Caltrain Ridership Speeds Forward

With an average of more than 50,000 weekday riders, Caltrain has reached a historically high ridership level, according to the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board.

In June a total of 1,319,404 riders boarded Caltrain, a growth of nearly 11 percent over June 2011.

The increased ridership also means more revenue for Caltrain, which surpassed $10 million this year—22.1 percent higher than in 2011.

Ridership has risen steadily since 2008, when it dipped due to the economic recession and job loss—which meant fewer commuters on board—according to Caltrain.

Record ridership has also meant crowded trains. In respond to the demand Caltrain announced it would restore four midday trains eliminated last year due to budget cuts. There will also be two additional evening trains.

The new service begins this fall, according to Caltrain officials.

Caltrain has attributed the significant ridership increase to the introduction of the Baby Bullet express service in 2004, after which the commuter rail experienced a 17 percent rise within six months.

Additional factors Caltrain suggests have lead to more riders include the almost double the number of express trains between San Francisco and San Jose and the incorporation of transfers into service, which improved ridership by 9.4 percent in five months.

By 2019, Caltrain plans to operate electric trains to meet anticipated, future demand for reliable public transportation.

According to a report released in June by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute, modernizing the Caltrain corridor with electrified trains and updated signal systems could also create 9,600 jobs in the Bay Area.

Copyright © 2012 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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