Caltrain adds additional bike capacity beginning Monday, October 1st

Important Service announcement from Caltrain
Sept. 27, 2012

New 92 Train Schedule Adds Benefits for Bicyclists

Dear Bicycle Community Member:

As you may have seen in recent months, Caltrain is experiencing record ridership growth following 24 months of consecutive increases.

In response to this growth, Caltrain is adding two new trains and restoring four others, previously cut due to budget constraints beginning Monday, Oct. 1. For the bicycle community, this means 416 new bike spaces added across six trains.

It also adds service to existing trains to provide more options for Caltrain customers. In addition, Train #324 will be equipped with a Gallery train set, increasing bike capacity to 80.

Caltrain passes Palo Alto Station
photo: Richard Masoner

In June, Caltrain reached an all-time high averaging more than 50,000 riders each weekday. For a passenger that means many peak-hour trains are full or standing-room only. When the additional service rolls out next week, it isn’t expected to completely eliminate crowding on all trains, but it does offer more options for peak-hour commuters and more frequent trains during the midday to appeal to passengers who need service alternatives during the off-peak.

The new schedule includes “shoulder” trains, or trains on the edges of the regular morning and afternoon commutes, to increase travel options for commuters. It also adds either a Palo Alto or Sunnyvale stop to 12 limited service trains. The additional stop should give customers more flexibility in planning their commute without a significant increase in the overall operating time.

Please check the new schedule for more details at www.caltrain.com.