Caltrain to Provide Some Additional Service for Giants Parade

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October 29, 2012

Caltrain is set to provide some additional service Wednesday, Oct. 31 in anticipation of large crowds going to San Francisco to attend the Giants Parade.

In the morning, extra trains will be added to augment the regular service, which is used by approximately 20,000-plus commuters on an average weekday. 

After the parade, the regular southbound schedule will be suspended beginning in the early afternoon to help move crowds out of San Francisco more efficiently. Trains will depart when full, about every 15 minutes, and all trains will stop at all regular weekday stations. 

Three trains will continue to go to Gilroy as usual, but they may be slightly off-schedule.

Ambassadors will be on hand at the San Jose Diridon in the morning and San Francisco station in the afternoon to help direct riders. 

Beginning today at 5 p.m., riders can purchase tickets and parking permits for Wednesday from ticket vending machines at any Caltrain station.  A “Giants Parade” button will expedite transactions. Riders who intend to take the train home can avoid long lines at the San Francisco ticket vending machines by purchasing a Day Pass. 

Prepurchasing a parking permit doesn’t guarantee a parking spot at the first station choice on the day of the event. Many Caltrain parking lots are at capacity on a daily basis. Stations with additional parking capacity are: Lawrence, San Antonio, California Avenue, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont, Hayward Park, San Mateo, Burlingame, San Bruno, South San Francisco and Bayshore. 

Two years ago, Caltrain set ridership records on the day of the Giants Parade, with an additional 37,000 fans taking the train to San Francisco to take part in the historic event. Average weekday ridership on Caltrain in September was 50,821. 

To take transit to a Caltrain station, trip planning advice is available at the Caltrain customer service center 1.800.660.4287 or by visiting 511.org.