This announcement came during a joint event hosted by Caltrans and the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission at the Stockton Regional Maintenance Facility.
The update introduces single-story passenger cars that are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), featuring wider aisles, accessible restrooms, and fully automated doors. This move is part of California's ongoing efforts to offer more comfortable and convenient travel options for its train passengers.
The trains are scheduled to serve the Amtrak San Joaquins line, which includes five daily round trips between Oakland and Bakersfield, along with two daily round trips between Sacramento and Bakersfield. The deployment of the first six-car set on the Oakland-Bakersfield route is a step towards restoring service levels to those seen before the pandemic and lays the groundwork for potential future enhancements in service.
Highlighting the local benefits, the new rail cars were manufactured by Siemens Mobility at their Sacramento facility, under a contract with Sumitomo Corporation of Americas. The final assembly and finish work were carried out at the Stockton Regional Maintenance Facility. The procurement of these rail cars was made possible through a combination of federal and state funding, totaling $132 million.
Officials highlighted the dual benefits of these new trains: improving passenger experience and contributing to economic growth within the region. Additionally, the local manufacturing of these cars in Sacramento underscores a commitment to supporting the local economy and the broader goals of environmental sustainability and an improved transportation network for Californians.
The complete rollout of all seven trainsets on the San Joaquins line is anticipated by the end of 2025, managed by the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. This initiative represents a significant upgrade for the Amtrak San Joaquins line, marking the first major improvement to passenger experience in nearly three decades, including enhancements that facilitate easier movement for wheelchair users between cars.
