"Caltrain Metro East" alternative to the planned multibillion-dollar
San Jose BART extension, by transit planner and advocate
Michael Kiesling and BayRail Alliance. While San Jose BART remains the locally preferred alternative, the project is largely unfunded. Like existing Caltrain service, CME would be a conventional-gauge railroad, but would feature electric multiple unit (EMU) vehicles able to go 125mph. Kiesling has envisioned CME as a local service, from the Peninsula to San Jose via the planned Dumbarton rail bridge and Union City BART station, and in right-of-way partly shared with an Altamont alignment of
California High-Speed Rail. Were CME to replace BART, the additional rail projects shown on the CME map might be realized with the savings. CME might also serve Mineta San Jose Airport and the Golden Triangle of
North San Jose, though riders would have to transfer to Downtown and East San Jose.