Winter 2010 Winter Connection Information for Customers Peninsula Rail Program Moves Forward Caltrain and the house gas emissions and California High Speed Rail railroad safety. Authority are on track with a The Peninsula Rail plan to modernize and elec- Program project team is trify the Caltrain corridor and developing a draft of high- to introduce high speed rail in speed train project alterna- California. tives for the Caltrain corridor, A number of community taking into account the public forums were held to outline comment and input received the issues and identify over the last year. opportunities that a The alternatives will combined Caltrain/high-speed consider whether the addition rail project can address, of two additional tracks for including train noise and high-speed can be accom- The future vision of Caltrain running electric multiple units vibrations, air quality, green- out of Millbrae station. continued on page 5 Caltrain Addresses Recent Delays Wheelchair lift won’t retract. too will be delayed. Also, if the train evaluation of both the locomotive and Signal is displaying red. Engine can’t get to its destination on time and passenger car fleet to identify areas “flip” to head in the opposite direc- of maintenance that should be en- won’t start. Trespasser steps in tion, those customers also will be late. hanced to not only provide increased path of train. The 90 weekday trains are operated reliability, but to provide the ride with only 20 train sets. That means quality and comfort level the No matter what the reason it has that one train set plays an integral role continued on page 3 the same result: delayed trains, in moving Caltrain’s resulting, more importantly, in delayed customers. customers. And Caltrain has had more While Caltrain has than its fair share lately and it apolo- implemented a number gizes for any inconvenience its custom- of contingencies, such ers have experienced. as a stand-by set of You might say, “But I was three equipment and cross- trains behind the one that wouldn’t overs to bypass break- start” or “I was traveling in the op- downs, customers still posite direction; what gives?” That feel the impact when illustrates how orchestrated and tightly the problems are connected the Caltrain service is. One bigger than the train incident can cause a domino contingencies. effect. If the delayed train can’t get Caltrain staff has out of the way of other trains, they been conducting an Guardians of the Rail 2 Keeping the Tracks Safe For track inspectors Jacob Ghazali and Tim Alves no day is the same. It is demanding work performed per hour on the track. Alves four to five hours regardless of weather conditions and “If you go over 16 miles per hour, to inspect the rails in one where you always have a train not far you cannot see things that need to direction, unless repairs behind you. be repaired,” Alves said. To monitor are needed, then it can It’s also a job Jacob Ghazali and switches and components along the become a seven-hour run. Tim Alves love. As track inspectors, track or near a road crossing, he slows Another inspection crew - they repair, restrict or remove track to five miles per hour. George Duarte and Lupe in a standard pick-up truck equipped “Our goal is to keep trains moving Monerez – inspect the with rail wheels while Caltrain’s regular at maximum speed and the tracks safe rails on the days Ghazali and Alves service continues to run. for our customers,” said Ghazali. are off. Twice a week, this team inspects As the truck rolls down the tracks, Ghazali also rides in a Caltrain more than 50 miles of track between Ghazali listens to the radio, stays in engine once a month with a San Jose and San Francisco. Every contact with dispatchers who direct locomotive engineer’s perspective month they inspect more than 100 and monitor train traffic from the Cen- looking for trees or vegetation blocking switches, 23 of which are located tral Control Facility in San Jose. Alves signals, “listening” for problem spots at the Centralized Equipment keeps a keen eye out for track defects and “feeling” the ride for rough spots. Maintenance and Operations Facility. or damaged switches. When they According to Ghazali, CEMOF and This two-man team also are the spot a problem, Alves puts the truck South San Francisco are the busiest ones who call for heat restrictions – into park and both get out and quickly yards that need maintenance. When reduced train speed on hot days. make any minor repairs or one pro- they reach San Francisco, they walk by According to Ghazali, the rails can heat vides protection as watchman lookout foot to inspect hand-thrown switches. up to 140 degrees when the outside from the adjacent track while the other Their job isn’t just about repairs of ambient temperature is 100 degrees makes repairs. For repairs they cannot switches and rails. “I’ve been doing causing thermal stretching in the rail make, they schedule crews to repair this for 22 years,” Alves said. “I’ve known as “sun kinks”. the problem during the night. seen a little bit of everything out here.” Their truck travels up to 15 miles On average, it takes Ghazali and Ghazali agreed, adding, “You never Caltrain Rider Takes Second Place in APTA Dump the Pump Contest
An upbeat musical depiction of the joys of avoiding traffic submitted by a regular Caltrain rider took second place in the American Public Transpor- tation Association’s “Dump the Pump” transit rider- generated online video contest. Last fall, participants were asked to submit a short video that demonstrated why they were “dumping the pump” in favor of using public transportation. Second-place winner San Francisco resident Judith Keenan logged online to Caltrain’s Web site to check train departure times to Menlo Park when she saw the APTA contest announcement and thought, why not put something together. She strapped a camera around her neck, turned it on to document her ride to the gas station and then to the Caltrain station. The rest is history. “Now that I’m getting this great prize of free tran- sit on Caltrain for six months, I’ll be taking the train continued on page 6
Caltrain Addresses Delays 3 continued from page 1
passenger expects. Caltrain staff also is working diligently with its contract operator, Amtrak, to reduce delays and refocus on preventative maintenance. When there is a major service disruption, Caltrain’s goal is to get service restored as quickly as possible. That may entail having one train pass or “overtake” another train so that it can get to its destination and cover service in the other direction. It takes at least four to five hours to inspect Caltrain tracks and It never feels good to be at a station waiting for a switches between San Jose and San Francisco. train, you feel relieved when you see the approaching headlight, then super frustrated as the train speeds through the station. While it’s the best way to get know what you may run across.” service back on track, it’s a disservice to Caltrain’s One time Ghazali and Alves caught a crew loading loose customers to not let them know what’s going on. rails on a truck. Turns out the men were taking the rails To rectify that, Caltrain is committed to improving its and selling it at a local recycling yard. At other times, they communication with customers. have encountered homeless people sleeping on the rails, During delays, announcements will be made shopping carts and metal bands that come off freight trains. every 10 minutes onboard trains and at stations. “Something as simple as that can ruin a commute,” Alves The station announcements will include both public said. “You always have to remain vigilant out here. It’s all address messages as well as visual messages, about keeping the trains running and getting people to their if the infrastructure is in place. By mid-next year, destinations.” Caltrain will be offering real-time information on train Despite the workload, the team enjoys their work. “I status. love this job,” said Ghazali. “I get to do something that Caltrain will continue to work diligently on everybody is fascinated with, and I get paid to do it.” meeting your expectations for on-time service. Fast Facts Real-time Train Tracking Coming Commuters on Caltrain will have access to real-time information by spring 2011. In December, the Caltrain Board of Directors ap- proved a contract to purchase an integrated predictive arrival/depar- ture system that provides real-time train information from an on-board global positioning system.
Automatic updates on Caltrain arrivals and delays will be displayed on existing station visual message boards and be available on 511.org. This information will It’s Not too Early for Fans allow riders to decide whether to drive or take other transit options if Caltrain is experiencing delays. to Catch Baseball Fever
Presidents Day Schedule Are you ready for some baseball? Oakland Athletics. Opening day is The crack of the bat and the umpire’s April 9 against the Atlanta Braves. Caltrain will run regular service shout of “Play Ball” are only a couple Last season, Caltrain was the ticket on Monday, Feb. 15. Visit of months away. to AT&T Park for almost 400,000 4 www.caltrain.com for the schedule. Get out of your winter slump and Giants fans, driving ridership up 9 per- • • • start planning your Caltrain connection cent compared to the prior season. to another exciting season of Giants Look for your Caltrain Giants game Winter Weekend Edition Available baseball with the preseason Bay Bridge schedule on trains by mid-March or Looking for fun destinations and series opener on April 1 against the visit www.caltrain.com. community events to go to without the expense of gas and parking? Crowds Turn Out for Holiday Train The latest issue of the Caltrain Caltrain, Marines & Salvation Army CCollectollect TThousandshousands ooff TToysoys fforor TTotsots Weekend Edition will give you options, The holiday season was brighter nine years, Caltrain and U.S. Marine including iin-n- on for thousands of children, thanks to Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program formation on t the generosity of people who donated and the Salvation Army have worked how to get g 4,045 toys and books and $2,304 together to make the train an annual there using nd in cash for Bay Area needy children festive tradition. Caltrain andg at whistlestops made by the annual Frosty, Mr. and Mrs. Gingerbread, connecting Caltrain Holiday Train. Toy Soldier, Christmas Bear, Mr. and to other Crowds of children and adults Mrs. Cheeksworthy, Rudolph, transit braved the cold and rain to come out Santa and Mrs. Claus and the options. to see the spectacularly lighted U.S. Marine Corps were on hand to Weekend Holiday Train as it stopped at nine mingle with the crowds. Edition stations between San Francisco and Onboard, holiday favorites were lists a Santa Clara over two days in sung by Masterworks Chorale and the variety December. Menlo Park Chorus accompanied by of at- Since the first Holiday Train lit the Salvation Army Band. tractions s, up the night in 2001, approximately Sponsors of the Holiday Train are and events, 43,755 gifts have been generated for listed on page 6. such as concerts, sports, needy Bay Area children. For the last museums, holiday events and farmers’ markets. • • • Peninsula Rail Program Moves Forward continued from page 1 EVENTS CALENDAR modated above ground, at-grade, or will have access to a state-of-the-art, below ground along the corridor, while environmentally-friendly and econom- Ride Caltrain to these special keeping as much of the railroad ically-viable high-speed rail network events. The station name and infrastructure within the existing right connecting the Bay Area to Southern any additional transit service are of way as possible. Once developed, California by 2020. listed below each event. the alternatives will be studied as part The Peninsula Rail Program is an of the environmental analysis that is agreement executed by the Peninsula estimated to be completed by Corridor Joint Powers Board and the Feb. 6 fall 2011. California High Speed Rail Authority KNBR/Giants Winter Fan Fest As a partner with the California in spring 2009. The purpose and AT&T Park High Speed Rail Authority, Caltrain commitment of the new partnership www.knbr.com could benefit from the billions of is to provide continuing management San Francisco station dollars that the CHSRA would provide of JPB-approved system modernization to help fund the modernization and programs and to provide oversight of Feb. 8 thru 14 electrification of Caltrain. Also, the integrated high-speed train/ SAP Open Tennis 2010 Caltrain projects are eligible to Caltrain program that will benefit both. HP Pavilion at San Jose benefit from a portion of the $8 billion Subscribe to the Peninsula www.sapopentennis.com in high-speed rail funding included in Rail Project newsletter by calling San Jose Diridon station the American Recovery and Reinvest- 510.587.8640 or e-mail ment Act of 2009. [email protected]. Additional Caltrain customers will benefit information can be found at Feb. 19 thru 28 Der Freischütz from an electrified and modernized www.caltrain.com/peninsula West Bay Opera commuter rail system by gaining more railprogram. www.wbopera.org and faster service. Customers also Palo Alto station 5 March 18 & 20 Rail Safety Tip for the New Year NCAA March Madness Tournament HP Pavilion Watch for a second train. Caltrain operates on two www.ncaa.com and four tracks in select locations. San Jose Diridon station April 17 thru 18 When you see the last car of the train, don’t cross Arlen Ness Bike Show until you’re sure that no other trains are coming on San Mateo County Event Center www.sanmateoexpo.org either track. Also, wait for the gate arm to go up. Hillsdale station Remember, the gate means wait. May 16 Bay to Breakers San Francisco www.ingbaytobreakers.com SAVE $5 on show tickets! San Francisco station Bring your show day Caltrain ticket to one of the Arena Box Offices. (Excludes Front Row and VIP seats. No double discounts.) May 22 KFOG KaBoom Appearing: FEB. Piers 30/32 24 - 28 Embarcadero at Brannan St. www.kfog.com MAR. 3 - 7 San Francisco station
www.disneyonice.com Design Phase of Transit Hub Signage Completed
In 2011, passengers will find it Transit easier to transfer from one transit Connectivity Plan: mode to another when new hub San Francisco, signage goes up at 24 regional Palo Alto, transit centers throughout the Mountain View Bay Area. and San Jose. Four The design Caltrain of the new sig- stations will nage has been have the completed with new signage installation of the static signs – The purpose of the Transit installed wayfinding, transit center ID and Connectivity Plan is to improve the as part of information displays – to begin this quality of the link between transit the Met- year. systems for the customer. ropolitan Real-time electronic information Transporta- displays also are part of the plan tion Com- and will be installed at the stations APTA Contest Winner mission’s in 2011. continued from page 3 to Menlo Park once or twice a week to continue having fun visits with a friend Holiday Train Sponsors and subject of a documentary that I’m filming,” Keenan said. 6 Her entry and all the other entries are featured at APTA’s Public Caltrain Holiday Train Sponsors Transportation Takes Us There Web site - www.publictransportation.org/ Event Partners Assistant Conductor takesusthere/contest_videos.html. Sponsors
Caltrain Connection is produced by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Comments, questions, contributions and Media Sponsors suggestions should be directed to: Mary Knuckles, editor [email protected] Station Master Sponsors Caltrain Connection P.O. Box 3006 San Carlos, CA 94070-1306
Caltrain Board of Directors Sean Elsbernd, chair Mark Church, vice chair Omar Ahmad José Cisneros Nathaniel Ford Sr. In-Kind Sponsors Don Gage Ash Kalra Arthur L. Lloyd Ken Yeager
Michael J. Scanlon Raison D’etre Bakery Executive Director San Francisco Caltrain Station Subway 1.800.660.4287 www.caltrain.com