the agency break records in rider satisfaction. More Californians are riding (and loving) electric rail. 7/ www.caltrain.com/news/caltrai...
Caltrain Named America’s Fastest-Growing Transit Agency in APTA’s 2025 Transit Wrapped | Caltrain
Caltrain has been recognized by the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA’s) Transit Wrapped 2025 list as the fastest growing U.S. transit agency over the last year.
www.caltrain.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Also in September, Caltrain celebrated the one year anniversary of electrification - a benchmark that saw ridership grow by 57%, weekend ridership double, and the agency break records in rider satisfaction. More Californians are riding (and loving) electric rail. 7/ www.caltrain.com/news/caltrai...
We spent a lot of time defending and explaining California High-Speed Rail. In September, the California Legislature guaranteed a fixed annual allocation to HSR from cap and trade for the first time, unlocking access to private financing. 6/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVq6...
Is California High-Speed Rail STILL Important?
YouTube video by Californians for Electric Rail
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:44 AM
We spent a lot of time defending and explaining California High-Speed Rail. In September, the California Legislature guaranteed a fixed annual allocation to HSR from cap and trade for the first time, unlocking access to private financing. 6/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVq6...
In June, Valley Link dropped their plans to run hydrogen trains, and plans to switch to battery - following the lead of rail agencies around the world 5/ bsky.app/profile/infr...
Second, Valley Link has dropped its plans to use hydrogen trains, and now plans to use battery instead.
The agenda doesn't explain this change, but @calelectricrail.org will agree it never made sense to haul hydrogen fuel from a new plant in Tracy only to get less efficiency than battery.
The agenda doesn't explain this change, but @calelectricrail.org will agree it never made sense to haul hydrogen fuel from a new plant in Tracy only to get less efficiency than battery.
January 7, 2026 at 12:41 AM
In June, Valley Link dropped their plans to run hydrogen trains, and plans to switch to battery - following the lead of rail agencies around the world 5/ bsky.app/profile/infr...
After advocates spoke out, SANDAG upgraded the Crest Canyon alternative to the Del Mar Tunnel to 110 mph - great news for fast, frequent transit and a guard against long-term deployment of hydrogen trains on the Surfliner/Coaster. 4/ docs.google.com/document/d/1...
CEQA comment SANDAG Del Mar Tunnel Alignments CTA
Call to Action: Support Electrified, high speed service & alignment options in Del Mar Tunnel CEQA Process Updated Notice of Preparation for Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) Comment period en...
docs.google.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:39 AM
After advocates spoke out, SANDAG upgraded the Crest Canyon alternative to the Del Mar Tunnel to 110 mph - great news for fast, frequent transit and a guard against long-term deployment of hydrogen trains on the Surfliner/Coaster. 4/ docs.google.com/document/d/1...
In February, we helped organize a protest in defense of California High-Speed Rail that shouted down Trump DOT head Sean Duffy as he trashed HSR in the heart of Los Angeles. 3/https://bsky.app/profile/calelectricrail.org/post/3limr5r27622m
Morning LA, we are in Union Station at the surprise press event about California High Speed Rail. The area seems to be blocked off but I will attempt to live-tweet as things happen.
January 7, 2026 at 12:37 AM
In February, we helped organize a protest in defense of California High-Speed Rail that shouted down Trump DOT head Sean Duffy as he trashed HSR in the heart of Los Angeles. 3/https://bsky.app/profile/calelectricrail.org/post/3limr5r27622m
2025 kicked off with the release of California's State Rail Plan. Thanks to our advocacy, it calls for electrifying Metrolink and Capitol Corridor and 1500 miles of catenary around the state - and embraces service-led planning. 2/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe5E...
California State Rail Plan explained: Opportunities and barriers to a coordinated transit network
YouTube video by Seamless Bay Area
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:36 AM
2025 kicked off with the release of California's State Rail Plan. Thanks to our advocacy, it calls for electrifying Metrolink and Capitol Corridor and 1500 miles of catenary around the state - and embraces service-led planning. 2/ www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe5E...
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/