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National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15, 2023

Each year from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central, and South America. First established in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, it later expanded to a 30-day national celebration as observed today by President Ronald Reagan. 

Many Hispanic/Latino families immigrated to the US for a better life and more opportunities. In fact, U.S. railroads employed a large population of them (mostly of Mexican descent), between the mid-19thand–early-20th centuries. Known as traqueros, these railroad workers relocated to the Midwest and western parts of the country, and many lived in boxcars only a few feet away from railroad tracks.  

Mexican box car rail workers standing on unbuilt tracks
Unidentified group of Mexican railroad workers, courtesy of New Mexico History Museum

As the most convenient and affordable way to work along tracks, boxcars became a permanent home to many workers and families, although living and working conditions were suboptimal. By 1925, about 1.8 million workers were employed by U.S. railroads 

To learn more, check out the Boxcar People documentary, which highlights the personal stories and struggles of Mexican railroad workers and families.  

How you can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

There are many ways to celebrate Hispanic heritage all year-long. From museums, dining, and shopping in San Francisco’s Mission District, Oakland’s Fruitvale District, and in many San Jose neighborhoods, there’s no shortage of places to visit along Capitol Corridor’s route!

Events

Take the train to an event! Events below are near stations along Capitol Corridor’s route. With our seamless connections to BART, buses, and light rail, getting to your destination is easy.

September 15 – October 15, 2023: (San Jose) There are various Hispanic Heritage Events at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, MACLA, and Peralta Adobe.

Friday, September 22, 2023: (Oakland) Friday Nights at OMCA is the place to be for celebratory and meaningful things to see and be part of, with plenty of signature features including Off the Grid food trucks as well as music, dancing, late-night access to OMCA’s award-winning galleries with a Museum ticket, and more. Many of their September programs celebrate Latinx Heritage Month. Check out the first one! 

Saturday, September 30 – October 1, 2023: (Oakland) Join Children’s Fairyland for the Latinx Heritage Celebration in the park for a vibrant, uplifting, and inspired weekend of family fun honoring the heritages and cultures within the Latinx community.  
Learn more here 

Friday, October 13, 2023: (Sacramento) Celebrate the new exhibit Arte Activista: Dia de los Muertos 2023 at the California Museum’s annual Día de los Muertos Fiesta!
Register HERE 

Sunday, October 29, 2023: (Sacramento) Immerse yourself in the rich sounds and melodies of Mariachi music as talented musicians take the stage at the iconic Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.
Register HERE 

TAKE THE CAPITOL CORRIDOR TO SEE ED SHEERAN AT LEVI’S® STADIUM ON 9/16!

September 5, 2023

Hey Sheerios, we are offering special service to the Ed Sheeran Mathematics Tour at Levi’s® Stadium just for you! Skip the traffic and parking hassles by riding the train—we’ve got FREE Wi-Fi, a Café Car, restrooms, and comfy seats. Ticketed passengers should give themselves at least 15 minutes to get to the station after the concert.  Please always stay behind the yellow line at the platform.

For the return trip, please make your way to the exit doors prior to arriving at the next station. Trains do not remain in the station for long, so you will need to be ready to offboard upon arrival at your destination.

Santa Clara – Great America (GAC) station arrival and departure

Ed Sheeran

Date Show Start Show End (estimated) Westbound Train # and Arrival (to Levi’s Stadium) Eastbound Train # and Departures (to Sacramento)
Saturday, 9/16/23 6:00pm 11:00pm Train 743 arrives GAC at 5:37PM Train 750 departs GAC at 11:59PM

Fare and Discounts
The Capitol Corridor has several discounts available to passengers, including Friends & Family, student discounts and more! Visit the Deals & Promotions page for booking details.

Book travel to Levi’s® Stadium (GAC) at www.capitolcorridor.org.

Planning Your First Trip on the Capitol Corridor?
Whether you are organizing a fun trip for yourself, commuting to work, or considering taking the Capitol Corridor to concerts and sporting events, here are some tips on how to ensure smooth and stress-free trip!

Sacramento Station Parking
Please note the Sacramento Station Parking Lot/Old Sacramento Garage has limited space and requires a short walk (at least 15 minutes) between the parking lot and platform. Follow the signs and walk to the train platform to board.  Please proceed from the Sacramento Station building to the boarding platform and be ready to board 10 minutes prior to train departure. More information here.

 

September is Rail Safety Month

September 1, 2023

Did you know? California has the highest number of rail related fatalities and ranks #1 for trespasser casualties in the United States. Safety is Capitol Corridor’s top priority and we’re committed to sharing safety tips with our riders to avoid dangerous situations around rail tracks.

Each September we partner with California Operation Lifesaver (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.  

But it doesn’t end there. Our riders and the public play a big role in reducing and even preventing fatal incidents. Help us lower California’s numbers! 

Whether you’re at a train station or around tracks, be alert, practice safety, and share these tips:

  • Always follow directional and warning signals when crossing tracks, 
  • Do not cross the tracks until you know it is safe,   
  • Never drive around lowered crossing gates,  
  • Cross the tracks only at designated crossing locations,  
  • Stay off cellphones and remove headphones near railroad tracks,  
  • Never stop your car on railroad tracks,  
  • Never take selfies or photos on railroad tracks.

Check out more important rail safety tips and learn more about security on the Capitol Corridor 

And remember, see tracks, think trains. Respect the rails! 🚄 

30 Reasons to Ride Capitol Corridor During Transit Month

August 24, 2023

Celebrate Transit Month this September and ride Capitol Corridor. Whether you’re traveling for work or planning that next weekend trip, taking the train is seamless, sustainable, and fun. While no doubt there are many more, here are 30 reasons to book a trip! 

Comfortrelaxing on the Capitol Corridor train

1| Spacious, comfy seating
Our coach cars offer spacious seating with head and footrests. Sit back. Relax. Let us do the driving!

2| Tables
Each car has social seating areas with tables and seats with pull-down trays, giving riders room to work, eat, and play games while on the train.

3| Quiet Car
For those who crave morning solitude, we designateQuiet Cars on select weekday morning trains where you can experience a peaceful, chat-free commute.

4| Ride with a view
Enjoy breathtaking sunsets over the San Francisco Bay or stunning sunrises over the Suisun Marsh through Capitol Corridor’s large, scenic-friendly windows.

On-board Experience

Cafe car attendee serving wine to train rider

5| Free Wi-Fi
Whether you’re in work mode, gaming, or scrolling through your social feeds, we have complimentary Wi-Fito keep you connected while using any Wi-Fi enabled device. Did we mention you can stream 10 free movies on your device? 

6| Outlets at every seat
Need to charge your device? Save your battery by using our electrical, surge-protected outlets instead. They are available at seats on both levels of the train. 

7| Bathrooms on board
You won’t find a restroom in your car on other mass transit systems. We equip all coach cars with wheelchair accessible restrooms, so there’s no need to interrupt your travel with bathroom breaks. 

8| Café Car
Hungry or thirsty? Our Café Caroffers snacks, fresh meals, and beverages you can enjoy while you travel. 

9| Drink specials
Not only is the Café Car home to all kinds of goodies, but seasonal drink specials are also offered, from wine and beer to unique cocktails!

10| Secure bike storage
Trains have two “bike cars” to securely hold about a dozen bikes, along with luggage and other large items. Each train car also has bike racks on the lower level. Most stations have secure, enclosed, and affordableBikeLink eLockers.

11| Cleanliness
Riders can breathe cleaner air because each rail car has a dedicated system that fully exchanges air multiple times an hour and filters are replaced frequently. Our trains, buses, and stations have hand sanitizer dispensers and disinfectant wipes for passenger and employee use.

12| Accessibility
All Capitol Corridor trains welcome passengers with special needs. Our trains and stations are wheelchair-accessible and allow service animals.

Connectivity

BART Station

13| Car-free connections
Leave the car at home. Capitol Corridor connects with BART, Caltrain, SF Muni, and the SF Bay Ferry. We’ve also extended our service route with dedicated bus connections to Lake Tahoe, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and other great Nor Cal destinations. 

14| Free Transit Transfers
Our Transit Transfer program provides connections to local bus and light rail systems in most of the communities we serve, so with a little planning you can travel to your destinations completely car-free! 

Cool Destinations

Jack London Square Walking Tour

15| Sacramento history
Train buffs get a double dose of train delight by riding Capitol Corridor to Sacramento Station to enjoy the exhibits at the California State Railroad Museum and explore California’s Gold Rush history in Old Sacramento.

16| Museums
There’s a wealth of interactive and engaging museums along our route. From fine art and historical artifacts to sports memorabilia and state-of-the-art technology, we connect you to an array of cultural options such as the Crocker Museum, Legion of Honor, Oakland Museum of California, and the San Jose Museum of Art! 

17| Oakland Jack London Square
Foodies can savor mouthwatering dishes served in aplethora of eateries well within walking distance of the Jack London Square Station. 

18| Public Market in Emeryville
Prefer a shorter walk to great food options? Emeryville’sPublic Market is the spot for you, boasting over 20 different food artisans all under one roof and is an easy stroll from the Emeryville Station.

19| Science stops
If you love STEM, there are transit connections from our stations to the San Francisco Exploratorium, San Jose’s Children’s Discovery, and The Tech Interactive. 

20| Berkeley 4th Street shops
For avid shoppers, our Berkeley Station stop is conveniently located adjacent to Berkeley’s 4th Street shopping area, a district with trendy, upscale boutiques for clothing and home goods.

21| World-class universities
We have connections to dozens of schools in Northern California, like UC Davis, UC Berkeley, San Jose State University, and Santa Clara University.Plus, students can join our Stride On Board program and save up to 25% on their fare

Events

22| San Francisco 49ers & Cal Bears football
Football fans can ride our trains to NFL day games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara or NCAA games at California Memorial Stadium at UC Berkeley. 

23| Sacramento Kings basketball
Golden 1 Center is a 10-minute walk from the Sacramento Station, making Capitol Corridor a quick and convenient option to watch the Kings and other NBA teams play basketball.

24| A’s baseball
Enjoy the ballgame and ditch parking fees by using Capitol Corridor instead of driving! The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum is an easy 4-minute walk from our Oakland Coliseum Station. 

25| Entertainment
Ride Capitol Corridor to day events at Levi’s Stadium, Oakland-Alameda Coliseum and Oakland Arena, Golden 1 Center, or Chase Center to avoid parking hassles and fees. 

. . . and more reasons to love the Capitol Corridor!

Feet with Capitol Corridor branded socks

26| Friendly and helpful on-board staff
Conductors and Café Car attendants are courteous and helpful, providing superior customer service.

27| Deals and promotions
Who doesn’t love to save money? Capitol Corridor riders can take advantage of our many seasonal deals and everyday discounts. 

28| We’re social!
From Instagram to TikTok, to onboard Cappy Hour events, we enjoy sharing trip ideas, train info, and offers with our rail community. 

29| Branded merch
Capitol Corridor and BART partnered to introduce Rail Goods, the one-stop-shop for cool transit-themed merch. Rail fans can buy Capitol Corridor branded  items, like plush toy trains, stickers, pins, fun socks, and much more!  

30| Cute mascots
Speaking of plush toys, our last (but not least) fun reason to choose Capitol Corridor are our super-cute mascots – Cappy and Cori – who not only help us promote special events, but their adorability puts the aww, in awesome!

Juneteenth 2023

June 7, 2023

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19th each year in the United States. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and is a significant milestone in the country’s history. It symbolizes the end of chattel slavery in the United States, marking a turning point in the nation’s struggle for freedom and equality. It represents the recognition of the inherent rights and dignity of African Americans, who had endured centuries of bondage and oppression.

Additionally, Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the resilience, strength, and perseverance of African Americans throughout history. Despite the delayed news of their freedom, they embraced Juneteenth as a day of celebration and empowerment, using it as a platform to advocate for civil rights, equality, and social justice.

Take the Capitol Corridor to Juneteenth events near you:

  • San Jose Station:
    42nd Annual Juneteenth in the Streets Festival, African American Community Services
    6/17
    https://bayarearegistry.com/event/42nd-annual-juneteenth-in-the-streets-festival/