No weekend service between Tamien and San Jose Diridon Stations on select weekends July–Sept. More info.
Caltrain’s ridership continued to grow through FY26, providing over 12.5 million rides. Average weekday ridership broke 40,000, a 36.9% increase over the previous fiscal year, and weekend ridership is approximately 150% what it was pre-pandemic.
“Caltrain’s modern fleet offers comfort, convenience and connection to locations all over the Bay Area, powered by 100% renewable zero-emission energy,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “That’s what’s bringing more people on every day, and we have room for everyone else who’s tired of gridlock on the highways.”
At the beginning of FY26, Caltrain’s ridership was approximately 64.4% of pre-pandemic levels. By the end of the fiscal year, it had reached 81.5%. Historically, Caltrain ridership peaks over the summer and is at its lowest point during the winter months. Caltrain’s monthly ridership broke one million in March 2026, the earliest in the calendar year Caltrain has met that milestone since launch of electrified service. Caltrain has broken that record again every month since. In 2025, Caltrain didn’t break one million until June.
Caltrain has been at the center of multiple major events this year that brought thousands of new riders to the service, including the World Cup where more than 38,000 riders rode Caltrain to matches and watch parties, as well as the Super Bowl and Stanford’s BTS concert. This is in addition to the seven major league sports teams Caltrain serves, as well as multiple concert venues, public parks and vibrant downtowns. Electrification allows Caltrain to run half-hourly weekend service which has delivered substantial growth in weekend ridership since launch.
Caltrain was named the fastest growing transit system in the United States by the American Public Transportation Association in 2025. Customer ratings have also reached record highs, with surveys showing average rider satisfaction at a 4.5 out of 5.
Since the transition to electric trains, Caltrain is providing cleaner air for communities along the corridor and faster, more frequent service for riders throughout the San Francisco Peninsula with a state-of-the-art electric fleet featuring modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi, power outlets and baby changing tables in the bathroom.
Despite Caltrain’s record post-pandemic ridership, the increase in fare revenue is insufficient to sustain Caltrain operations. Even with continued growth, ridership alone is not enough to close the funding gap, and additional funding is needed to maintain current levels of service.
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About Caltrain: Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with commute service to Gilroy. Serving the region since 1863, Caltrain is the oldest continually operating rail system west of the Mississippi and the first railroad to convert from diesel to electric power in a generation.
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