The 41st Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival will welcome foodies from near and far, many of whom will get there aboard Caltrain’s Garlic Train. On Saturday & Sunday, July 27 & 28, this specially chartered train will provide nonstop, roundtrip service between the San Jose Diridon and Gilroy stations, in addition to a bus shuttle from the station to the festival without the hassle of driving and parking.
Garlic Train Service Schedule:
10:00 a.m. – Garlic Train departs San Jose Diridon Station
11:00 a.m. – Garlic Train arrives at Gilroy Station; connect to bus shuttle for service to the festival grounds
3:00 p.m. – Bus shuttles begin return trips from festival grounds to Gilroy Station
4:00 p.m. – Garlic Train departs Gilroy Station
5:00 p.m. – Garlic Train arrives at San Jose Diridon Station
Connecting Service:
NEW FOR 2019: Tickets for the Garlic Train now include fare for connecting Caltrain service.
The Garlic Train is scheduled such that riders wishing to take Caltrain’s weekend service from as far north as San Francisco can connect with the Garlic Train in San Jose.
Passengers traveling southbound to the festival from San Francisco or the Peninsula via the Garlic Train should take Caltrain’s southbound #422 to San Jose Diridon Station, which arrives at 9:52 a.m., and transfer to the Garlic Train departing San Jose Diridon at 10 a.m.
For the return trip following the Garlic Train’s arrival at San Jose Diridon Station at 5:00 p.m. passengers can transfer to Caltrain’s northbound Baby Bullet train #803 departing at 5:21 p.m. or the northbound local train #435 departing at 5:38 p.m.
South Bay residents can get to/from San Jose Diridon via local VTA light rail or bus service.
Garlic Train Tickets:
Garlic Train tickets are sold in advance at gilroygarlicfestival.com through Eventbrite. Garlic Train tickets are not available for purchase from Caltrain or at the train station. Connecting trips on Caltrain Peninsula weekend service trains #422, #435 or #803 are now included in the price of the ticket on the same day of the event. Passengers holding a Garlic Train ticker can transfer to connecting trains at San Jose Diridon Station without having to purchase any additional tickets.
Caltrain Station Parking:
Parking is enforced at all Caltrain stations 24/7. Daily parking permits (not included in Garlic Train ticket fare) can be purchased at station ticket machines for $5.50.