THE project to introduce a commuter service in the Peruvian capital Lima has run into difficulty after an inspection revealed the poor condition of rolling stock purchased second-hand from US commuter operator Caltrain.

In November 2024, Caltrain signed a $US 6.32m deal with the municipality of Lima to sell 19 EMD F40PH diesel locomotives and 90 double-deck coaches, rendered surplus by the electrification of the San Francisco - San Jose line.

The second-hand rolling stock was purchased to operate a new commuter service running for 46.2km from Alfonso Ugarte station in Lima via Chosica to Ricardo Palma, first announced by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) in 2022. The project includes the construction of four new stations at Alfonso Ugarte, Abancay, Huaycán and La Florida, as well as 14 stops.

As the first batch of Caltrain rolling stock arrived in July, local media began questioning the technical feasibility of the project. Engineering reports cited by El Comercio warned that under current infrastructure conditions, commuter services would not be able to operate above 20km/h. Freight trains operated on the line by Central Andean Railway (FCA) typically run at speeds below this level.

“There is no double track, no four stations, no 14 stops, and no signalling, which makes it impossible to guarantee service safety,” says minister of transport and communications, César Sandoval. Despite several meetings between MTC and the municipality of Lima, no confirmed implementation schedule or funding plan has yet been agreed.

Rolling stock inspection

An inspection commissioned by the municipality of Lima and conducted by US consultancy Rail Electrical Service has found that all the locomotives and coaches purchased from Caltrain exhibit critical mechanical and structural deterioration. Several vehicles are beyond economic repair, while the cost of replacement parts is estimated at nearly $US 2m.

Key defects include:

  • structural fatigue and corrosion rendering several coaches beyond repair
  • three locomotives requiring a complete engine rebuild
  • oil and coolant leaks, seized engines, and turbocharger failures
  • missing windows, doors, and cab components
  • inoperative HVAC systems and damaged electrical wiring, and
  • critical components that are obsolete and no longer supported by the manufacturer.

The report also notes that one locomotive should be scrapped and used solely as a source of spare parts.

Following the publication of the report, MTC announced that it will initiate legal and administrative proceedings over the state of the rolling stock purchased from Caltrain. The findings will be referred to the Comptroller General, Congress, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine potential administrative and criminal liability, MTC said.

California ban

The sale of the rolling stock to Lima has prompted the state of California to enact legislation prohibiting the sale, donation or transfer for continuing operation of diesel locomotives meeting only EPA Tier 0 or Tier 1 emissions standards. Senate Bill 30 was introduced by California state senator, Dave Cortese, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, in December 2024, and was signed into law by governor Gavin Newsom last month.

“By stopping the resale and donation of outdated, high-polluting diesel equipment, this new law ensures that these trains are not sent to developing nations where they would continue to emit toxic diesel particulate matter, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants,” Cortese says.

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