By: Tanu Henry, Antonio Ray Harvey and Joe W. Bowers Jr., California Black Media

On March 6, California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin joined other state leaders to launch a new tech-forward train service — the San Joaquin’s line — that runs between Bakersfield and Oakland, with a route branching off to Sacramento.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Stockton at a regional maintenance facility for trains.

Developed in partnership with Amtrak, the train service is the first of seven lines that will make five daily round trips from the Central Valley to the Bay Area. The other six trains will be launched by the end of the year, according to CalTrans.

“These trains are a giant leap forward in passenger experience. In addition, they have been built in California, providing economic prosperity to our region, said Omikshakin.

“They show our commitment to combating climate change and improving the multimodal transportation network for all Californians,” he continued.

The trains were built by Siemens, a German company, at the manufacturer’s Sacramento plant.

“These trains were designed with Californians in mind,” said Michael Cahill, Siemen’s president for rolling stock in North America. “They set a new standard for passenger travel with end-to-end accessibility.”

Caltrans Director Tony Tavares said the train line is the backbone of California’s regional transportation network.

“We are committed to providing our riders with the highest quality service, equipment, and amenities. These new Venture Rail Cars move us forward into the next era of rider experience, comfort, and reliability,” Tavares said.