Officials in Lima, Peru, are considering legal action against Caltrain due to the poor condition of the second-hand locomotives it purchased from the Peninsula commuter railroad, according to an international travel publication.
The publication, Travel and Tour World, said that Lima municipal railway engineers found that the 19 double-deck coaches and 19 diesel locomotives are falling apart and some vehicles are beyond repair.
Doors, windows and other parts were missing, and the HVAC systems weren’t working, the publication said. Three of the locomotives will require a complete rebuild.
Caltrain did not respond to inquiries from the Post.
If they did try to use the Caltrain vehicles, engineers have said they limit its speed to 12 mph. The deteriorating Caltrain trains have dealt a setback to Peru, which wanted to expand its commuter rail system using the trains from California. It had wanted to open four new stations and add 14 stops.
Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications has begun a look into the possibility of bringing legal action against Caltrain, according to Travel and Tour World. The agency’s findings will be referred to Peru’s Comptroller General, Congress and Public Prosecutor to investigate possible “administrative or criminal liability.”
Caltrain sold the diesel locomotives and coaches in 2024 for $6.2 million as part of its plan to switch to electric trains in order to reduce air pollution.
The sale faced opposition by some who said Caltrain was shifting pollution from the Bay Area to another region, but not solving the problem. As a result, the Legislature passed and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 30, which bans the resale, donation or transfer of diesel locomotives to developing nations.
So you buy junk that someone else is offloading, and then you complain you bought junk. Alrighty.
I guess it is difficult for a prospective buyer to “kick the tires” of a vehicle with steel wheels. They should have bought the extended warranty.
Does ‘as is’ apply?
It should of been a gift, after all,no?
I honestly thought we didn’t need to change the trains because of their limited use, although nice to have as a reminder of the history of the Americas. I am torn, between the thought.
How was Caltrain able to run normal service with these for decades at 80 mph, until just a few months ago, but Peru can only run them at 12 mph? Something seems fishy.