Who's Running Those Late Night Trains?

Hearing Caltrain rail noise late at night? Horns blaring, barrier gates down when they normally are not?

There's a reason for the activity.

Caltrain’s new contract-operator, Transit America Services Inc., is in the process of qualifying several engineers to operate trains on the Caltrain right of way.

Caltrain's Board of Directors approved a five year contract with Missouri-based TASI last Fall, and the transition is now taking place.

According to Caltrain, their north-south Peninsula corridors will notice a "modest increase" in rail activity, horn noise and gate down time Monday through Thursday nights between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m.

The times were chosen to minimize the impacts to passenger service.

On weekends, if you're waiting for a train, don't be surprised if one passes you by and doesn't stop. These trains cannot pick up passengers while the engineers are qualifying.

The engineers who will operated the Caltrain locomotives go through a qualification process to familiarize themselves with the Peninsula right of way and operations.

Caltrain says its corridor contains physical and geographic characteristics that are unique to the system.

Because of more than 40 at-grade crossings between San Francisco and San Jose, Caltrain feels it is critical that the engineers are familiar with operating conditions before they begin running passenger service.

Caltrain riders and corridor neighbors who might have questions are asked to call a dedicated comment line set up: 650.508.7726. Caltrain claims a staff person will respond to the calls within 24 hours.

TASI was awarded the Caltrain operator contract in 2011. The company is scheduled to take over full operation of the Caltrain service May 26.

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