Rail 101

Building for the future requires that we understand what exists today. Here you'll find an introduction to basic rail concepts, as well as a map of rail lines and services that currently exist in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Why trains?
Types of trains
Trains and grade separations
Trains and noise

Click in square in map below for south bay detail

map of rail lines in greater SF Bay Area southbay detail map

   
   
Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)


BART


Caltrain


Amtrak Capitol Corridor


Amtrak San Joaquins (Oakland-Bakersfield, Sacramento-Bakersfield)


Amtrak long distance: Coast Starlight (LA-Seattle via Salinas, Oakland, Sacramento); California Zephyr (Emeryville-Sacramento-Chicago)


former freight rights-of-way owned by local transit agencies


tourist excursion (former freight lines, not all lines shown)


freight trains only (not all lines shown)


dark edges indicate freight operations, in combination with passenger services (colors)
–º To view what we'd like to see built in the future, see our projects page.

















Passenger Services


Passenger rail service is provided by Altamont Commuter Express (ACE),  Amtrak (Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, California Zephyr, San Joaquins), BART, and Caltrain.     

 

Tourist excursion trains


Designed to provide a historical, entertaining experience rather than transportation per se.


FAQ
What is the difference between Caltrain, Light Rail, and BART?
How does a train line compare to a highway lane in capacity?
Don't trains actually create congestion at intersections?


History FAQ
Why doesn't BART go around the Bay?
Why did the BART-Millbrae-SFO extension perform below expectations?
Why are there only a few round-trip trains going to Gilroy?
Why isn't there rail on the Bay Bridge?

FAQ About Rail 101

Rail 101 Milestones

1964: Branch line from California Avenue in Palo Alto to Los Gatos is discontinued and some of the track torn up to make way for the Foothill Expressway.

May 1, 1971: Amtrak takes over operation of the nation's intercity passenger trains. The northern terminal of the Coast Daylight to Los Angeles is changed to Oakland from San Francisco so as to go through to Seattle. Southern Pacific's Del Monte, which ran from San Francisco to Monterey, is discontinued altogether. As a result, commuter trains become the only rail passenger service between San Francisco and San Jose.

1977: SP Petitions the state Public Utilities Commission (which says "no,") and then the Interstate Commerce Commission to discontinue its Peninsula commuter rail service. A bitter fight follows. After long months of negotiation, the three counties through which the train runs and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reach an agreement with Southern Pacific. SP would become a contractor and the public agencies would cover most of the operating costs.

December 27, 1991: The PCJPB purchased the 51.4-mile railroad right-of-way from Southern Pacific. The right-of-way, which runs from San Francisco to San Jose, cost $219 million. San Mateo County provides the funding with the understanding that San Francisco and Santa Clara County would pay San Mateo County back, promises that are later broken and which create a sore point between the counties. Included with the purchase were trackage rights for the rails between San Jose and Gilroy, with an option to acquire half the right of way at a cost of $30 million (check this number). Santa Clara County fails to pursue this option to buy the right of way, and it expires in 1996.

July 1, 1992: The PCSJPB becomes the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and assumes operation of Caltrain, taking over from Caltrans. The JPB contracts with Amtrak to operate the service. Six off-peak trains are added to increase weekday service from 54 to 60 trains. Tamien station opens in San Jose and service is extended to Gilroy. New stations subsequently open at Capitol Expressway, Blossom Hill Road, Morgan Hill and San Martin.