The Future of Caltrain is Here
Celebrate the Start of Electrified Service Schedule
Caltrain is excited to launch our new schedule for electrified service, which will provide faster, cleaner, quieter, and more frequent trains starting Saturday, September 21! Celebrate by riding Caltrain’s new, modern electric trains for free and joining celebratory festivities across the corridor throughout the weekend.
Community Celebrations
Join us for community festivals at the Palo Alto and San Mateo stations Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22 and enjoy the following:
Free Caltrain Rides
Community Performances
Community Booths
Photobooth
Food Trucks
Games
Giveaways
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Palo Alto Station, 2-6pm
95 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
RSVP for Palo Alto Event
Sunday, September 22, 2024
San Mateo Station, 2-6pm
385 1st Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401
RSVP for San Mateo Event
These events are free and open to all. Parking is extremely limited. We encourage all guests to take public transportation, walk, bike, or roll into the station. Free bike valet will be provided by Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition at the Palo Alto event, and there will be ample bike parking at the San Mateo event via Bike Link.
Tag Us on Social!
Tag us on social and share your excitement for the new electric trains and schedule.
Weekend Train Schedule
Caltrain will offer free rides throughout the weekend with service every 30 minutes, including an additional roundtrip train between Gilroy and San Jose on Saturday, September 21. See the full weekend schedule to plan your trip.
Special South County Connector Train on Saturday 9/21/24
The extra train departs Gilroy at 12:26 p.m. making all stops to San Jose Diridon where riders can transfer to an electric train, allowing South Santa Clara County residents to arrive at Palo Alto Station in time for the 2:00 p.m. event. For the return trip, the southbound train to Gilroy will leave San Jose Station at 5:56 p.m. Attendees planning to take that train should board train #636, departing Palo Alto Station at 5:15 p.m., to make the connection in San Jose.
Additional Station Activities
Check out other station activations before heading to one of our community festivals. Each station is led by one of Caltrain's city or transportation partners and will have unique activities for you to enjoy. More events to be added as they are confirmed.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
South San Francisco Station, 9am
- Karyl Matsumoto Plaza Dedication
- Erik Jekabson Jazz Quintet
- Free Coffee and Pastries (while supplies last)
San Jose Diridon Station, 10am-2pm
- Speeches at 11:30am
- Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard
- San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
- San Jose District 6 Councilmember and Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis
- San Jose District 3 Councilmember Omar Torres
- Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez
- California State Assemblymember Ash Kalra
- Former Santa Clara County Supervisor and Transit Champion Rod Diridon
- California Transportation Commissioner Carl Guardino
- San Jose Culture Night Market
Santa Clara Station, 10am-1:30pm
- Train Storytime and Railfanning with Southbay Historical Rail Society
Gilroy Station, 11am-12:30pm
- City Information
- Free Snacks and Drinks
- Train departs at 12:26p
Morgan Hill Station, 11am-12:30pm
- City Information
- Free Snacks and Drinks
- Train departs at 12:44p
San Carlos Station, 11:30am-1pm
- City Information Booth and Giveaways
- Free Coffee and Baked Goods
Mountain View Station, 1p-1:45p
- Train Naming Event with Congresswoman Eshoo
- Speeches
- Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
- Mountain View Mayor Pat Showalter
- Mountain View Councilmember and Caltrain Board Member Margaret Abe-Koga
- San Jose District 6 Councilmember and Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis
- Train departs Mountain View at 1:46pm
Redwood City Station, 1pm-2pm
- 1:30p - Kennedy Middle School Music Program Band
- 1:45p - Remarks by Redwood City Mayor and Caltrain Board Member Jeff Gee
- Free Kona Ice (while supplies last)
- Community Resources
- Redwood City Public Library Booth
- Train departs at 2:08p
Palo Alto Station, 2pm-6pm
- Caltrain Community Celebration
- RSVP HERE
Palo Alto After Party, 6pm-9pm at MacArthur Park
- Music
- Food & Drinks (non-hosted)
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Mountain View Station, 9am-1pm
- Farmers Market
- Electric Slide Flash Dance at 11:30am
Millbrae Station, 10am-1pm
- Refreshments
- Magician
- Speeches at 11am
- Carter Lavin, Friends of Caltrain
- Millbrae Mayor Anders Fung
- Councilwoman and MTC Commissioner Gina Papan
- John Muniz Millbrae Historical Society
- Performance by Filipino American Alliance
- City Resources
- Millbrae Train Museum
- Train departs at 1:16p or 1:46p
Sunnyvale Station, 10am-1pm
- Refreshments
- City Resources
Menlo Park Station, 11am-1pm
- The Waffle Roost Food Truck
- Free Bliss Popsicles (while supplies last)
- Hosted by Menlo Park Springline
San Francisco Station, 11:30am-1:20pm
- California High Speed Rail and Transbay Joint Powers Board Authority Information and Giveaways
- 12p - Speeches
- Free Coffee and Pastries (while supplies last)
- Electric Train 3D Art
Belmont Station, 12pm-2pm
- Local Business Information
- Fire Truck Display
- Public Works Vehicle Showcase
- Games
- Free Mister Softee Ice Cream (while supplies last)
Bayshore Station, 1pm-1:30pm
- Remarks from Brisbane Mayor Terry O'Connell
- City Information and Giveaways
- Train departs at 1:34pm
San Bruno Station, 12:30pm-2pm
- Remarks by San Bruno Mayor Rico E. Medina
- Live Music
- Diamond Head General Store Shaved Ice
- La Michoacanita Paleteria y Neveria Ice Cream
- Rolling Pin Donuts
- Themed Giveaways
- Ride to the San Mateo Station for Festivities (train departs at 1:43pm)
Burlingame Station, 1pm-2pm
- Remarks from Mayor Donna Colson
- Burlingame and Caltrain Table
- Free Train Cookies (while supplies last)
San Mateo Station, 2pm-6pm
- Caltrain Community Celebration
- RSVP HERE
Explore, Stamp, Win!
Pick up an event “passport” at any participating stations and attend at least two events for a chance to win raffle prizes at the Palo Alto and San Mateo community celebrations!*
*Raffles will take place at both of the large events, Palo Alto on Saturday and San Mateo on Sunday. Two event stamps must be included from the large event and winners must be present to win.
Friends of Caltrain Scavenger Hunt
Join Friends of Caltrain for a scavenger hunt in celebration of our new electric train service! From September 21st to the 22nd, snap pictures of you on the new trains and venturing to spots along the corridor to earn more points to win prizes. The more selfies you take at Caltrain stations, on the new electric trains, at local restaurants, museums, and other points of interest, the more points you earn to win prizes.
Thanks to Our Event Sponsors
About the Project
After 160 years of train travel between San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, Caltrain has undergone a historic transformation. As the first diesel-to-electric conversion of its kind in a generation, we're laying the foundation for additional growth that will benefit Bay Area communities for generations. Caltrain Electrification provides faster, more frequent, first-class experience for everyone.
