Milestones 2000s

Caltrain Milestones – 2009
Completed California Avenue station

Caltrain Milestones – 2008
Caltrain concluded a $15 million improvement project at the Palo Alto Caltrain Station in December that included new boarding platforms and a new pedestrian underpass.

Adopted a Bicycle Access and Parking Plan, in October, which focused on ways to improve bicycle access at Caltrain’s 10 most popular stations.

Caltrain completed a $20.5 million improvement project at the Burlingame station in June. The old center-boarding platform was replaced with outside boarding platforms, allowing more than one train in the station at a time.

In Fiscal Year 2008, Caltrain carried 11.96 million riders, up 8.6 percent from FY07. This was the highest annual ridership in the railroad’s 145-year history.

In March, Caltrain added two evening local trains to its weekday schedule, which filled a gap in evening service in both northbound and southbound directions. The 98-train schedule is the highest number of daily trains in the history of the rail service on the Peninsula.

Caltrain Milestones – 2007
The Federal Transit Administration recognized Caltrain with “Success in Enhancing Ridership” Award for a nearly 23 percent ridership growth from 2004 to 2005.

The Centralized Equipment Maintenance & Operations Facility in San Jose opened in September. The $140 million facility took two years to build and accommodates such critical activities as inspections, maintenance, repairs, train washing and train storage.

Caltrain began construction at Burlingame, Palo Alto and California Avenue stations. The projects will remove the “hold out” rule at Burlingame and California Avenue and include safety enhancements such as center boarding platforms and pedestrian crossing gates and ADA accessibility.

Caltrain was added to Google Transit Trip Planner

December 2006
Caltrain achieves the highest annual average weekday ridership levels in the railroad’s 143-year history, with more than 35,000 daily rides. With an impressive annual ridership increase of more than seven percent, Caltrain credits the success of the previous year's "reinvention" and expanded Baby Bullet Service.

November 2006
Caltrain unveiled Project 2025, its 20-year plan to improve and expand its service to meet the demand in growth for commuter rail on the Peninsula. The plan includes the electrification of the railroad and major improvements to terminals and infrastructure.

August 2006
Caltrain successfully tested the first high-speed wireless Internet system on a train in the U.S.

May 2006
Caltrain launched the "Don't Shortcut Life" rail safety campaign. This agency-wide program redoubled Caltrain's efforts improve safety along the railroad through increased education, additional enforcement and improved engineering, in order to dissuade people from taking unnecessary risks around railroad tracks.

August 2005
Caltrain “reinvents” itself by remaking its commute schedule with more Baby Bullet trains (22 in total) and stations, and additional limited-stop trains. A total of 96 trains operate on weekdays. The new service is designed to help the rail agency out of a $13 million-plus deficit.

To accomplish this more efficient use of crews and equipment, weekday service is suspended to the Paul Avenue, Broadway and Atherton stations, and reduced at College Park and on the Gilroy extension.

July 2005
Caltrain participates in the regional Spare the Air program, which provides free transit rides until 9 a.m. on days when the air quality is expected to reach unhealthy concentrations. July 26 proves to be the only day that season when air conditions trigger the transit-ride alert.

July 2005
A year after the introduction of the first Baby Bullet trains, average weekday ridership is up 6.3 percent – from 30,330 to 32,238.

Caltrain implements the first of a two-step fare increase. Fares increase an average of 17 percent. An additional 5.6 per cent increase will go into effect in January 2006.

May 2005
Caltrain adds two more Baby Bullet trains to its timetable. The new trains serve the reverse commute.

November 2004
Ground is broken for the $140 million Centralized Equipment Maintenance and Operations Facility in San Jose, which will provide a much-needed place for Caltrain crews to work on locomotives and passenger cars.

June 2004
After four years of planning and two years of construction, Caltrain launches Baby Bullet service and brings back weekend train service. Ten Baby Bullet trains are included in the new 86-train schedule, with stops at San Francisco, 22nd Street, Millbrae, Hillsdale, Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Jose. Weekend service also increases, to 32 trains on Saturdays and 30 on Sundays.

March 2004
Rebuilt Lawrence station makes its debut a few weeks before the completely reconstructed Bayshore station opens for service on March 22. In preparation for the Baby Bullet service, both stations become fully accessible to people with disabilities and have a number of aesthetic improvements.

September 2003
Caltrain introduces Proof-of-Payment system and a major restructuring of zones and fares.

June 2003
BART connection with Caltrain opens at Millbrae providing the first cross-platform connection for the two systems.

May 2003
New $11.4 million Sunnyvale Transit Center is dedicated, replacing an outmoded structure and providing a 400-space parking structure plus 100 surface level spaces.

April 2003
The first of six new Baby Bullet locomotives makes its debut at a "baby shower" in Burlingame. Senator Speier christens the engine.

February 2003
Construction kicks off on the $49 million South CTX construction project, which includes work on the southern end of the Caltrain main line to facilitate the Baby Bullet service.

November 2002
Pulled by ex-Southern Pacific locomotive No. 2472, Caltrain's Trains for Tots special attracts huge crowds during its two-night run and more than 6,000 toys for local charities.

October 2002
First Baby Bullet cars go into service.

August 2002
Responding to declining ridership and revenue, Caltrain reduces weekday service from 80 to 76 trains.

July 2002
To facilitate the CTX work, Caltrain suspends weekend service for nearly two years. The shut down of rail service in order get the work done as quickly, economically and safely as possible occurs at the same time that the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board marks its 10th year as owner and manager of the Peninsula's commuter rail service.

June 2002
Caltrain unveils first of 17 Bombardier cars which will be used in the Baby Bullet service during a ceremony in San Francisco which featured Gov. Gray Davis and State Senator Jackie Speier. She was instrumental in getting $127 million in funding included in the governor's budget for the Baby Bullet.

April 2002
Caltrain board awards a $64.5 million project for the North CTX Project, which sets the stage for the Baby Bullet service and a BART connection at Millbrae. In a major upgrade, a centralized traffic control system will be installed and passing tracks will be added in Brisbane and Sunnyvale.

December 2001
Caltrain and the Golden Gate Railroad Museum team up to present the first annual Trains for Tots Special to generate toy donations for local charities while bringing holiday cheer to local families.

April 2001
Caltrain adds two weekday trains for a total of 80. The $58 million Ponderosa Project brings about numerous systemwide improvements.

February 2001
Caltrain reports highest ridership in the rail line's 138-year history: 10.3 million in calendar year 2000.

September 2000
In a year when Caltrain begins service to Pacific Bell Park, ridership reaches an all-time high of 9.8 million. Ten new weekday trains create half-hourly midday service.

March 2000
Inaugurated special service to Pacific Bell Park for San Francisco Giants baseball games.