How We've Grown in 2021
It’s been a big year for Caltrain. We are running more trains than ever before in the history of the agency, and have expanded service throughout the day and into the evening to better serve those who travel during off-peak hours, including essential workers. We enhanced the rider experience with the opening of a new, modern Hillsdale Station, and we made over 300 bicycle eLockers available at stations along the corridor. We also improved safety at five grade crossings, and separated the tracks from the road at 25th Avenue in San Mateo, reducing traffic congestion and improving access and connectivity in the community. I’m proud that we launched our GoPass Donation Program which provides free Caltrain passes to community-serving organizations. And of course, the progress made on Caltrain Electrification, which you can read more about below. Together we are investing in smart infrastructure for our future, and we look forward to continuing to grow in 2022 and beyond.
Title Card for the Caltrain Electrification Year of Progress video.
Caltrain Electrification: A Year of Progress
Caltrain Electrification made major strides in 2021! Along with improving service for riders, the project creates thousands of jobs across the U.S., combats climate change, and lays the foundation for the system’s future growth. We’re excited to share progress made this year: 
  • The first high-performance trainset completed full-speed testing at the federal Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colo. 
  • Seventy-three electric train cars are now in assembly at the Salt Lake City, Utah manufacturing facility made possible by the project. 
  • Over 95% of the foundations and the first upgraded signal system have been installed, and every city along the 51-mile corridor was touched by either preparations or infrastructure installations that will power the new electric trains.
  • We held 25 outreach events and shared 40,000 mailers and flyers.

Watch the video and learn more about our work this year at CalMod.org/YearInReview and stay tuned for when we receive our first trainset that will undergo testing on the Caltrain corridor in 2022!
Photo of 22nd Street Station
Exploring Accessibility Improvements at 22nd Street Station
As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding system-wide accessibility for riders with mobility impairments, Caltrain launched the 22nd Street Station ADA Improvement Feasibility Study in early 2020. While 22nd Street Station is currently accessible by stairs, the study identified feasible alternatives for achieving wheelchair access between the station’s platforms and surrounding streets. After considering user experience, operational and construction factors, the study has recommended that ramps be considered for further analysis and design. To learn more, click here.
Photo of Go Pass Donation Program Recipient Craig Bright
Photo of Craig Bright, Go Pass Donation Program Recipient, with bicycle at a Caltrain Station
Meet Craig Bright, Go Pass Donation Program Recipient
This year, Caltrain launched its Go Pass Donation Program where organizations donated unused Caltrain passes to a network of community serving organizations. The program is intended to increase access to the Caltrain system, build ridership across a diverse market, and preserve Go Pass participation through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

One of the program’s recipients is Craig Bright, a retiree living on a fixed income in Palo Alto. Living without a car, he relies on public transportation to take on temporary job assignments in San Francisco and for mobility around the Bay Area: “The Go Pass has provided me an opportunity to make money and enjoy life. I believe that this is a very important subsidy program that will help people find fulfillment and valuable job opportunities if they desire. [Caltrain] has helped to remove one of the major obstacles to progress that I was facing.”  
MLK Celebration Train
The Annual Celebration Train offers the opportunity to come together and commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King on January 17. This free train ride, which pays tribute to the 54-mile 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, is a great way to get to the MLK March and events in San Francisco. There will be onboard activities and entertainment making it a fun and inspirational event for the whole family. For more information click here.
Photo of Santa greeting the crowd as part of the 2021 Holiday Train
Celebrating the Season of Giving
Thousands of people gathered to see the Holiday Train on Dec. 4 and 5, and to give to others in need. Over 1,500 toys were donated to Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, ensuring that families around the Bay Area will have a happy holiday. Thank you to all who participated, and to the volunteers and staff who decked the train with 70,000 lights, bringing holiday cheer to the community.
animation of a present opening and a train emerges
Happy Holidays from Caltrain
Wherever your journey takes you,
all of us at Caltrain wish you and your family a Happy Holidays!
In light of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the Bay Area, Caltrain is monitoring the situation and following local public health agencies and CDC guidance regarding public meetings.
Caltrain is implementing a bold service vision for the future with a series of infrastructure and planning projects to modernize the system. Central among these projects is Electrification, which lays the foundation for a faster, greener, cleaner, and more reliable system for everyone.
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