Caltrain Express Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:17, 6 January 2021

Revision as of 05:42, 21 January 2021

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[[File:Caltrain train 1.jpg|thumb|250px|Northbound Baby Bullet in 2005]]

The '''[[Caltrain]] Express''' ('''CTX''') (also known as the Baby Bullet) project was implemented from 2002 to 2004 and led to the establishment of the '''Baby Bullet''' express service, which shortened the transit time between [[San Francisco]] and [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], and certain stations in between. New locomotives and rolling stock were purchased for dedicated express service, bypassing most stations; [[Quadruple -track railway|quad-track overtake sections]] were added in two locations along the Peninsula Corridor right-of-way to allow express trains to pass slower local trains that were making all stops; tracks were also upgraded with [[Track (rail transport)#Continuous welded rail|continuous-welded rail]]; a [[centralized traffic control]] system was added; and [[railroad switch|crossovers]] were added every few miles to allow single-tracking trains around disabled trains. Congresswoman [[Jackie Speier]], then serving as a California State Senator, is credited with securing the funding for CTX and one of the new locomotives acquired for the project is named for her as a result. During commute hours, the Baby Bullet is up to 20% faster than driving south from San Francisco to San Jose.

==History==

In 1997, after plans to extend [[Caltrain]] to downtown [[San Francisco]] were put on hold, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (PCJPB) started the ''Rapid Rail Study'', which was published as a draft in October 1998.<ref name=98RRS>{{cite report |url=http://bayrailalliance.org/files/library/Caltrain_RRP_draft.pdf |title=Draft Caltrain Rapid Rail Study |date=1 October 1998 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807145542/http://bayrailalliance.org/files/library/Caltrain_RRP_draft.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> The 1998 ''Rapid Rail Study'' prioritized planned capital improvements to implement the 1997 ''Caltrain 20-Year Strategic Plan'', which sought to improve service and increase ridership, which was assumed to correspond directly to improved service (through decreased transit times and increased train frequencies). The highest-priority projects were intended to rehabilitate the line to "reverse decades of deferred maintenance" and enhance the line by adding [[passing loop|overtake tracks]] to implement express service.<ref name=98RRS /><ref name=99RRSIP /> After rehabilitation and enhancement, the ''Rapid Rail Study'' called for [[Electrification of Caltrain|electrification of the line]].<ref name=98RRS />

Proposed rehabilitation work included rebuilding tracks and grade crossings to enable Caltrain to raise the systemwide speed limit to {{convert|79|to|90|mph|abbr=on}} and replacing bridges, culverts, and signals.<ref name=98RRS /> The initial enhancement projects included adding third overtake tracks in Burlingame (between the stations at Millbrae and San Mateo, for northbound trains) and San Mateo (between 9th Avenue and Hillsdale, for southbound trains) to allow express trains to pass slower all-stop local trains, and adding a third [[pocket track|turnback track]] in Palo Alto to allow more frequent short-line service.<ref name=98RRS /> In 1999, PCJPB published an implementation plan for the ''Rapid Rail Study'' which called for a $280&nbsp;million investment from the three counties served by Caltrain.<ref name=99RRSIP>{{cite report |url=http://bayrailalliance.org/files/library/Caltrain_RRP_implementation_plan.pdf |title=Caltrain Rapid Rail Study Implementation Plan |date=1999 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807145429/http://bayrailalliance.org/files/library/Caltrain_RRP_implementation_plan.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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==Design==

[[File:Bayshore Station 3227 15.JPG|thumb|North overtake quad-track section just south of Tunnel #4, north of the [[Bayshore station (Caltrain station)|Bayshore]] platform]]]]

Caltrain split the CTX project into two separate phases, based on geographic region. The North CTX extended from San Francisco to Redwood City, and the South CTX spanned the tracks from Menlo Park to Santa Clara.<ref name=FactSheet>{{cite web |url=http://caltrain.com/info_projects_CTXfacts.html |title=CTX Fact Sheet |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 2002 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020809022350/http://caltrain.com/info_projects_CTXfacts.html |archive-date=9 August 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The North CTX contract was awarded in April 2002 to the joint venture partnership of Herzog Contracting Corporation and [[Stacy and& Witbeck]] (Herzog-Stacy-Witbeck).<ref name=Cal-0204>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com:80/news_CTX_contract.html |title=Caltrain Board Awards North CTX Improvement Contract |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 2002 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015041248/http://www.caltrain.com/news_CTX_contract.html |archive-date=15 October 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Herzog-Stacy-Witbeck also won the South CTX contract, as announced in January 2003.<ref name=Cal-0301>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_south_ctx.html |title=Southern Caltrain Construction Set to Begin |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=January 2003 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015350/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_south_ctx.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The key elements of CTX were the overtake tracks, high-speed crossovers, and a central traffic control system which collectively allowed a single office to route trains.<ref name=Cal-0303>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_construction_continues.html |title=Staying on Track for the Future: Caltrain Construction Continues |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=March 2003 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015120/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_construction_continues.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> To support smoother operation at higher sustained speeds, Caltrain also laid down continuous-welded rails.<ref name=Cal-0208>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com:80/news_media_advisory.html |title=Caltrain Tracks to be Ripped Out |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 2002 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015035823/http://www.caltrain.com/news_media_advisory.html |archive-date=15 October 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Station rebuilds===

During the CTX project, Caltrain rebuilt the[[Bayshore station (Caltrain)|Bayshore station]], relocating it slightly south of the prior ___location to accommodate the north quad track overtake section ending just south of Tunnel #4. This moved nearly all of the Bayshore station out of the City and County of San Francisco and broke a planned intermodal connection to the [[Third Street Light Rail Project]], the first expansion phase of the [[Muni Metro]] light rail system, which was building tracks down [[Third Street (San Francisco)|Third Street]]. The new [[T Third Street]] line, which opened in 2007, terminates at [[Sunnydale Station]] as Muni Metro has never built tracks in San Mateo County, and a planned {{convert|0.5|mi|adj=on}} loop extension to Bayshore was studied in 2012.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.sfcta.org/sites/default/files/content/Planning/Bayshore/Bayshore_final_report.pdf |title=Bayshore Intermodal Station Access Study |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=March 2012 |publisher=San Francisco County Transportation Authority |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bayshore-Station-envisioned-as-vibrant-transit-hub-3451733.php |title=Bayshore Station envisioned as vibrant transit hub |author=Wildermuth, John |date=28 April 2014 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref> A small rail bridge south of Bayshore was built over a creek as part of CTX.<ref name=Cal-0211 />

Lawrence Station was in the right-of-way planned for the south quad-track overtake section, so Lawrence was rebuilt with new platforms and an under-track pedestrian tunnel.<ref name=Cal-0301 /> Work at Lawrence was anticipated to be completed by the end of 2003,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_rain_delay.html |title=Rain Delays Planned Caltrain Lawrence Station Move |date=April 2003 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015159/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_rain_delay.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the rebuilt Lawrence was opened in March 2004.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_2_26_lawrence_caltrain_station.html |title=New Lawrence Caltrain Station Set to Open |date=26 February 2004 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318013004/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2004_2_26_lawrence_caltrain_station.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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===Track upgrades (overtakes, crossovers, and traffic control)===

[[File:Sunnyvale four tracks (33608468046).jpg|thumb|upright|South overtake quad-track section south of [[Sunnyvale (Caltrain station)|Sunnyvale]]]]

CTX added quad-track overtake sections near the cities of Brisbane and Sunnyvale.<ref name=SFC-040601 /><ref name=SFC-040403 /><ref name=BRA-0412>{{cite news |url=http://www.bayrailalliance.org/newsletter/2004/2004-3dec_sot.pdf |title=Caltrain CTX and Baby Bullets boos Ridership 17% |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=December 2004 |newspaper=Staying on Track |publisher=BayRail Alliance |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref> During the initial design phase, overtakes were also announced for Millbrae and Redwood City.<ref name=SFC-011119>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Fast-train-to-San-Jose-may-boost-L-A-bullet-2853206.php |title=Fast train to San Jose may boost L.A. bullet / Caltrain commuter seen as a first step |author=Gathright, Alan |date=19 November 2001 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Millbrae gained a third track, and Redwood City added two sidings near Redwood Junction, approximately {{convert|1.2|mi}} between Chestnut Street and Fifth Avenue.<ref name=FactSheet /> From north to south, the completed quad-track overtake sections are:<ref name=FactSheet />

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===Stops and scheduling===

Baby Bullet service launched in June 2004 with ten trains per weekday, which made only four intermediate stops between [[San Francisco 4th and King Street Station|San Francisco 4th & King Street]] and [[Diridon Station|San Jose Diridon]]: [[Millbrae station|Millbrae]], [[Hillsdale station (Caltrain station)|Hillsdale]], [[Palo Alto (Caltrain station)|Palo Alto]], and [[Downtown Mountain View station|Mountain View]].<ref name=SFC-040514 /> The ten trains consisted of three northbound and two southbound trains in the morning, and three southbound and two northbound trains in the afternoon; the two southbound morning trains and two northbound afternoon trains made additional stops at [[22nd Street station (Caltrain station)|22nd Street]] to serve reverse commuters.<ref name=SFC-040514 /> Since these trains operated with far fewer stops, they took only 57 minutes to travel between San Francisco and San Jose, compared to 96 scheduled minutes for local trains making all stops,<ref name=SFC-040514 /> even though the maximum train speed remained at {{convert|79|mi/hour|km/hour}}.<ref name=SFC-040601>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/CALTRAIN-Baby-Bullet-to-premiere-Rail-2770861.php |title=CALTRAIN / 'Baby Bullet' to premiere / Rail travel between S.F, San Jose gets faster come Monday |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=8 June 2004 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=SFC-040608>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BAY-AREA-Bully-for-Baby-Bullet-riders-say-2715103.php |title=BAY AREA / Bully for Baby Bullet, riders say / High praise, heavy loads for swift new commuter trains |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=8 June 2004 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=SFC-040403>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BAY-AREA-Baby-Bullet-trains-shoot-for-June-2771698.php |title=BAY AREA / 'Baby Bullet' trains shoot for June rollout |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=3 April 2004 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref>

{{quote |text=This cuts my commute so much that it's faster than driving. |author=Scott Hofmeister |source=Inaugural day interview with San Francisco-to-Mountain View commuter, June 7, 2004<ref name=SFC-040608 />}}

The revised schedule was the product of more than two hundred iterations, and added ten trains per weekday without increasing staffing because equipment was being used more efficiently.<ref name=Cal-050315>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_3_15_transforming_caltrain.html |title=Transforming Caltrain: From Caterpillar to Butterfly in Three Easy Steps |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=15 March 2005 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015702/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_3_15_transforming_caltrain.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, mid-day (off-peak) service was reduced at seven stations; trains used to stop every half hour, but the mid-day headway changed to every hour at 22nd Street, [[Bayshore station (Caltrain station)|Bayshore]], [[South San Francisco station (Caltrain station)|South San Francisco]], [[Broadway station (Caltrain station)|Broadway]], [[Hayward Park (Caltrain station)|Hayward Park]], [[Atherton station|Atherton]], and [[Tamien Stationstation|Tamien]].<ref name=SFC-040514 />

Riders to stations not served by Baby Bullet service complained their commute times increased because their trains slowed to allow Baby Bullets to overtake.<ref name=SFC-040707>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Baby-Bullet-fast-track-if-you-can-catch-it-2743457.php |title=OPINION: Baby Bullet – fast track (if you can catch it) |author=Ringham, Arthur |date=7 July 2004 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Clem Tillier noted ridership at stations not served by Baby Bullets continued to be depressed in the years following CTX implementation,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://caltrain-hsr.blogspot.com/2011/12/baby-bullet-effect.html |title=The Baby Bullet Effect |author=Tillier, Clem |date=18 December 2011 |website=Caltrain HSR Compatibility Blog |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> and that elimination of Baby Bullet service under a planned 76-train schedule actually improved service quality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://caltrain-hsr.blogspot.com/2011/04/mind-service-gap.html |title=Mind The Service Gap |author=Tillier, Clem |date=9 April 2011 |website=Caltrain HSR Compatibility Blog |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> Caltrain had initially proposed trimming the schedule from 86 trains per weekday to 48 trains only during peak hours to close a budget gap in 2011,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-seeks-answers-to-funding-crisis-2478068.php |title=Caltrain seeks answers to funding crisis |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=21 January 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> later refining the proposal to 76 trains per weekday and eliminating Baby Bullet service.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-finds-funds-to-save-schedule-delays-vote-2375770.php |title=Caltrain find funds to save schedule, delays vote |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=7 April 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref> However, one-time funds were diverted from other sources and no service cuts were made in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-plan-would-keep-services-going-1-year-2374268.php |title=Caltrain plan would keep services going 1 year |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=21 April 2011 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=27 March 2017}}</ref>

Line 76:

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|1.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[22nd Street station (Caltrain station)|22nd StStreet]]

| R{{efn |name=RC |Stop for reverse commute only (southbound trains during morning peak hours; northbound trains during afternoon peak hours).}} || R{{efn |name=RC}} || R{{efn |name=RC}} || R{{efn |name=RC}} || R{{efn |name=RC}}

| style="background: #bbb;"|—{{efn |name=W1 }}

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|5.2

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Bayshore station (Caltrain station)|Bayshore]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—{{efn |name=W1 }}

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|9.3

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[South_San_Francisco_South San Francisco station (Caltrain_stationCaltrain)|So.South San Francisco]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|11.6

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[San Bruno station (Caltrain station)|San Bruno]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

Line 97:

!scope="row"|13.7

|style="font-size: 300%;" rowspan="9"|'''2'''

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Millbrae Intermodal Terminalstation|Millbrae]]

|Stop ||Stop ||Stop ||Stop ||Stop

| style="background: #ddd;"|Stop

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|15.2

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Broadway station (Caltrain station)|''Broadway'']]{{efn |name=wkend |Weekend service only as of 2005.}}

| — || — || — || — || —

|style="background: #ddd;"| —

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|16.3

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Burlingame (Caltrain station)|Burlingame]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|17.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[San Mateo (Caltrain station)|San Mateo]]

| — || — || T{{efn|name=Trad}} || T{{efn|name=Trad}} || T{{efn|name=Trad}}

| style="background: #ddd;"|Stop

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|18.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Hayward_Park_(Caltrain_station)Hayward Park station|Hayward Park]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|20.3

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Hillsdale station (Caltrain station)|Hillsdale]]

|Stop || Stop || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|Stop

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|21.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Belmont station (Caltrain station)|Belmont]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|23.2

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[San Carlos (Caltrain station)|San Carlos]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|25.4

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Redwood City (Caltrain station)|Redwood City]]

| — || R{{efn |name=A2}}{{efn |name=RC}} || Stop || Stop || Stop

| style="background: #ddd;"|Stop

Line 143:

!scope="row"|27.8

|style="font-size: 300%; background: #ccc;" rowspan="8"|'''3'''

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Atherton (Caltrain station)|''Atherton'']]{{efn |name=wkend}}

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|28.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Menlo Park (Caltrain station)|Menlo Park]]

| — || — || R{{efn|name=RC}} || R{{efn|name=RC}} || R{{efn|name=RC}}

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|30.1

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Palo Alto (Caltrain station)|Palo Alto]]

|Stop ||Stop || T{{efn|name=Trad}} || Stop{{efn |name=B2}} || Stop

| style="background: #bbb;"|Stop

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|30.8

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Stanford (Caltrain station)|''Stanford'']]{{efn |Limited service, football games only}}

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|31.8

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[California Avenue (Caltrain station)|California AveAvenue]]

| — || — || — || — || T(PM)

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|34.0

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[San Antonio station (Caltrain station)|San Antonio]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #bbb;"|—

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|36.1

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Downtown Mountain View Stationstation|Mountain View]]

|Stop ||Stop || R{{efn |name=RC}} || R{{efn |name=RC}} || R{{efn |name=RC}}

| style="background: #bbb;"|Stop

|- style="background: #ccc;"

!scope="row"|38.8

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Sunnyvale (Caltrain station)|Sunnyvale]]

| — || — || T{{efn |name=Trad}} || T{{efn |name=Trad}} || T{{efn |name=Trad}}

| style="background: #bbb;"|Stop

Line 184:

!scope="row"|40.8

|style="font-size: 300%; background: #eee;" rowspan="5"|'''4'''

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Lawrence station (Caltrain station)|Lawrence]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|44.3

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Santa Clara Stationstation (California)|Santa Clara]]

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|45.7

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[College_Park_College Park station (Caltrain_stationCaltrain)|''College Park'']]{{efn|Limited service intended for students}}

| — || — || — || — || —

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

Line 204:

|- style="background: #eee;"

!scope="row"|48.9

| style="font-size: 80%;" |[[Tamien Stationstation|Tamien]]

| — || — || T{{efn|name=Trad|Stop for traditional commute only (northbound trains during morning peak; southbound trains during afternoon peak).}} || T{{efn|name=Trad}} || T/R(AM){{efn |Traditional commute stop. Reverse commute stop for mornings only.}}

| style="background: #ddd;"|—

Line 240:

|}

In 2005, Caltrain expanded Baby Bullet service by adding two trains per weekday in May,<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_5_2_media_advisory.html |title=Caltrain Rolls Out Two More Bullet Trains Monday, May 2 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2 May 2005 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015753/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_5_2_media_advisory.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ten more trains per weekday in August, for a total of twenty-two Baby Bullet trains per weekday; the August schedule revision added express stops for certain "Pattern B" trains at [[San Mateo (Caltrain station)|San Mateo]], [[Redwood City Sequoia Station|Redwood City]], [[Menlo Park (Caltrain station)|Menlo Park]], [[Sunnyvale (Caltrain station)|Sunnyvale]], and Tamien.<ref name=SFC-050801>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/TRANSPORTATION-Baby-Bullet-service-expands-2651234.php |title=TRANSPORTATION / Baby Bullet service expands / Starting this morning, Caltrain is running 96 trains on weekdays |author=Murphy, Dave |date=1 August 2005 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> With this expansion, though, weekday service to the holdout-rule stations at Broadway and Atherton was dropped,<ref name=SFC-050801 /> the sparse weekday service to {{cals|Paul Avenue}} was suspended entirely,<ref name=PCJPB-050523>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_5_23_broadway_and_atherton.html |title=Caltrain to Continue Weekend Service for Broadway and Atherton |date=23 May 2005 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050526034241/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2005_5_23_broadway_and_atherton.html |archive-date=2005-05-26 |url-status=dead |accessdate=4 June 2018 }}</ref> and other trains operating during commute hours were changed from local-service, all-stop to limited service, skipping stops either between San Francisco and Redwood City, or between Redwood City and San Jose; Redwood City became a major transfer point for riders.<ref name=SFC-050802>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/BAY-AREA-Riders-get-a-bang-out-of-Bullets-as-2618865.php |title=BAY AREA / Riders get a bang out of Bullets as expanded trainservice starts / Caltrain praised for easing stress, shaving commute |author1=Murphy, Dave |author2=Fulbright, Leslie |date=2 August 2005 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Jackie Speier Caltrain.jpg|thumb|[[MotivePower|MPI]] locomotive JPBX#925 is named for [[Jackie Speier]].]]

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===Rolling stock===

Caltrain purchased six [[Wabtec Corporation|MPI]] [[MPI MPXpress#MP36PH-3C|MPI MP36PH-3C]] locomotives and seventeen [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es to assemble Baby Bullet trains, supplementing the existing fleet of [[EMD F40PH]] locomotives and Nippon Sharyo gallery cars, which continued in local and limited-stop service.<ref name=Cal-040511 /><ref name=Fleets>{{cite web |url=http://www.caltrain.com/about/statsandreports/commutefleets.html |title=Commute Fleets |date=2017 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> The prime mover in the MP36PH-3C is an [[EMD 645|EMD 16-645F3B V-16 diesel]], with approximately 15–20% more power than the 16-645E3B in the F40PH, and head-end power is provided by a Caterpillar C-27;<ref name=BRA-0305 /><ref name=Cal-0304 /> Caltrain was the lead customer for the MP36PH-3C.<ref name=Fleets /> Caltrain unveiled the first of the new locomotives, JPBX #923 in a ceremony held on April 4, 2003 at Burlingame and attended by Senator Speier.<ref name=BRA-0305>{{cite news |url=http://www.bayrailalliance.org/newsletter/2003/2003-2may_sot.pdf |title=Caltrain unveils the Baby Bullet locomotive |last=Shelton |first=Bruce |date=May 2003 |newspaper=Staying on Track |publisher=BayRail Alliance |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref> The event ended in a round-trip excursion to Redwood City.<ref name=Cal-0304>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_new_baby.html |title=The Stork Delivers Caltrain's New Baby |date=April 2003 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318015652/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2003_new_baby.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Locomotive JPBX #925 was dedicated to Senator Speier; her popularity, as evidenced by the named locomotive, was cited as one factor contributing to [[Lawrence Lessig]]'s decision to withdraw from the special election (where he would have opposed her) to replace [[Tom Lantos]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2008/02/long-odds-lead-lessig-to-decide-against-run-for-congress/ |title=Long odds lead Lessig to decide against run for Congress |author=Sanchez, Julian |date=25 February 2008 |website=Ars Technica |accessdate=26 March 2017}}</ref>

PCJPB purchased the seventeen Bombardier cars (ten coaches and seven cab cars) from [[Sound Transit]],<ref name=BRA-0305 /> which oversees the Seattle-region [[Sounder commuter rail]] service. Sound Transit had ordered thirty-two cars in 1999 to be delivered in 2001 for a planned system expansion, and a combination of events, where the manufacturer completed the cars ahead of schedule and the expansion plans were unexpectedly delayed, left the cars available for Caltrain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtransit.org/sites/default/files/documents/html/board/motions/html/motionm2001-72.html |title=Sound Transit Motion No. M2001-72 |date=9 August 2001 |publisher=Sound Transit |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> The cars made their debut on June 28, 2002, during the groundbreaking ceremony that accompanied the launch of CTX; dignitaries had boarded the low-floor Bombardier cars at South San Francisco and rode up to 4th and King.<ref name=BRA-0207 /><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com:80/news_ctx_event.html |title=Caltrain Unveils New Passenger Cars at CTX Event |date=June 2002 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021015042930/http://www.caltrain.com/news_ctx_event.html |archive-date=15 October 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bombardier cars entered revenue service in October 2002.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.caltrain.com/news_2002_baby_bullet_cars.html |title=Caltrain Baby Bullet Cars Entering Service |date=October 2002 |publisher=Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board |accessdate=26 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060318014212/http://www.caltrain.com/news_2002_baby_bullet_cars.html |archive-date=18 March 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the first year of Baby Bullet service in 2004, the five-car Bombardier consists had a capacity of only sixteen bicycles per train, and carried heavy passenger loads.<ref name=SFC-040608 />