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Overview
Passenger service on the peninsula corridor began on Oct. 18,
1863 under the authority of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad
Company. Prophetically, some $600,000 of the original $2 million
capital stock issue was owned by the voters of San Francisco,
San Mateo and Santa Clara counties following a three-county election
in 1861.
In 1870, the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company was acquired
by the firm that was consolidated eventually into the Southern
Pacific Railway. S.P. double-tracked the line in 1904, and operated
passenger service in the corridor successfully until after World
War II.
Changing commute patterns impaced Southern Pacific along with
private carriers all over the country, and after protracted struggles
with the state Public Utilities Commission on fares and service
levels, S.P petitioned to abandon passenger service in 1977.
Once more, the three Peninsula counties stepped into the breach
with a temporary Fare Stabilization Plan -- partially subsidizing
commuter tickets -- that reversed a long pattern of declining
ridership and set the stage for state sponsorship of the Peninsula
Commute in 1980.
From 1980 until mid-year 1992, Caltrans contracted with S.P. to
provide passenger service in the corridor, sharing operating subsidies
with San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The state
assumed sole responsibility for station acquisitions and other
capital improvements until the service resulted in formation of
the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board in 1987. The JPB agreed
to assume operating responsibilities for Caltrain effective July
1, 1992, and to shoulder 100 percent of the operating subsidy
a year later.
In December 1991, the JPB purchased the rail right of way from
San Francisco to San Jose. The JPB secured trackage rights to
Gilroy for another $4 million, with an option to acquire half
the right of way in the future. S.P. retains rights to operate
freight service in the corridor.
To replace S.P. as the commute operator, the JPB signed Amtrak, the national rail
corporation, to a three-year agreement with two one-year options beginning July 1,
1992. The contract was extended through September 2001. Contract oversight is
provided by the Joint Powers Board. The JPB signed a new contract with Amtrak, the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation, on November 1st, 2001. This contract
agreement will be effective for a five-year term.
As its legacy to the JPB, Caltrans has deeded 26 stations, 20
diesel locomotives and 73 bi-level passenger cars to the local
agency.
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