SAN BRUNO, Calif. — Caltrain’s diesel-powered commuter rail trainsets will find a new life in Peru.
The commuter rail operator announced that it has completed an agreement to send 19 locomotives and 90 gallery commuter cars to Lima, Peru, for some $6 million, a deal which also involved the U.S. State Department, Department of Commerce, and Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
“This agreement will help Peru embrace a more sustainable future while also bringing millions of dollars to help us keep Caltrain running,” Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard said in a press release. “Our former Caltrain passenger cars and locomotives will enable the start of new commuter rail service in greater Lima, cleaner air for commuters and community members and the access to opportunity that great public transportation provides. ¡Todos a bordo! [All aboard!]”
Caltrain had offered the equipment for sale, at one point advertising the availability of the locomotives on its online store [see “Caltrain offers F40s for sale …,” Trains News Wire, Aug. 14, 2024]. Lima expressed its interest in buying the equipment, which led to the agreement announced Friday. The Air Quality Management District has provided a waiver allowing the locomotives to continue in operation rather than being scrapped, a standard requirement for funding toward new equipment.
The equipment bound for Peru, built between 1985 and 1987, was retired when Caltrain made the switch to electrified operations between San Jose and San Francisco in September.
“These trains have a long and proud legacy of service that we’re proud to pass along to the people of Peru,” said Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis. “The F40s hold a special place in the heart of train enthusiasts, and there’s no better task for them than to keep helping people get where they need to go.”
Caltrain’s Bouchard is representing the agency at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima today (Saturday, Nov. 16). Representatives of Lima, the U.S. State Department, and other dignitaries will join Caltrain in celebrating the agreement.
Does anyone have an idea on which lines they intend to use them?
This was a bit surprising to me when I first heard it, but I’m glad to hear that they will continue to provide service there.
No one was going to buy them here except a scrapper…..maybe. I’m sure some palms were greased along the way/
These all had their prime movers removed by CalTrans, Didn’t want to be accused of exporting the pollution they make.
So Peru (or someone) is going to have to re-engine them.
I would translate the sentence ” The Air Quality Management District has provided a waiver allowing the locomotives to continue in operation rather than being scrapped” to mean they are still operational. Also Caltrain only went all electric in mid-September. No reason to dismantle something you are about to sell.
Then they are hypocrites. They had conditions when they were put up for sale that anyone buying them would not get the prime movers due to their pollution levels.
But I guess exporting pollution to Peru is just OK, after all when the money is on the table……
Maybe they were thinking someone would buy them for projects, like they did with legacy BART cars. The offer from Peru might have been unexpected, hence the waiver. I imagine car pollution standards are much lower in Lima, so the trains might actually improve pollution by taking private cars off the road.
$6 million dollars? Now THAT’s a steal! Although something tells me that doesn’t include shipping costs.
I’m surprised at the $6M also. Obviously that doesn’t include shipping costs. Since the State Department is involved, I wonder who is actually paying for the shipping. I wonder if this deal is to stop the Chinese from getting a foothold in Peru rail transportation.
Rail cars in the US are in service for 50y on average. These ones being over 40 won’t have much useful life left. Still ~$60k per car, much more than they would get from a private buyer (decommissioned BART cars sold for $20k each) or scrapping.