In an era when rail reigned transportation, the African-American porter workforce helped define luxury train travel. For almost a century, Pullman porters worked the sleeping and dining cars that gave white travelers an extravagant riding experience. Pullman porters, who were almost exclusively Black men, are also recognized for their role in developing the Black middle class and advancing civil rights.  More 2024 Black History Month: Capitol Corridor Honors Pullman Porters and Their Contributions to Black HistoryÂ
Author: Karen Bakar
Holiday Gift Guide
December 7, 2023Need a little help finding that perfect something for that favorite someone? Look no further, as weâve curated a list of holiday gift-giving resources featuring businesses within the communities we serve.
For Rail Enthusiasts:
Capitol Corridor fans wonât want to miss our online store, Railgoods.com, where youâll find a fun assortment of Capitol Corridor merch, including socks, stickers, and our co-mascot plush toy, Cori! At the California State Railroad Museum store, pick up toy trains for the kids, railway souvenirs, books about railroad history, and more.
For Aspiring Scientists:
For unique gifts that will fuel curiosity and open paths to exploration, check out the Exploratoriumâs holiday gift guide, where every purchase helps support the Exploratoriumâs mission of transforming learning worldwide.
For Art Lovers:
If the museum-goer in your life is missing her favorite artists and exhibits, consider gifting an exhibit souvenir, unique piece of jewelry, or membership for future visits. We have amazing museums all along our route and these four are sure to please: The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, SFMOMA in San Francisco, Oakland Museum of CA, and the San Jose Museum of Art.
For Anyone:
Still havenât found what youâre looking for? Our friends at Visit Oakland may have a solution. They curated various shopping guides! From Black-owned businesses and Rockridge District stores, to gifts for bakers, artists, and eco-warriors, youâre bound to discover just what you need.
Tips for Low-Stress Thanksgiving Travel
November 1, 2023Thanksgiving is the busiest time of year on the Capitol Corridor so we’ve prepared tips to help you plan for a low-stress Thanksgiving travel and comfortable ride:
September is Rail Safety Month
September 1, 2023Did you know? California has the highest number of rail related fatalities and ranks #1 for trespasser casualties in the United States. Safety is Capitol Corridorâs top priority and weâre committed to sharing safety tips with our riders to avoid dangerous situations around rail tracks.
Each September we partner withâŻCalifornia Operation LifesaverâŻ(CAOL) to promote Rail Safety Month in California and National Rail Safety Week (September 18-24, 2023), educating the public to be cautious around trains and rail tracks. Â
But it doesnât end there. Our riders and the public play a big role in reducing and even preventing fatal incidents. Help us lower Californiaâs numbers!Â
Whether youâre at a train station or around tracks, be alert, practice safety, and share these tips:
- Always follow directional and warning signals when crossing tracks,Â
- Do not cross the tracks until you know it is safe,  Â
- Never drive around lowered crossing gates, Â
- Cross the tracks only at designated crossing locations, Â
- Stay off cellphones and remove headphones near railroad tracks, Â
- Never stop your car on railroad tracks, Â
- Never take selfies or photos on railroad tracks.
Check out more important rail safety tips and learn more about security on the Capitol Corridor. Â
And remember, see tracks, think trains. Respect the rails! 🚄Â
Service Advisory:Potential Railroad Strike Anticipated
September 12, 2022STRIKE AVERTED
UPDATED 9/15/2022:
Strike has been averted due to tentative agreement. We will run regularly scheduled train service today. All bus connections will also resume regularly scheduled service.
UPDATED 9/14/2022:
Update on Possible Railroad Strike: Partial service on Thursday, 9/15/22Â
As a follow up to our message from Monday, we are anticipating a labor strike later this week involving the nationâs freight railroads. We initially expected we would need to suspend service starting this Thursday, however, we now know that we WILL be able to operate partial service on Thursday as shown below. If continued labor negotiations do not result in an agreement, Capitol Corridor will operate service as shown below on Thursday, September 15, 2022, and beginning Friday, September 16, 2022, all Capitol Corridor service would be suspended until further notice. We will reintroduce service as quickly as possible after the labor dispute is resolved.Â
Service on Thursday, September 15thÂ
Westbound Train Service Â
- Train 521 Sacramento â San Jose DiridonÂ
- Train 523 Sacramento â San Jose DiridonÂ
- Train 525 Sacramento â Oakland Jack LondonÂ
- Train 527 Auburn â San Jose DiridonÂ
- Train 531 Sacramento â San Jose DiridonÂ
- Train 541 â Cancelled*Â
- Train 545 Sacramento â Oakland Jack LondonÂ
- Train 547- Cancelled Â
- Train 551 – CancelledÂ
Eastbound Train Service Â
- Train 522 Oakland Jack London – SacramentoÂ
- Train 524 San Jose Diridon – SacramentoÂ
- Train 528 San Jose Diridon – SacramentoÂ
- Train 532 San Jose Diridon â SacramentoÂ
- Train 534 â CancelledÂ
- Train 536 Oakland Jack London – SacramentoÂ
- Train 538 San Jose Diridon – Sacramento â will terminate at Sacramento and a bus will serve Roseville, Rocklin, and AuburnÂ
- Train 542 – CancelledÂ
- Train 546 – CancelledÂ
*Train 541 will not be in operation on Thursday, September 15. Passengers with a planned bus connection between Reno and Sacramento should plan to connect to Train 545 in Sacramento, which departs at 3:55pm. Sales for Bus 6241, which connects from Train 541 in San Jose and travels to Santa Barbara, have been suspended. Â
If a strike is averted and we can resume service on Friday, September 16, Train 527 will start out of Sacramento and Train 524 will start out of Oakland.Â
We will continue to provide updates to this situation as we learn more.Â
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Original post (9/12/22): Please be advised that a labor strike impacting the nationâs freight railroads appears increasingly likely later this week. In the event of a railroad strike, service on the Capitol Corridor is expected to be suspended as early as Thursday, September 15, 2022, with no known date for resumption of service. Due to the widespread impact of a potential strike across our service route, we will not be able to establish bus bridges during this event but will keep you informed of alternative options. We advise that you plan on alternate transportation for travel starting on Thursday, September 15th.
We are hopeful that all parties will come to an agreement without any interruption in service, however, we also understand that you need to be aware of this possibility to make informed plans about your travel later this week.
Currently, the nationâs Class I freight carriers, including Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), are in dispute with their unions and are in negotiations. If a strike is called, freight and passenger operations on corridors managed by freight railroads would cease, including the UPRR lines on which Capitol Corridor operates. The potential duration of a labor action is unknown, but given the national disruption that this will cause, our hope is that resolution would occur relatively quickly. Our ability to resume service will depend on the duration of the strike. Please watch our website (capitolcorridor.org) and social media channels for updates.
In the event of an actual strike, we will provide an announcement and will provide more details as we are able. Please share this information with your fellow riders. We encourage all riders to sign up for our email/text message updates or to follow us on Twitter. Thank you.