Take a tour of the next-generation Arrow Line

The future of transit is on display – digitally – in a new video highlighting the creative vision, innovative engineering and years of collaboration and development behind the much-anticipated Redlands Passenger Rail Project/Arrow.

The six-minute video, produced by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), comes as testing of the new diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains will take place on the newly constructed nine-mile line between San Bernardino and Redlands.

The highly efficient, low emission DMUs are scheduled to begin full service on the Arrow Line later this year and will become part of Metrolink’s high-popular San Bernardino Line. In 2023, a new hydrogen-based technology is expected to replace the removable diesel power packs, making Arrow the first passenger rail system in North America to use zero-emission multiple units (ZEMUs).

The video, available here, features a walking tour of the new high-tech trains and commentary from Curt Hagman, President of SBCTA and Chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors; U.S. Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) and Larry McCallon, Vice Chairman of the Metrolink Board and Mayor of Highland.

“It’s exciting to see it brand new,” Hagman says, as he points out some of the features in the new vehicles, including wifi, mobile-device plug-ins and space for bicycles. “It has all the latest innovation that we need to have for our residents and the future of travel in San Bernardino County … SBCTA is on the cutting edge of technology as usual.”

In addition to state-of-the-art technology, a highly anticipated element of the Arrow Line is the transit access it will provide from Redlands and the East Valley into the Metrolink system all the way to downtown Los Angeles. It also is the first in a number of transit innovations and access improvements SBCTA is bringing to the largest geographic county in the United States, including the new West Valley Connector bus-rapid transit system and new connections into and out of the Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink station, Ontario International Airport and other key points.

“As the country grows, as this region grows, we’re going to need more transit. To have something that seamlessly connects with the Metrolink system from the East Valley gives people more options as to how they can travel – for shopping, for education, for medical appointments, for recreation and for commerce in general,” McCallon says.

“This is gorgeous. It’s a good looking train,” says Aguilar, describing Arrow as the culmination of “decades of progress.” “We need to continue to make public transportation safe, reliable for San Bernardino County residents … People are going to see this improvement and they’re going to benefit from it.”

Meanwhile, testing of the new DMUs is scheduled to begin today and will continue for the next few months until revenue service begins later this year. Nighttime train testing is tentatively scheduled for next week in the City of San Bernardino.

For more information on Arrow train testing, click here.