Next Generation Clipper - Get charged correctly, tap off only once. Balances will no longer display on Clipper readers. New Year's Eve: Free rides from 8 p.m. until last train from San Francisco. Extra post-event trains.
Late in 2024, Caltrain held its first special-themed train on its new electric fleet. The Billie Car took fans to a Billie Eilish concert at SAP Center, and after receiving a very positive response from both attendees and the public at large, we at Caltrain began considering other events that would benefit from a similar approach in 2025.
Caltrain wanted to find events that people were passionate enough about that they wanted the celebration to begin before they even arrived at the venue. This allowed Caltrain to be both a connection and a destination at the same time, offering not just a ride but an experience. With Caltrain serving seven major league sports teams (the most in the country, alongside the New York City Subway), as well as a wide range of concert venues, both big and small, there were many events to choose from to help increase our ridership and help the public get where they need to go.
Over the course of 2025, Caltrain hosted themed cars for Kendrick Lamar and SZA, the Wu-Tang Clan, Bay FC and the Golden State Valkyries. These events took place on both north and southbound trains serving different venues at different times of the day on different days of the week, and yet one thing remained consistent; everyone on board had a great time at no additional cost. The impact went beyond just those in attendance, as both traditional and social media coverage spiked for these events.
Caltrain is currently working with the many venues it serves to determine what themed trains we’ll be running in 2026. Stay tuned to our social media channels to find out what to expect in the year to come.