- Description:
- CalTrain commuter train service from San Francisco to San Mateo County and San Jose / Santa Clara County. Connecting bus and light rail such as San Francisco Municipal Railway, Golden Gate Transit, samTrans, and VTA
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Caltrain has made major investments in its physical plant in the last few years. Soon to be in service are:
- New CTC signal system allowing full speed running in either direction on any main track
- All continuous welded rail main lines
- Expansion of the main line from 2 to 4 tracks at 3 locations to allow expresses to overtake locals traveling in the same direction
- "Baby Bullet" Trains traveling between San Francisco and San Jose in only 57 minutes
Recently completed (some with or by other transit agencies/ municipalities) are the following projects:
- A joint Bart/Caltrain station at Millbrae allowing cross-platform connections between the 2 systems
- San Francisco Muni Metro light rail extension to Caltrain's 4th St. San Francisco terminal
- Rebuilt major stations at San Francisco and San Jose
- New landmark station building (and transit center) at San Mateo modeled on Los Angeles Union Station
- New elevated trackway eliminating all grade crossings in Belmont and San Carlos
For most of its existence Caltrain had been oriented toward transporting Peninsula suburbanites to work in San Francisco. But in 2002 as more workers had become cross-region commuters, and as the system was preparing to open its first joint station with BART at Millbrae, Caltrain management implemented it's first dramatic schedule change in 75 years. Gone were the "first stop California Avenue" expresses, to be replaced by new "Bullet Train" services starting in Spring 2004. (Bullet Train is in quotes because they are, in fact, Bombardier commute cars pulled by rebuilt EMD F-40 locomotives.) The Bullet Trains will save 39 minutes over the current abysmal San Francisco - San Jose schedule.
In order to prepare for the Bullet service Caltrain has undertaken systemwide weekend closures for 2 years. During closures it has replaced its old jointed rail with continuous welded rail, replaced its block signal system with centralized traffic control, and widened its main line from 2 to 4 tracks in certain places. The rebuilt system will be as well suited to serve the Silicon Valley-bound worker as it is to carry out its traditional role of bringing workers to downtown San Francisco.
Contemplated future projects:
- Electrification of the system in order to increase speeds
- Extension of the electrified line in San Francisco via tunnel to the more centrally located Transbay Terminal
- Possible extension to Eastbay points via the Bay Bridge
Special thanks to Steve Robertson for the text on this page
CalTrain Depot, 4th St. and Townsend
Jan 30, 1998
Tamien CalTrain Station near downtown San Jose
Oct 16, 1999
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Entry to CalTrain and VTA LRT
Oct 16, 1999
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Paul Station (Closed)
Looking north
May 20, 2006
Former Paul Station
May 20, 2006
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Looking west
May 20, 2006
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Looking north
May 20, 2006
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Looking south
May 20, 2006
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Bayshore Station
There are enough track for both local and express trains
May 20, 2006
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Looking south
May 20, 2006
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Mountain View Transit Center
Looking towards CalTrain platform
Apr 22, 2006
Apr 22, 2006
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Bumper at the end of the line
Apr 22, 2006
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Looking north
Apr 22, 2006
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San Jose Diridon Station
At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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Shuttle Bus
At San Jose Diridon Station
Apr 22, 2006
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Trains do not operate to Tamien Station on weekends. Take this shuttle instead
