Which trains take the 24 bikes? 40 bikes?

Caltrain operates two types of train cars:
Gallery (left photo: enter through one door) and Bombardier (right photo: enter through two doors). The gallery train set can accomodate 40 bikes, while the Bombardier train set can handle 24 bikes. The gallery and Bombardier sets aren't always used on the same train numbers.

Why doesn't Caltrain add more on-board bike capacity?

In 2009, Caltrain increased bike capacity by eight spaces per train and is running more two bike-car trains.

Why not add extra cars to the train every day?

The rolling stock is not technically designed to be coupled and uncoupled frequently. Also, varying train lengths would make our service less reliable for both bike riders and non-bike customers. All our customers are entitled to know what they can expect in terms of capacity and bike service when a train arrives at the station at its scheduled time.

Why is using gallery car sets with 40 bike spaces for express service risky?

With the 90-train weekday schedule, Caltrain had no choice but to use the gallery car sets on the additional express train runs. This is a prospect that is not without risk. The risk is to schedule reliability (on-time performance). Since the original launch of Baby Bullet service in June 2004, Caltrain has maintained an on-time performance of about 95%. This has led to increased ridership which translates into revenue that the system so desperately needs. The gallery cars have only one door per car, which makes loading and unloading much slower than with the newer two-door Bombardier cars. This has the potential to slow service. A longer stop at each station - referred to as "dwell time" - could significantly slow the Baby Bullet expresses. Simply put, it is much more difficult to make schedule with gallery cars than with the newer Bombardier equipment. The essence of the Baby Bullet express service is speed through efficiency. To achieve that speed, the service is tightly scheduled. Stopping longer at the stations, taking more time to load passengers, is not only counter-productive to what the Baby Bullet is all about, but it has a ripple effect throughout the rest of the run, slowing us down and defeating the purpose of an express train. Having said that, Caltrain recognizes that the success of Bullet express service is the answer to its budget woes. It is then a calculated risk that Caltrain is taking by using gallery sets in everyday express service.

Why not just add some time to the schedule to compensate for the loading?

Each express train schedule is precisely timed to make a turn and become another train heading in the opposite direction. All of these trains must work in unison. If trains do not make it on time, we miss our schedule and the express run is late - which defeats the underlying purpose of express service. The turning of trains requires enough time to check equipment and to allow crews to prepare for the next trip.

Why not adjust the schedule to run the express trains (earlier / later)?

The expresses are part of a highly integrated, interconnected system of trains running in sync. Any schedule shifts by the express trains would affect the entire schedule by the same amount. In other words, to move a Baby Bullet from 5:45 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. would require similar shifting for the entire rush-hour schedule by the same amount.

If I can't take my bike on the train, what can I do with it?

Caltrain and its municipal partners offer many wayside bicycle amenities. Bike lockers, offered at 27 stations, can be rented in six-month increments for $5.50 per month. For information on renting a bicycle locker call Caltrain at 650.508.6350 or e-mail JJBrown@Amtrak.com for specific location availability before submitting an application (PDF, 23.81 KB).

Other station-side options include:

• Mountain View offers a secure bike shelter. Call 650.903.6311 for details.
• Menlo Park has a secure bike shelter.
• Tamien and southern Santa Clara County stations lockers are handled by the Valley Transportation Authority. Call 408.321.7520 for details.
Caltrain is working to build a bikestation at its San Francisco station, with anticipated opening in fall 2006.

Are there space restrictions for folding bikes?

Folding bikes are allowed on any train car as they are no wider than 32 inches at the widest point.

Folding bikes must be in the folded position prior to boarding and must remain under the control of the owner while on board. Folding bikes must be able to be stored under the seat in front of you or be placed in the luggage racks provided by Caltrain.

Folding bikes may not be placed on seats and must not block aisles, stairs or vestibules. Folding bikes may not be stored in the space reserved for passengers in wheelchairs.

Dirt or grease from folding bikes must not be transferred to the interior of the car, other passengers, or crew members. If the bike is dirty, it must be placed in a bag to prevent soiling of the rail car. It is at the conductors' discretion to reject the boarding of a folding bike that they determine is not protected and appears to be greasy or dirty.

Folding bikes that are not in the bike rack must remain folded until the passenger has fully left the train.

08/11/2009 - rph