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Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

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Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#51

Post by bluGill »

bilbo0s wrote: post #36
m463 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

big things seem to require a blank check.

Yep. Totally disingenuous to say, "Hey! Look at the richest region in the US! They have electric trains. Why can't we?" Well, make my state the fourth largest economy in the world and we'd have electric trains too.

Those rich regions are setting examples of building transit at way too high a cost for poorer regions to afford.

If we could use other parts of the world as an example - my region is richer than them and could afford it. But those places somehow are never used as the example

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#52

Post by TitaRusell »

jedberg wrote: post #30
rconti wrote: post #5

It's notable that the annual ridership is up 47% in the FY ending June 2025 vs the FY ending June 2024, when electrification was only complete in September 2024-- in other words, it's not even a full year's worth of ridership increase. On the flip side, I find it shocking that ridership is still only 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Anecdotally, the increased service is a game-changer. Speed matters, too, a lot, but the f…

> On the flip side, I find it shocking that ridership is still only 60% of pre-pandemic levels. It makes a lot of sense. Many companies went full remote during the pandemic and stayed that way, or if they went in person, it's only 60% of the time or less. And a lot of people left the area during the pandemic, and those that are returning are coming back to SF, not the suburbs. I used to take the train every day for y…

This happened in my country. Basically many people only go the office a few days a week. Friday's are virtual ghost towns.

Unfortunately for railroad companies commuters are the lifeblood.

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#53

Post by JumpCrisscross »

thefourthchime wrote: post #45
rconti wrote: post #5

It's notable that the annual ridership is up 47% in the FY ending June 2025 vs the FY ending June 2024, when electrification was only complete in September 2024-- in other words, it's not even a full year's worth of ridership increase. On the flip side, I find it shocking that ridership is still only 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Anecdotally, the increased service is a game-changer. Speed matters, too, a lot, but the f…

I can tell you the light rail in Austin is a complete failure. There was some ridership before the pandemic, but after a few years, the numbers are dismal. They've covered the windows with ads, so you can't even tell how empty they are inside. Meanwhile, they crisscross the city, constantly blocking streets with rail guards just to shuffle a handful of people north and south.

> light rail in Austin is a complete failure

Light rail is stupid. It’s a bus that can’t change lanes. A train that gets stuck in traffic.

And, as you said, they visibly disrupt drivers which generates class animosity.

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#54

Post by stevenwoo »

pfannkuchen wrote: post #3
quotemstr wrote: post #2

Caltrain is functional, I guess, but it's one linear system. It doesn't even have express tracks. (It has a few four-tracked overtaking areas, but nothing pervasive.) Inside, basic electric power outlets are hard to find. Grade separation? Ridiculous fantasy. The route map hasn't expanded since 1992. Yeah, they've electrified the system. Congrats, I guess? The system is still a glorified people mover. It goes in one…

> It goes in one direction, turns around, and goes in the other direction. To be fair, the peninsula is basically a long hallway. I’m not really sure where else it would go?

There used to be a rail line that went closer to the base of the mountains but they tore that down to build Foothill Expressway and other roads.

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#55

Post by thot_experiment »

mwillis wrote: post #46
thot_experiment wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You must be riding a different Caltrain, unless I'm on my motorcycle it's always faster to get anywhere in SF via Caltrain + bike from the peninsula during commute hours, it's not even close.

reading is tougher though

absolutely, i love caltrain and i ride it all the time precisely because it's time i can actually use to do whatever i want

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#56

Post by jdlshore »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #53
thefourthchime wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can tell you the light rail in Austin is a complete failure. There was some ridership before the pandemic, but after a few years, the numbers are dismal. They've covered the windows with ads, so you can't even tell how empty they are inside. Meanwhile, they crisscross the city, constantly blocking streets with rail guards just to shuffle a handful of people north and south.

> light rail in Austin is a complete failure Light rail is stupid. It’s a bus that can’t change lanes. A train that gets stuck in traffic. And, as you said, they visibly disrupt drivers which generates class animosity.

I think you’re thinking of streetcars—trains that share right of way with cars. Light rail often has its own right-of-way with priority over cars. (That’s what the crossing guards are for.)

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#57

Post by anonymousiam »

I'm really surprised that nobody has yet commented on the dismal economic failure that the California High Speed Rail has been. After 11 years and $15B ($3.4B in federal grants), they've made very little progress. They just lost $4B more in federal grants because the project is a classic example of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (FWA). California sued over the cancelled grant, but then dropped the suit. My guess is that it was dropped because it would have opened up California to discovery, which would have revealed the details of the FWA.

Estimates to complete the original plan call for another $100B and at least another 12 years. I don't think it's ever going to be completed given the massive state budget deficit (reliable figures are difficult to find). Even if it ever got completed, it would never pay for itself.

https://www.hsrail.org/california-is-building-high-speed-rai...

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/california-drops-lawsuit-ch...

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#58

Post by amluto »

adastra22 wrote: post #18
jerlam wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would expect a regional system to connect an entire regional area. Caltrain connects two parts of the Bay Area: San Francisco and the South Bay. BART connects the entire East Bay to San Francisco. In a functioning system, they would both just be legs and not two completely separate systems. The only place they connect appears to be in Millbrae and not near any large hubs.

They will soon connect in San Jose.

Don’t forget the SF Downtown Rail Extension, planned since the 1990s supposedly.

https://www.tjpa.org/portaldtx/about-portal

https://www.caltrain.com/media/17998/download

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#59

Post by bitfilped »

rconti wrote: post #5

It's notable that the annual ridership is up 47% in the FY ending June 2025 vs the FY ending June 2024, when electrification was only complete in September 2024-- in other words, it's not even a full year's worth of ridership increase. On the flip side, I find it shocking that ridership is still only 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Anecdotally, the increased service is a game-changer. Speed matters, too, a lot, but the f…

Last time I rode Caltrain (late last year) I had my life threatened by some low life who got mad b/c they had been in the bathroom for 5+ stops and an employee had the audacity to knock on the door and tell them to wrap it up and get out (I just happened to be nearby) so there's that aspect of it.

Re: Caltrain shows why every region should be moving toward regional rail

#60

Post by verall »

thefourthchime wrote: post #45
rconti wrote: post #5

It's notable that the annual ridership is up 47% in the FY ending June 2025 vs the FY ending June 2024, when electrification was only complete in September 2024-- in other words, it's not even a full year's worth of ridership increase. On the flip side, I find it shocking that ridership is still only 60% of pre-pandemic levels. Anecdotally, the increased service is a game-changer. Speed matters, too, a lot, but the f…

I can tell you the light rail in Austin is a complete failure. There was some ridership before the pandemic, but after a few years, the numbers are dismal. They've covered the windows with ads, so you can't even tell how empty they are inside. Meanwhile, they crisscross the city, constantly blocking streets with rail guards just to shuffle a handful of people north and south.

The Austin train you are talking about is heavy rail. Not to be confused with Austin light rail which is Coming Soon (TM).

It's still more reliable than the busses. I think it's pretty fun.

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