Caltrain Begins Transition to Regional Fare Card

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October 26, 2010

Caltrain has begun the transition of two of its “big tickets” to Clipper^SM, the reloadable fare payment card now in use by five major Bay Area transit systems.

As part of a regional effort, in early 2011, Caltrain is scheduled to phase out paper Monthly passes and 8-ride tickets, the two ticket types used by the majority of Caltrain’s customers. After the transition is completed, customers will be able to purchase those two major ticket types only on the Clipper card.

One-way tickets and Day passes still will be available from ticket vending machines located at nearly all Caltrain stations, and Clipper card users also can ride using cash value loaded onto the plastic cards.

Clipper is in use on AC Transit, BART, Golden Gate Ferry and Transit, and Muni, all of which are implementing their own phase-out plans for certain paper passes. The move from paper to plastic is the fulfillment of a multi-year effort by the regional Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the transit agencies to provide riders with a seamless and convenient payment method.

Caltrain has been getting out the word about the change through information on the train, station flyers, website notices and outreach events, during which free Clipper cards were given away.

A growing number of Caltrain’s passengers have already made the transition to Clipper, learning how to use the card to “tag on” and “tag off” on disembarking. Customers “tag,” or touch, their Clipper cards at electronic card readers at train stations so their passes are recognized or the correct amount is deducted for rides paid for with cash stored on the card.

Members of Caltrain mail order programs are well into the transition. Seniors, youth and people with disabilities need to apply in person at Caltrain’s San Carlos administrative office or other participating transit agency for special cards that will allow them to buy passes at Caltrain’s Eligible Discount rate.

Customers who don’t already have Clipper cards are strongly encouraged to request one from the Clipper Customer Service Bureau or to visit a Clipper vendor, which includes many Walgreen’s stores. For Clipper information, call 1.877.878.8883 or visit clippercard.com. Youth/senior card applications can be downloaded from that site, as well.

A group of riders who should remain with paper passes for the time being are passengers who use their Caltrain Monthly passes for a fare credit on SamTrans or the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

SamTrans and VTA are the next transit agencies that will offer Clipper, with SamTrans scheduled for launch in mid-December. Until those agencies are on board with Clipper, passengers won’t be able to use the Caltrain transfer privilege.

Caltrain customers who buy a Monthly Pass or an 8-ride Ticket are able to purchase a Monthly Parking Permit from Caltrain station ticket vending machines. The customer needs to enter the 10-digit number located on this back of his Clipper card onto the keypad on the ticket vending machine. The TVM will verify that a Monthly Pass or 8-ride Ticket has been purchased using the Clipper card.

For answers to frequently asked questions, visit www.caltrain.com/clipper.

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