Caltrain’s Unveils Bold Vision to Triple Capacity by 2040

Caltrain riders can expect to see more trains, faster trains and more service under a bold plan unveiled this week. The draft Caltrain Business Plan 2040 Service Vision aims to ensure that Caltrain can continue to provide the greatest value possible to its riders and the Bay Area well into the future. A major prong of the plan is completing the electrification of the system and the installation of a train-control system that will enable more and faster trains. The Bay Area Council played a key role in identifying and securing the early funding needed to begin the work, which was among our top priorities to help ease traffic congestion and transit overcrowding on the overall Peninsula and Highway 101 corridor. Already the seventh largest commuter railroad in the nation, Caltrain estimates ridership growth to triple by 2040 to a total of 180,000 people a day. To accommodate the growing ridership, Caltrain is planning to increase service frequency to eight trains each direction during peak commute hours and growing eventually to 16 trains. To engage in the Council’s transportation policy work, please contact Senior Vice President Gwen Litvak.