Redlands Passenger Rail to San Bernandino

Highland News

Redlands Passenger Rail Project Gains Momentum

The San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) is pleased to announce that the Redlands Passenger Rail Project is now in Final Design. As we near the end of this phase of the Project, our engineers are putting the final touches on the rail footprint, as well as the design for each of the five station locations that include the San Bernardino Transit Center, Waterman Avenue, New York Street (ESRI), Downtown Redlands and the University of Redlands.
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As part of its community outreach and education efforts, SANBAG recently launched a website dedicated to the Project – RedlandsRailProject.org. The site serves to deliver up-to-date information about the Project. In addition to providing answers to many of the common questions received by SANBAG, visitors are able to download the most current project information sheet and see a map of the planned route (see below). The website and project information sheet are available in English and Spanish.
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The passenger rail service will allow people to connect with other modes of transportation including Omnitrans, sbX, Metrolink, and other regional transportation alternatives. With the launch of the new service, residents who want to travel to Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego will be able to connect to Metrolink service at the new San Bernardino Transit Center.

Doesn't look like a bad place to extend a train to - there's a compact old downtown that's not too mangled, educational institutions, and a reasonably direct right of way

They are going to call this commuter rail train service Arrow.
They will be running Stadler FLIRTs using just two cars with a power unit in the middle like the FLIRTs at TexRail which uses four car trains. The Arrow bought three trains as DMUs, and with additional money from California a fourth train will be converted replacing the diesels with Li-ion batteries in the power unit, which makes it an EMU. They are planing adding a short overhead catenary in the corridor to recharge the batteries, although I am not sure exactly where.
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Though still experimental, if the technology is successful, it would be the first battery-operated passenger train in North America and having zero emissions.

Another operational detail I thought was interesting was the rather slow operational speed of this train service, at 45 mph. FLIRTs can go much faster, but I guess Arrow doesn’t need to go that fast. Most commuter rail operators in America desire at least 60 mph operating speeds. 45 mph is more akin to light rail train operating speeds.

Yes, it would be good if Arrow could do at least 60 mph.

When completed, people who live in Redlands and want to go to Downtown Los Angeles wouldn't need to drive into San Bernardino to get Metrolink. I have family friends who live in Redlands about a mile and a half from where the Downtown Redlands station will be. Once this service starts, their driving time to get me would take a fraction of what it takes them to drive to any of the San Bernardino Stations.

Why will Arrow be doing 45 mph?

ProgressiveRailroading.com: California agency kicks off construction on Redlands passenger-rail project

The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) has begun construction on the $355 million Redlands Passenger Rail Project, an effort to construct a 9-mile regional route that will operate between San Bernardino and Redlands, California.
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Construction is slated to be completed in 2020, with rail service expected to begin in late 2021, according to the project website.