For the very first time, California now has two brand-new all-electric commuter trains running along a significant corridor. This could potentially be an indication that the United States is ultimately getting prepared to catch up with the rest of the world in electrifying its railway stock.

The two new trains are operated by Caltrain. California’s Governor Gavin Newson and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi were present to take part in the inaugural ride, which occurred on Saturday. The following day, the trains began their regular service, traveling along the route between San Jose and San Francisco.

It has taken nearly two decades since the concept of electric trains was initially proposed in California. However, officials firmly assert that the new trains will be quieter and faster compared to the currently operational diesel-powered ones, while also offering a superior experience for passengers. The two existing trains will be joined by 17 more, which are expected to be in service by mid-September.

Caltrain stated that the new trains will be 20 percent swifter because they can accelerate and decelerate more effectively than diesel trains. Moreover, these new trains will contribute to making life more convenient for the people residing along the rail corridor by reducing air and noise pollution.

It comes as no surprise that the United States lags behind the rest of the world in introducing electric trains. While numerous light rail lines operate using electric power, almost all of the nation’s heavy rail lines rely on diesel fuel.

India is on the verge of electrifying 100 percent of its rail lines, while China is approaching three-quarters of its network. Over 57 percent of the rail system within the European Union is electric. The US, which has historically prioritized personal cars over high-volume passenger trains, can now proudly claim that it has two electric trains – with more on the horizon.

The reasons for this exceptionally sluggish adoption are numerous, but one of the most prominent issues is the opposition from the Association of American Railroads, the industry’s principal lobbying organization. The group contends that retrofitting the rail system in the US for electric trains would be extremely costly, particularly since a large portion of the current track system is constructed to accommodate diesel engines. These costs are believed to outweigh the potential benefits of an electric-powered rail system.

It even released a policy paper (which is now conspicuously absent from the group’s website) outlining the case against railroad electrification. The existential threat posed by climate change is insufficient to change the minds of the nation’s rail executives.

And it’s not as if the problem is not evident. US railroads are among the largest consumers of diesel fuel, consuming approximately 4.2 billion gallons in 2018 alone. Some experts have pointed to railroad monopolization as a primary reason why electrification efforts continue to be delayed. The major operators – CSX and Norfolk Southern in the east, and BNSF and Union Pacific in the west – “rigorously oppose the allocation of capital that would enhance infrastructure. As a consequence, they are reluctant to fund electrification and focus on cutting costs and services in order to obtain higher profits,” Maddock Thomas wrote in the Brown Political Review last year.

State-operated commuter rail has an opportunity to embrace the spirit of the times and do the right thing in the absence of cooperation from the freight operators. The new Caltrain models are merely a small contribution but should have a significant impact in demonstrating that electric trains can be a win for the community as well as for the environment.