California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter II – Capital ProgramIn the mid-1990s, the State designed and acquired the innovative 66-unitCalifornia Car fleet, plus nine locomotives. The cars were delivered between 1995and 1997, and the locomotives were delivered between 1994 and 1995. The carsare bi-level, with many amenities that bring a new level of comfort to passengers,and are fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).The General Motors F59PHI locomotives have a maximum operating speed of110 mph, emission reduction technology, and features to improve operational andfunctional safety. Two additional General Electric Dash-8 locomotives werepurchased from Amtrak in 1994.In 2002, the State purchased and placed in service an additional 22 cars andsix locomotives. The cars were acquired as an option to Amtrak’s 40-carPacific Surfliner fleet order for Southern California. Twelve of the State-ownedcars were for Northern California operations, and ten cars were forPacific Surfliner operations. The locomotives are General Motors model F59PHI.The Northern California fleet, which is used on both the San Joaquins andCapitol Corridor, is entirely State-owned. It includes 78 cars – the original66 California cars and 12 new Pacific Surfliner cars, and 17 locomotives –15 General Motors F59PHI and two General Electric Dash-8 units.The Pacific Surfliner fleet includes 50 cars and 14 locomotives. The only Stateownedequipment in this fleet is ten cars.The Department is currently developing technical specifications for new cars andlocomotives for use on the three State-supported routes. The 2007-08 Budget Actprovides $150 million in Proposition 1B funds for rail cars. Because Amtrak doesnot have any additional equipment for use, or leased equipment that would besuitable for California intercity rail service, the Department has to procure its ownequipment in order to expand service. The Department is currently developingspecifications for new cars. While the new cars will be compatible with existingequipment, they will include federal structural requirements introduced since thepurchase of the Pacific Surfliner cars in 2002.ROLLING STOCK MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAUL PROGRAMIn addition to equipment procurement, the equipment program also includeswarranty, rework, and modification of procured equipment; scheduledmaintenance; heavy equipment overhaul; equipment modernization; inspectionand safety monitoring; and repair of damaged equipment.In 2001-02, the Department started its heavy equipment overhaul program for itsfleet of California Cars and locomotives. Different components of the equipmentneed to be overhauled on a cyclical basis. The overhaul cycle varies from two toeight years depending on the component being serviced. The principal overhaul isat eight years and is called the mid-life overhaul. Thus, the overhaul program isongoing, and in each year different cars and components receive this service.31