Transportation, like most of life, is more complex than one might first think. If a problem were easy to fix, most likely it would have been fixed long ago. Usually there are socio-political obstacles (and not just of the bureaucratic type) in the way.
We’ve compiled a list of questions and answers to frequently asked questions and misconceptions that we’ve come across. If you don’t find your question here and it’s not answered elsewhere on our site, please contact us.
- What problems are encountered when a passenger rail train uses tracks owned by freight rail companies?
- Can they fit a bike/ped trail, busway, and train tracks on the Dumbarton Rail right of way on the Peninsula?
- Why is the City of Fremont not supporting Dumbarton Rail?
- If the diesel fuel cost is so high, shouldn't Caltrain be running shorter trains during off-peak hours to save fuel?
- Why is Caltrain require Clipper users to tag off after exiting the train?
- Can the train horn volume be lowered?
- Why Can't BART run all night?
- Why does BART use wider, non-standard guage rails?
- Why didn't we get BART through San Mateo County in the 1960's when it was cheaper.
- Why is Caltrain electrification so important?
- How much travel time will be saved by electrifying Caltrain?
- Is electrification happening instead of extending the train to downtown San Francisco?
- Why not replace Caltrain with BART? Won't that cost the same as electrifying Caltrain?
- Why is Caltrain proposing to use EMUs instead of electric locomotives?
- Is Caltrain planning to electrify all the way to Gilroy? If not, then what will happen on the Gilroy segment?
- Why not use ground-level third rail?
- Won't it be unsafe to have high voltage lines all over the place?
- Won't the overhead wires be an ugly visual intrusion?
- Why can't Caltrain run solar or hydrogen fuel cell-powered trains instead of electrifying the line?
- What is a CMA (Congestion Management Agency) ?
- Why is the Caltrain connection to SFO via BART so cumbersome?
- What is a "Blended System"?
- What is "Early Investment" aka "Fast Start" aka "Bookends"?
- What is the Blended System "Memorandum of Understanding"?
- Does the Blended System MOU allow a four-track system?
- Is the Downtown Extension in the Blended Plan?
- Are Grade Separations in the Blended Plan?
- Are there passing tracks included in the Blended Plan?
- How will Baby Bullet service be handled?