Caltrain Express Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:16, 24 September 2022

Revision as of 23:39, 5 January 2023

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By April 2004, Caltrain was showing off the rolling stock it had acquired for Baby Bullet service.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_4_14_santa_clara_station_celebration.html |title=Caltrain Bullet Train on View for Santa Clara Weekend Celebration |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=14 April 2004 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318013313/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_4_14_santa_clara_station_celebration.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Construction was substantially complete by May 2004 when Caltrain began running "test" trains on the weekends to shake down the system and gain crew experience,<ref name=SFC-040514 /><ref name=Cal-0405>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_5_10_weekend_test_trains.html |title=Caltrain to Begin Running Weekend "Test" Trains |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=10 May 2004 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318013114/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_5_10_weekend_test_trains.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Baby Bullet trains entered revenue service on June 7, 2004; the first northbound Baby Bullet discharged over 600 passengers upon its arrival in San Francisco at 6:45&nbsp;a.m., and had carried more than 1,000 during its inaugural run.<ref name=SFC-040608 /> The first southbound Baby Bullet left San Francisco with 420 passengers at 7:20&nbsp;a.m.<ref name=SFC-040608 /> Baby Bullet trains often ran at standing room capacity during the first year.<ref name=SFC-050801 />

Just prior to the inauguration of Baby Bullet service, Caltrain served an average of 27,000 riders per weekday.<ref name=SFC-040601 /> One year later, Caltrain ridership had increased by 12%,<ref name=SFC-050630>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BART-S-PENINSULA-LINE-FALLS-SHORT-OF-HOPES-2658527.php |title=BART's Peninsula Line Falls Short of Hopes / Competition from cheapter baby Bullet trains could be hurting ridership on extension |author=Murphy, Dave |date=30 June 2005 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> and by 2014, ten years later, Caltrain ridership had more than doubled to over 60,000 riders per weekday.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Business-Caltrain-group-vows-to-improve-commute-5849249.php |title=Business, Caltrain group looks to improve rail commute system |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=26 October 2014 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Notably, once [[San Mateo County]] commuters were given the choice between [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] and Caltrain to San Francisco after the completion of the [[History of Bay Area Rapid Transit#San Francisco International Airport extension (1984–2003)|BART extension]] to [[San Francisco International Airport]], many riders continued to prefer Caltrain and the Baby Bullet service, which was cheaper and quicker than switching to BART at Millbrae, in part because Caltrain, which follows the 1907 [[Bayshore Cutoff]] route constructed by [[Southern Pacific Transportation Company|Southern Pacific]], does not take a long detour west around [[San Bruno Mountain]] to reach San Francisco.<ref name=SFC-050630 />

In addition to having one of the new locomotives named for her, Senator Speier received MTC's John F. Foran Legislative Award for her pivotal role in bringing Baby Bullet service online.<ref name=Cal-040922 /> CTX received an award from the California Transportation Foundation as the Program of the Year for 2004.<ref name=EBT-050531>{{cite news |url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2005/05/31/baby-bullet-wins-award/ |title=Baby bullet wins award |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=31 May 2005 |newspaper=East Bay Times |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> During the same ceremony, Speier was honored as the Legislator of the Year.<ref name=EBT-050531 />