The primary zero-emission passenger prepare within the U.S. has rolled into San Bernardino, and passengers ought to be capable to trip the clean-energy line early subsequent yr, transportation authorities mentioned.
San Bernardino County Transit Authority offered the $20-million, 108-passenger prepare — the Zero Emission A number of Unit, or ZEMU — at a public ceremony Thursday on the San Bernardino Depot Prepare Station.
ZEMU is North America’s first self-powered, zero-emission passenger prepare to satisfy Federal Railroad Administration necessities, in line with the transit authority.
“What we’ve got executed with ZEMU is transformational,” San Bernardino County Transit Authority President Ray Marquez mentioned in a press release. “The event of the prepare has solidified SBCTA’s place as an innovator in clear passenger rail right here within the Inland Empire, all through the state and the nation.”
The prepare will serve the Arrow Line, a 9-mile transit line with 5 stops between downtown San Bernardino and the College of Redlands.
The zero-emission prepare represents an environmental transportation coup for the personal liberal arts school, which boasts Management in Vitality and Environmental Design inexperienced constructing requirements.
“The Arrow Rail Line has already made a transformative impression on the College of Redlands, linking our college students and campus to the larger Southern California area,” College of Redlands President Krista Newkirk mentioned in a press release. “The addition of the primary self-powered, zero-emission passenger prepare takes this progress even additional, amplifying our college’s dedication to investing in clear vitality.”
ZEMU, a clean-energy prepare, arrives June 30 in San Bernardino.
(San Bernardino County Transit Authority)
The Arrow Line debuted in October 2022 and permits for westbound connections to Los Angeles’ Union Station.
The Arrow Line is Metrolink’s fastest-growing line, having fun with a 4% weekday enhance and a 21% bump in weekend ridership from the earlier quarter, in line with Metrolink’s third-quarter figures from 2024. The road is the smallest of eight regional routes and serves 416 each day weekday and 6,433 weekend passengers.
ZEMU is anticipated to be built-in into the Arrow Line’s route shortly after the brand new yr, in line with Tim Watkins, SBCTA’s chief legislative and public affairs officer.
The prepare was constructed by producer Stadler at its japanese Swiss headquarters earlier than heading to Belgium by way of truck and barge. It departed on a transatlantic voyage and reached Galveston, Texas, in fall 2023.
It will definitely was examined on the Transportation Expertise Heart in Pueblo, Colo., after which departed Colorado for San Bernardino on June 18, aided by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive. It pulled into the station on June 21.
ZEMU joins a fleet of three Diesel A number of Unit trains, constructed by Stadler, that at present serve the Arrow hall.
These DMUs run on renewable gasoline comprised of recycled pure fat and vegetable oils.
ZEMU makes use of Stadler’s Quick Gentle Intercity and Regional Prepare, or FLIRT, idea. The prepare makes use of a hybrid hydrogen and battery know-how for propulsion and to energy onboard electrical programs. Water vapor is the one emission generated from the propulsion system.
At the moment, ZEMU is fueled by blue hydrogen, which makes use of pure fuel and a steam reforming course of to extract hydrogen. The ensuing course of produces carbon dioxide that’s captured and saved for different makes use of.
Ultimately, the SBCTA hopes to adapt to inexperienced hydrogen, a cleaner type of gasoline, that depends on electrolysis to extract hydrogen and doesn’t produce a carbon byproduct.
The zero-emission automobile is a welcome addition to an space that has struggled with breathable air, in line with Watkins.
San Bernardino obtained a letter grade of ”F” or “Fail” in all classes of the 2024 “State of the Air” index by the American Lung Assn. The grades are primarily based on the variety of days a county’s air reaches unhealthful ranges when measuring ozone and particle air pollution.
“We’re in one of many worst air high quality attainment areas,” Watkins mentioned. “We’re curious about actual options that may mitigate these challenges and ship breathable air.”
SBCTA mentioned it had procured simply over $60 million in state and native funding for the challenge. Different capital makes use of embrace testing, analysis and growth and the redevelopment and retrofitting of the Arrow Line’s upkeep facility in San Bernardino to accommodate the bigger ZEMU.
The hope, Watkins mentioned, is that this primary ZEMU will result in the conversion of Metrolink’s complete fleet.
