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Caltrain shifts to new rail operator

Over the next five months, Caltrain operations will transition from Amtrak to TransitAmerica Services Inc., following the unanimous approval Sept. 1 by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board to contract with the St. Joseph, Missouri, firm.

The approval comes after a 15-month bidding process that led to the comparison of five rail operators, Caltrain officials said.

The first full year (FY 2013) of the five-year contract is for $59.5 million, within the projected Caltrain operating and capital budgets, according to a Caltrain statement. Subsequent contract amounts are subject to annual negotiations.

It's likely that the familiar faces of those running the trains will remain the same; federal regulations provide job protections for current employees.

The major components of Caltrain's contract include the daily staffing and operations of trains, as well as inspection and maintenance of tracks and other facilities.

Amtrak has operated Caltrain for more than 20 years.

— Embarcadero Media