Starting June 15, Caltrain will increase weekday service as Bay Area shelter-in-place restrictions begin to ease. As travel throughout the Bay Area increases, Caltrain is committed to offering faster, user-friendly travel options to returning riders. The additional capacity will accommodate more riders while also maintaining onboard physical distancing.
Under the new schedule, Caltrain will operate 70 trains per weekday, up from the current 42. Service frequency will increase with up to three trains per hour during the peak commute. Caltrain is also bringing back Limited trains that will operate a newly designed skip-stop service with fewer stops to reduce travel times and increase passenger flow for high-traffic stations to avoid crowding. Under the new skip-stop system, limited trains will travel closely together serving high-demand stations while alternating service to lower-demand stops. All trains are operating six-car sets to maximize physical distancing onboard. Off-peak trains will make local weekday stops every hour until end of service. The weekend timetable remains unchanged.
Caltrain is working with neighboring transit agencies to ensure that the new schedule will support regional connections with neighboring rail operators like BART and VTA. Under the new timetable, most connections between Caltrain and BART at the Millbrae Transit Center will allow approximately 10 minutes between transfers.
As ridership increases, Caltrain will monitor conditions to ensure that passengers can maintain physical distancing in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and may implement additional service changes, as needed.
Caltrain reminds passengers that face coverings are required both onboard and at stations until further notice. Riders are also encouraged to take advantage of onboard restrooms to wash their hands.
Caltrain cleans and sanitizes its fleet and stations daily using hospital-grade disinfectant products. Station touchpoints are wiped down multiple times each day and cleaning crews use spray foggers on trains overnight and midday at the San Francisco Station.
Caltrain is assessing the impact that reduced ridership is having on the agency’s ability to maintain operations in the coming months. Average weekday ridership has dropped from 65,000 to 1,300. With no other dedicated source of funding, Caltrain normally relies on fares to cover 70% of the system’s operating costs. At this time, the agency is planning for a gradual return of ridership and will continue analyzing passenger data to track evolving trends.
For more information about Caltrain schedules and fares or for help planning your trip, call Caltrain Customer Service at 1.800.660.4287 (TTY 650.508.6448) or visit www.caltrain.com. For Caltrain’s latest updates regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, visit www.caltrain.com/COVID-19.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad celebrated 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor, reduce diesel emissions by 97 percent by 2040 and add more service to more stations.
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