ZEMU
The Next Generation of Transit
Rail History
SB History Video
1875
San Bernardino County’s rail history goes back to 1875 when Southern Pacific Railroad first rolled into the region. Eleven years later, Santa Fe Railroad arrived, truly establishing San Bernardino’s connection to the rest of the country.
1886
To welcome the arrival of freight and passenger trains, a depot was built in 1886. Photo courtesy of SB Depot Museum
1916
The wooden structure would stand for 30 years before being leveled by a fire in November 1916. Photo courtesy of SB Depot Museum
1918
Construction on a new depot began a short time later. In 1918, the new depot opened, showcasing mission-style architecture as a tribute to Santa Fe Railroad and the town it helped build. Photo courtesy of SB Depot Museum
1920s-1950s
During the peak of passenger rail service between the mid-1920s and mid-1950s, one could find up to 26 trains departing every two hours heading in both east and west directions. Photo courtesy of SB Depot Museum
1937
As travel by car and air increased in popularity, the demand for passenger trains decreased. A casualty of passenger rail decline was the 1937 abandonment of the Pacific Electric “Red Car” trolley system and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, known as the Pacific Electric San Bernardino line, which served Redlands from Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Early 1990s
SBCTA acquired the abandoned Pacific Electric San Bernardino Railroad line, including the nine miles between San Bernardino and Redlands, with the intent to reestablish a rail connection through the corridor.
1991
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) was established, marking the birth of Metrolink and setting the stage for a new era of connectivity in Southern California. Photo courtesy of Metrolink
1992
Metrolink service began, with trains rolling out on several lines, including the vital San Bernardino line, revolutionizing regional transit and bringing communities closer together. Photo courtesy of Metrolink
January 2015
SBCTA’s plan to recreate passenger rail service between Redlands and San Bernardino receives environmental clearance, later dubbed the Arrow corridor along the San Bernardino Line.
2016
SBCTA orders three Diesel Multiple Unit trains, the cleanest diesel-powered trains available, from Stadler to provide service on the Arrow corridor along the San Bernardino Line.
Early 2018
Construction begins on the Arrow corridor along the San Bernardino Line; SBCTA receives funding to study zero-emission passenger train technology for service on the Arrow corridor, into Los Angeles Union Station, and throughout the state.
October 2022
Diesel Multiple Unit trains begin Metrolink passenger rail service on the Arrow corridor along the San Bernardino Line.
March 2023
The Santa Fe Depot in San Bernardino will be featured in a new U.S. stamp commemorating the historic railroad stations across the country.
2024
The depot still stands today, having undergone renovations between 2002 and 2004, and currently serves as headquarters for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), a Greyhound bus terminal, and one of the key stations along the San Bernardino Line for Metrolink.
June 2024
ZEMU arrived in San Bernardino, marking a significant milestone. Testing began later that summer at the Arrow Maintenance Facility to ensure ZEMU would properly integrate with Metrolink’s operating systems.
August 2024
SBCTA hosted a press conference with local, state and federal leaders to celebrate the arrival of ZEMU and its innovative technology to San Bernardino County. Attendees included SBCTA President Ray Marquez, U.S. Congressman Pete Aguilar, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration Amit Bose, California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin, Metrolink Board of Directors Chairman Larry McCallon and Stadler US CEO Martin Ritter. Read the press release here.
November 2024
Dynamic testing along the 9-mile Arrow corridor between the cities of San Bernardino and Redlands began in November and is expected to go through Mid-February.
Need
In the early 1990s, SBCTA acquired the abandoned Pacific Electric San Bernardino Railroad line, that included the nine miles between San Bernardino and Redlands, with the intent to reestablish a rail connection through the corridor. The effort was also driven by a commitment SBCTA made to area voters as part of the county’s Measure I half-cent sales tax.
Early in the project, refurbished Metrolink diesel locomotives were planned to run on the new line, but area residents challenged that idea. Instead, they pressed SBCTA for a cleaner rail option to address the region’s air quality challenges.
Proudly accepting that challenge and making a commitment to cleaner rail transit for San Bernardino County residents, SBCTA returned from the drawing board having identified the cleanest diesel engine train available: a Diesel Multiple Unit, or DMU. The train is smaller, quieter, and a more efficient rail vehicle than traditional diesel locomotives operating throughout the country.
SBCTA ordered three DMUs from Stadler, a Swiss train maker with locations worldwide. The trains destined for SBCTA were built at Stadler’s Utah location, satisfying the federal Buy America Act requirement. The Buy America Act requires all iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials used on a public infrastructure project receiving federal money to be made in the U.S.
The modernized rail line, known today as Metrolink’s Arrow Corridor along the San Bernardino Line, would once again reconnect people from Redlands to San Bernardino but in a much more environmentally friendly way. The line would also create more transit connection options, including ones to reach destinations in neighboring counties. Daily service to and from Downtown Los Angeles Union Station would be available from the Redlands – Downtown Station. The new line would also create connections to Omnitrans bus services, Riverside Transit Agency, Mountain Area Regional Transit, and Victor Valley Transit Authority Commuter Express.
As part of the Arrow Corridor’s construction, five new bridges were built and 24 at-grade train crossings were enhanced with safety features. Each aspect of the project continues to prioritize safety and being a good neighbor for the communities it passes through. The Federal Railroad Administration also granted SBCTA quiet zones along the 9-mile route to reduce the amount of train horns residents, businesses and visitors hear each day
DMU Service
The DMUs began service on the Arrow Corridor along the San Bernardino Line in October 2022. They run seven days a week, roughly 18 hours each day and stop at five stations:
San Bernardino – Downtown Station
San Bernardino – Tippecanoe Station
Redlands – Esri Station
Redlands – Downtown Station
Redlands – University Station
The DMUs, already the cleanest diesel passenger train available, further solidify their eco-friendly status by using a renewable fuel source made from recycled natural fats and vegetable oils.
Going Greener
While the new 9-mile track between San Bernardino and Redlands was being built, SBCTA continued to explore the possibility of a zero or near-zero-emission technology that would allow the conversion of the DMUs and integrate into the existing heavy rail infrastructure. In its drive to bring cleaner transportation to its residents and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the San Bernardino basin, SBCTA petitioned the California State Transportation Agency to support such a project.
Grant Awarded
In 2018, SBCTA received a $30 million Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program grant from the California State Transportation Agency to help fund the research and procurement of a passenger rail vehicle.
In 2023, SBCTA received an additional $15,772,000 grant from the California State Transportation Agency in support of ZEMU.
Tech Study
Shortly after the grant award, SBCTA conducted an alternative fuel technology study to determine the zero or near-zero-emission option most suitable for the Arrow corridor, which could also be expandable to Los Angeles Union Station and other areas in California. The study identified the hydrogen and battery hybrid technology as the best fit for the needs of San Bernardino County and beyond. And the Zero-Emission-Multiple-Unit (ZEMU) was born.
SBCTA’s innovative commitment to cleaner passenger rail service and finding creative, sustainable solutions is creating a framework that other agencies across California are starting to follow.
Hydrogen
Contract Signed
goSBCTA
In fall 2019, then SBCTA President Darcy McNaboe signed a contract with Stadler representatives Martin Ritter and Dr. Ansgar Brockmeyer to build a ZEMU rail vehicle for the county’s Arrow line between San Bernardino and Redlands. The signing was a historic moment for SBCTA and Stadler because it marked the first ZEMU hydrogen train destined for North America.
Journey to the U.S.
ZEMU's Origin
ZEMU was built in Europe, in landlocked Bussnang, Switzerland to be exact, and as one can imagine, it had quite the journey making its way to the U.S.
The Journey Begins
ZEMU was carefully loaded onto flatbed trucks departing Stadler’s commissioning and startup center in Erlen, Switzerland
The Journey Continues
ZEMU was transported to a dock on the Rhine River. Once at the river, ZEMU was loaded onto a barge and made a northward voyage up the Rhine River to Belgium.
The Journey Continues
In Belgium, ZEMU was transferred onto a cargo carrier to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
The Journey Continues
Zemu arrived on American soil in Galveston, Texas in the summer of 2023.
The Journey Continues
ZEMU has been undergoing testing for the past year in Pueblo, Colo.
ZEMU on Display
It took a short break from testing to make an appearance at the October 2023 annual American Public Transportation Association’s EXPO in Orlando, Fla., showing the world what the future of zero-emission rail vehicles looks like.
ZEMU's Arrival
ZEMU’s journey finally made its long-awaited arrival completion into San Bernardino County the night of June 20, 2024. ZEMU was pulled by a locomotive more than 1,000 miles over two days from the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo., to the San Bernardino Depot
AMF Enhancements
The Arrow Maintenance Facility (AMF) was built to serve as a maintenance hub and fueling station for the DMUs.
Integrating ZEMU with the existing AMF required few modifications. To accommodate ZEMU, a hydrogen fueling station is under construction and the existing maintenance building is being retrofitted to comply with state and local requirements for the use of hydrogen fuel. Modifications include installation of a hydrogen leak and flame detection system and upgrade to the ventilation and fire suppression system.
Construction is expected to finish in summer 2025.
During construction, a temporary hydrogen fueling station will be located at the AMF to support ZEMU while in testing and early operation.
ZEMU Testing
ZEMU Service Coming Soon
ZEMU is expected to begin service on Metrolink’s Arrow corridor along the eastern portion of the San Bernardino Line in 2025.
Additional Resources
Explore more about the project through the embedded website below. It’s a one-stop resource to learn about the project, scroll through captivating photos, access key documents, and discover other essential information
Zero-Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) - SBCTA
