Caltrain Set For Baseball Home Opener Thursday

Caltrain is on track for the San Francisco Giants’ home-opener April 6, when fans converge on AT&T Park for the first game of the official baseball season. Caltrain’s schedule offers four regular trains, plus one special train, designed to get fans to the ballpark in time for the 1:05 p.m. start of the game against the Atlanta Braves.

For Friday night’s 7:15 p.m. game, fans have a choice of seven regularly scheduled trains that arrive in San Francisco between 6:00 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. For this weekend’s 1:05 p.m. games, the Caltrain line-up includes both regular service and one special northbound train.

After evening and weekend games, two special trains depart San Francisco for the return trip. An express train to San Carlos leaves approximately 15 minutes after the last out, or when full, and then makes all locals stops after San Carlos to San Jose Diridon station.

The second train departs San Francisco 25 minutes after the game or when full and serves all local stops to San Jose Diridon. On nights with post-game fireworks shows, the express and local trains depart approximately 15 and 25 minutes after the fireworks, respectively, or when full.

Last year, an average of 3,600 fans per game took advantage of Caltrain’s convenient service to the ballpark, which is just two blocks from the railroad’s San Francisco terminal at Fourth and King streets.

Caltrain is a proof-of-payment system; tickets are not sold on board trains but can be purchased at vending machines at the stations or at the San Francisco or San Jose ticket offices.

A shuttle bus between the Tamien and San Jose Diridon stations runs on weekends only. Caltrain also reminds passengers that alcoholic beverages are prohibited on trains departing San Francisco beginning at 9 p.m.

Caltrain baseball service brochures are available on trains or can be viewed HERE. For fare and schedule information, call 1.800.660.4287 (or TTY only 650.508.6448.)

04/05/2006 - jrm