Clean trains

California's new $20 million train is unlike anything else in the US

By Olivia Harden

In a win for California’s race to hit its climate mandates and reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, the state unveiled its latest addition to its railroad infrastructure.

On Thursday, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority unveiled its Zero Emission Multiple Unit, also known as ZEMU, at the San Bernardino Depot Train Station, according to a news release. 

ZEMU trains only emit water vapor and operate using a “hybrid hydrogen and battery technology to propel the train and power onboard electrical systems,” according to the transit authority. The $20 million, 108-passenger trains are self-powered and the first in the United States to meet the Federal Railroad Administration’s requirements, the transit authority told the LA Times.

The debut arrives shortly after Caltrain unveiled its new electric-powered fleet, replacing its current diesel fleet. According to a recent analysis from the California Green Innovation Index, California is currently behind on its climate change mandates and will need to cut more than 100 million metric tons of emissions a year to achieve them. 

“Cleaner air, quieter trains and extra space on board are just a few of the outstanding benefits these hydrogen-powered passenger trains bring to the people of California,” Toks Omishakin, California’s transportation secretary, wrote in a statement. “We are thankful for this partnership as we work to advance our ambitious climate goals and, with Caltrans, put 10 more zero-emission trains in motion, providing much-needed intercity rail service throughout California.”

The ZEMU train is slated to run on the Arrow Corridor, which makes up the first five stops on the San Bernardino line from Redlands University to Downtown San Bernardino.

“What we have done with ZEMU is transformational,” transportation authority President Ray Marquez said in a statement. “The development of the train has solidified SBCTA’s place as an innovator in clean passenger rail here in the Inland Empire, throughout the state and the nation.”