As part of this academic year, three Environmental Studies seniors from the University of Redlands (Briahna Guadamuz, Theo Oslon, and Sophia Ruelas), under the guidance of Dr. Valerie Rountree, completed a Senior Capstone project examining SBCTA’s Zero-Emission Multiple Unit (ZEMU) hydrogen train on the Arrow Line. Their work takes a closer look at how SBCTA’s early leadership and cross-agency collaboration helped bring a first-of-its-kind clean rail solution to San Bernardino County.
Through interviews with five project experts and a review of agency documents, the students traced ZEMU’s journey from early conversations in 2015 to passenger service in 2025. One of their key takeaways was the importance of early and sustained collaboration with the Federal Railroad Administration. Because no regulations existed for hydrogen-powered passenger rail at the outset, SBCTA and federal partners had to work together to develop safety and operational frameworks that protected innovation without constraining it.
The student interviews emphasized that earlier investments in hydrogen fueling and maintenance facilities could have reduced complexity and long-term costs. Rigorous risk and safety analyses were also critical to meet regulatory requirements, as well as to build confidence in a technology that operates very differently from traditional diesel systems.
Beyond the technical and regulatory insights, the students framed ZEMU as something larger than a single pilot project. Their case study positions ZEMU as a practical roadmap for agencies pursuing diesel-alternative rail solutions, particularly as California moves toward its 2047 zero-emission locomotive goals. For a region long challenged by air quality concerns, ZEMU demonstrates that clean rail technology is not just aspirational.
SBCTA is proud to have supported this student research and to see the ZEMU project contributing to learning well beyond the Arrow corridor. The next generation of transportation professionals is already helping shape the future.