Electric Train FAQ

The new service schedule is reconfiguring our local, limited and express service. However, no station will receive less service than it currently receives. Information at caltrain.com/go.  

With faster travel times, all stations will get half hourly service on the weekends. There are no plans to provide express or limited service at this time.  

Yes, except for the following stations: 22nd Street, Broadway, Stanford and College Park. 

Caltrain is committed to expanding meaningful access to the system. Fourteen new accessible ramps (known as mini highs) will be installed in 2024 at eight stations to provide reliable and accessible service to individuals who use a wheelchair, mobility device or are unable to use the train stairs. The eight stations include: Bayshore, Burlingame, Hayward Park, Belmont, California Avenue, San Antonio, Lawrence, and Tamien.  

Not at this time.  We're excited to offer San Jose to San Francisco in under an hour express service and hope you will be too.  

There are no planned fare increases during or after launch. Starting September 1, riders 18 and under can buy a $1 one-way trip or $2 day pass.  

If you see something amiss with the info screens - please contact our Customer Service who can report it to the correct team. Please provide the train number, the train car number (in large numbers inside the car) and the date/ time.  If you have screenshots or video, they are appreciated and can be emailed to customer service if required. 

• Fastest channel: call Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287.  Hours M-F: 7am-7pm and Weekends & Holidays: 8am-5pm 

• Not a fan of talking on the phone? Use the Caltrain feedback form on our web site and Customer Service will log the issue. 

Trains stopping on the crossing sensors may trigger the gates to stay down longer. In some instances, trains on an adjacent track or North/South could have a residual effect on the pedestrian/grade crossings. Since the train departs at the advertised scheduled time from the station. Please arrive early at the station, purchase your ticket, pay for parking and be ready to board the train on the scheduled time. At locations with gates, allow enough time to cross the boarding area before the departure time. 

The new fleet can accelerate and decelerate faster than the diesel fleet, allowing trains to reach top speed in under a minute. Local trains will run 23 minutes faster while express service will run from San Francisco to San Jose in under an hour.  

Each set will be 7 cars, 2 bike cars, one restroom car, 2 cab cars and two coach cars. There are 675 seats on each 7-car trainset.  The car with the onboard restroom can be boarded at the blue square on the platform designated for passengers needing assistance. 

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Express trains will be six minutes faster while making 50% more stops, Local trains will save 23 minutes over the current schedule.

Wi-fi will only be available on the new electric trains.  Connect to the Wi-Fi channel Caltrain_Wi-Fi, accept the terms and conditions, and click “Connect”.  There are FAQ on the Wi-Fi landing page, including troubleshooting steps.  

If you experience a Wi-Fi issue that you cannot resolve, please use the troubleshooting steps first. If reconnecting or troubleshooting doesn’t resolve the issue, you may contact Customer Service to report the issue. Customer Service does not offer technical assistance for Wi-Fi, but we can log your issue with our vendor.  

 Customer Service: 1.800.660.4287          

• When contacting us, please include: 

• Train number  

• Train car number you are occupying, which is a four-digit number located at the end of the passenger compartment. 

• Time of internet issue. 

• Last station passed, if known. 

• Device type used (Android/iOS/ Google phone, PC or Apple laptop, etc.) Make/model and OS version. 

The new trains will feature automated passenger announcements (visual and audio) and priority seating areas on each car. The bathrooms have been designed to maximize accessibility. Improved exterior signage on front & side of train for easy identification.  

The interiors now feature outlets at nearly every seat, as well as an improved climate control system. There are passenger information screens in each car.  The new seats and floors are also easier to maintain.  

There is one restroom per trainset. It’s located on the second car from the north end of the train, and there is an exterior icon on the train car to indicate it is the restroom car. The decision to have one restroom per trainset was made after extensive public input on the overall train design, including feedback from the general public, Citizens’ Advisory Committee and the Caltrain Board. At decision time, Caltrain was experiencing high ridership, with standing room only during peak periods. Space for people – standing or sitting was prioritized in the design. The final design recommendation also included two bike cars and one bathroom which take up space that might have been used for additional standing or seating spaces. 

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No, doors will open at every station to allow easy hands-free boarding for all passengers. 

Yes, our map has been updated! The "Live Map" on Caltrain.com now uses a real-time data feed, which allows us to share up-to-date train locations with application developers. The map refreshes every few minutes to show the latest information. However, because train locations are updated between these refresh times, the displayed positions may not always reflect the exact, current location. We’re continuously working to improve accuracy and keep you informed. 

The new electric train service will have increased bike capacity during the peak commute time by over 17% compared to pre-electric service.  

The stacking storage design option, which maximizes capacity and is similar to diesel train design, was selected for the electric trains.

Over the course of three years, Caltrain received feedback on the onboard bicycle storage design options. Input was taken from discussions with local bike advocacy groups; an online poll; station outreach where riders could try out the bike storage options; comments though the website; social media; as well as emails, phone calls, and other in-person engagements, such as a joint Citizen’s Advisory Committee/ Bicycle Advisory Committee workshop.  

There are seven seats in each bike car and 10 seats surrounding the bike car on the mezzanine level.  

There is no live monitoring of the bike car. E-lockers are available at most stations for secure storage. Electric trains carry 72 bikes per train set.

The outlets are intended for laptops and cell phones.  

• Where to wait on the platform for the electric train?  Boarding the new electric trains with a wheelchair or other mobility device will be similar to boarding the current Bombardier trains. Please wait in the designated area on the platform. 

• How to get the attention of a conductor for assistance at stations other than 4th & King or San José? Please wait at the blue boarding assistance square painted on the ground for assistance. 

• Will we need to rely on platform-based lifts, or do the new trains have built-in lifts similar to the California Cars on the Capitol Corridor? The new trains do not have built in lifts, so the designated platforms are for boarding. Please wait at the blue boarding assistance square painted on the ground for assistance. 

• Are there any future plans to create level boarding with the new trains? Level boarding is a future goal of Caltrain which will require additional funding and planning. The new electric trains will not preclude level boarding at a future date.  

Most announcements are automated (station stop, direction). There are manual announcements from conductors for other information, including special service and delays.  

Yes, they will be quieter while stopped, but not silent.  

Electric trains have under-seat storage and overhead racks.  

There are no plans at this time for a new paint scheme, but train wraps for promotional purposes are possible.  

Caltrain is in the process of acquiring battery-electric trains (BEMUs), which would allow the trains to leave the powered section of the tracks and continue to Gilroy using a battery. Learn more about the BEMU plan. Caltrain does not own the tracks south of Tamien, which is why they weren’t included in the electrification project.  

Caltrain will run 7-car trainsets at launch, there are no plans for other configurations at this time. Caltrain has greatly expanded its bike parking options throughout the system which should reduce demand on the bike cars.  

The new trains are able to travel at 110mph, but additional track work (straightening, maintenance) would be required to go that speed. There are no current plans to increase the max speed allowed on the Caltrain corridor.  

Yes, Caltrain will prioritize renewable energy to power the system.   

If you have any more questions or concerns that were not covered in this FAQ, please reach out to Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287. Hours M-F: 7am-7pm and Weekends & Holidays: 8am-5pm