Stadler has been awarded a contract to design and manufacture 16 six-car KISS double-decker electric multiple-unit trains for Caltrain, the provider of commuter rail service on the San Francisco Peninsula. The contract, valued at $551 million, includes an option for 96 additional cars with a value of $385 million.
The first train will be delivered in August 2019 and will go into service in 2020 after conditional acceptance and type testing. The new trains will connect San Francisco with San Jose in the Silicon Valley.
“The Caltrain Modernization Program represents the single most transformative project in Caltrain's 150-year history," said Jim Hartnett, Caltrain's executive director. "We sought out partners that would help us deliver a world-class product that will bring Caltrain service into the 21st century. We are thrilled to be working with a company with Stadler's commitment to providing a high-performance product and the amenities that future generations of Caltrain riders will be able to enjoy."
The EMUs will feature built-in air suspension to allow smooth running and are extendable to seven-car or eight-car units. They have a maximum operating speed of 110 mph and will decrease greenhouse-gas and noise emissions. The trains meet FRA Alternative Compliance requirements for operating in mixed traffic
“I am very proud that we have the opportunity to build state-of-the-art double-decker trains for the United States for the first time,” remarked Stadler Owner and Group CEO Peter Spuhler. “The KISS train is a high-tech product – perfectly suited for the Silicon Valley. The Stadler electric multiple-unit trains are weight-optimized with their proven lightweight aluminum construction. And we certainly hope to further strengthen our reputation as an innovation leader in the United States with this contract and to be successful in future tenders.”
In June 2015, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) chose Stadler to design, build, and deliver eight FLIRT DMUs. Stadler used the Buy America Act for the project, renting space in an existing manufacturing plant in Salt Lake City, Utah, for final assembly of the trains.