Caltrain Celebrates First Anniversary of Electric Service

Photo courtesy of Caltrain

MILLBRAE, Calif. –– It seems like only yesterday when Caltrain began electrified commuter service from San Francisco to San Jose. However, the agency this week celebrated the first anniversary of electric service on the Peninsula.

Caltrain reports that since the beginning of electric service one year ago, it has seen ridership increase from 6.2 million in fiscal year 2024 to 9.1 million in fiscal year 2025. In addition ridership on weekends has more than doubled, and the agency saw a 78% ridership increase in July 2025 over July 2024. This was the second consecutive month of more than one million riders.

The agency also reports that monthly San Francisco Giants ridership has increased by approximately 82% over last year, as well as a significant increase in ridership on trains devoted to other special events. When the service began last year, Caltrain offered a new $1 Youth Fare for folks 18 years and under, and youth ridership is four times what it was last year.

Caltrain says that electrification has enabled the agency to increase service while reducing travel times, and cites the following points:

• Express trains now travel between San Francisco and San Jose in just one hour.
• Local trains cover the same distance in 75 minutes, 33% faster than diesel service.
• Weekend service has doubled, with trains every 30 minutes.
• Every station on the line is now served by at least one train in each direction every thirty minutes, with 16 stations seeing trains every 20 minutes and 11 stations seeing one every 15 minutes.

The onboard experience for riders has also improved, with the addition of charging outlets at just about every seat and free Wi-Fi service. All of these changes have raised system capacity by 30%.

Michelle Bouchard, Executive Director of Caltrain, said “Electrification has completely transformed Caltrain. We’re delivering cleaner, faster, and more frequent service, and riders are responding in record numbers. This first year has shown what’s possible when we invest in sustainable rail, and we’re only just getting started.”

How It Was –– commuter rail service operated by Southern Pacific. This train is in the San Jose station awaiting northbound departure time on December 14, 1956. This was approximately one month before the discontinuance of steam power on SP commuter trains. Photograph by Tom Gildersleeve, collection of the Center for Railroad Photography & Art. [Gildersleeve-TEMP-SP-01].