15 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 1/7/21:

 

   Survey: Caltrain served a larger percentage of essential workers in 2020    

 

 

Essential workers have relied more heavily on Caltrain’s commuter-rail service in California during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to 2019, according to a Caltrain-conducted ridership survey.

 

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[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 3/19/21

 

Caltrain adjusts schedule to maintain regional connections

 

 

Beginning March 22, Caltrain will adjust its weekday and weekend timetables to support regional transit connections.

 

The changes are part of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Blue Ribbon Task Force efforts. The task force was formed in May 2020 to help guide the San Francisco Bay Area’s public transportation network as the region adjusted to new conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.


 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 8/19/21

 

Caltrain to increase service, cut fares 50%

 

Beginning Aug. 30, Caltrain service will surpass its pre-pandemic levels, offering 104 trains per weekday, including hourly all-stop local trains throughout the day and the return of Baby Bullet express trains. 

 

As an additional incentive to riders, Caltrain is discounting all of its non-Go Pass fares by 50% during September, agency officials said in a news release.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Caltrain news release

 

Caltrain to Run More Service than Ever, Cut Fares 50%

 

August 13, 2021

 

 

In anticipation of a large number of people returning to the office and in-person classes in September, starting Monday, August 30, Caltrain service will surpass its pre-pandemic levels, offering 104 trains per weekday, including hourly all-stop Local trains throughout the day and the return of the Baby Bullet express trains. As an additional incentive to riders, Caltrain is discounting all of its non-Go Pass fares by 50% during the month of September.

 

The new level of weekday service, higher than any point in Caltrain’s history, will provide increased service and frequency throughout the day and into the evening. Service during the weekday peak commuting hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) will be increased to four trains per hour with the return of hourly Baby Bullet express trains. Limited-Stop train service during the middle of the day will provide riders with a faster alternative, while half hourly service until 11 p.m. will provide better local service into the late evenings, in keeping with the goals of the Framework for Equity, Connectivity, Recovery and Growth. Another goal of the framework captured by the new schedule is a move towards clock-face scheduling, so trains arrive at regular and predictable intervals, simplifying the riding experience.

 

The restoration of the third Gilroy train, which includes direct service to College Park station, will provide increased service to South Bay residents. Weekend service will now be identical, rather than separate Saturday and Sunday schedules, which adds two additional round trips in morning and late evening on Sundays.

 

Caltrain developed the timetable with an emphasis on improving BART connections at the Millbrae Transit Center. Under the new timetable, the majority of connections during weekdays are between eight and 15 minutes, just right for rider convenience while flexible enough to avoid missing transfers. After 8:30 p.m. and for some weekend transfers, the wait time is currently less optimal. Both systems are dealing with intensive, system-wide construction, rebuilding, and maintenance activities that limit flexibility, and are continuing to work together to optimize our connections.

 

As public health conditions continue to evolve and ridership continues to increase, Caltrain will make further service adjustments to meet the public’s changing transportation needs. Caltrain ridership continues to improve, regularly exceeding 12% of pre-pandemic levels on the weekdays and 40% on the weekends.

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[KevinKorell]

CalTrain website:

 

 

 

Caltrain Received $38.8 Million in Additional Federal Pandemic Relief

 

 

March 4, 2022

 

Caltrain has been awarded $38.8 million in federal funds through the American Rescue Plan (ARPA). These funds will be used to keep Caltrain operations running to serve workers, students and families while the agency continues to work towards Electrification.

 

“COVID-19 has posed a serious challenge to public transit, especially commuter railroads. We are incredibly grateful to President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and our entire federal delegation led by Speaker Pelosi for continuing to support public transit.” said Caltrain Board of Directors Chair Steve Heminger. “This federal support ensures that, as the Bay Area continues to reopen and riders return to the system, Caltrain will be ready to get them where they need to go.”

 

Caltrain has faced unprecedented financial challenges as a result of the pandemic. Caltrain losses in fare revenue were significant as ridership decreased to 5% in the early days of the pandemic and remains at approximately 20% of previous levels. The loss in fare revenue is especially impactful to Caltrain because pre-pandemic, over 70% of the operating funds came from fares.  

 

Funding provided by the Federal Government through ARPA, as well as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act has allowed Caltrain to maintain service throughout the pandemic. The funding received will help to balance projected deficits through FY2023.


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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.

Follow Caltrain on Facebook and Twitter.

Free translation assistance is available. Para traducción llama al 1.800.660.4287; 如需翻譯,請電 1.800.660.4287.

 

[KevinKorell]

Palo Alto, CA Online, 3/23/23:

 

 

   Remote work rises and Caltrain ridership plummets: How Sililcon Valley has changed three years since COVID  

 

(snip)

 

This shift is part of the reason for a massive decline in the number of people using Caltrain, Silicon Valley's primary commuter rail line: Caltrain ridership has fallen by 92% from pre-pandemic rates. 

 

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