Caltrain Releases "How to Ride" Video

By

April 3, 2013

For more than two years, Caltrain’s ridership has grown at a record-breaking clip, which translates into many new customers learning about the system.  To help these riders understand Caltrain’s unique system, Caltrain has released a “How to Ride” video.

Just like driving a car for the first time, newcomers have to learn how to ride Caltrain. But a few easy steps can help a public transportation novice make it to their destination, and Caltrain’s fun and informative video shows them how.

In five steps, the video spells out how to be successful on a customer’s very first Caltrain outing.  A good experience requires: planning, getting to a station, paying, boarding and riding etiquette and, of course, arriving at the rider’s destination.

The best trips on Caltrain start with a little simple planning.   Checking Caltrain’s website will help customers find the train that meets their travel needs.  To ensure a good travel experience, customers should plan to arrive early to avoid missing their trains.   

Customers also will want to check out the fares and ticket types available to get them to their destinations.  Caltrain is a proof-of-payment system that requires purchasing a ticket before boarding the train or risk receiving an expensive citation.

New riders also should be aware of a bit of basic train etiquette while onboard.  Customers boarding without bicycles are asked to sit in one of the non-bike portions of the train cars and leave the bike-car seats available so cyclists can sit near their bikes. 

The benefit of riding Caltrain is having free time onboard to work, read a book or take a nap, but new riders are reminded to pay attention to announcements to avoid missing their stops.

Caltrain’s video can be found at Caltrain.com/howtoride.

Caltrain’s Customer Service Center also can provide travel planning tips by calling 1.800.660.4287 or hearing-impaired (TTY only) customers may call 650.508.6448.  Checking the schedule, locating the nearest station and planning to arrive early enough to avoid missing the train are all part of good travel preparation.

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 About Caltrain:   Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. Caltrain has enjoyed 28 consecutive months of ridership increases, surpassing more than 50,000 average weekday riders earlier this year. While the Joint Powers Board assumed operating responsibilities for the service in 1992, the railroad will celebrate 150 years of continuous passenger service in 2014. Planning for the next 150 years of Peninsula rail service, Caltrain is on pace to electrify the corridor by 2019, reducing diesel emissions by 90 percent and adding more service to more stations. 

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