Category: Community

From our Holiday Express train, Capitol Corridor wishes you a holiday filled with love, warmth, and moments of connection! Capitol Corridor connects Northern Californians across diverse communities and beyond with safe, reliable, and convenient transportation, and our mission is for everyone to feel welcome. We hope to see you onboard this holiday season!  

As we end the year, here are major holidays and events celebrated in December.  

Hanukkah: December 7-15, 2023
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish celebration that typically spans eight nights and days, commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. Families come together to share special meals, exchange gifts, and partake in traditional foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). 

Lean more about Hanukkah here

Winter Solstice: December 20-23, 2023
The Winter Solstice celebration marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, usually occurring around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a cultural and astronomical event celebrated by various cultures around the world. The celebration serves as a time to reflect on the cycles of nature, express gratitude, and welcome the gradual return of light after the darkest day of the year. 

Learn more about the Winter Solstice here 

Christmas: December 25, 2023
Christmas, one of the most widely celebrated holidays around the world, is a festive season that brings warmth, joy, and a sense of togetherness. Observed on December 25th, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, a central figure in Christianity. Whether celebrated in a religious context or as a secular holiday, Christmas serves as a time for spreading love, compassion, and the joy of giving. 

Learn more about Christmas here 

Kwanzaa: December 26-January 1, 2024
Kwanzaa, a cultural celebration deeply rooted in African American heritage, takes place from December 26th to January 1st each year. Families celebrate by lighting the kinara, a seven-branched candleholder, and each day they discuss and focus on Nguzo Saba principles. Kwanzaa serves as a time for reflection, cultural affirmation, and community building, fostering a strong sense of identity and unity within the African American community. 

Learn more about Kwanzaa here 

At the Capitol Corridor, we prioritize inclusivity and comfortability for our riders. This fosters a sense of community and social cohesion, making public transit a more accessible and welcoming resource for everyone. 

Learn more about Capitol Corridor’s One Train for All  

Two weeks ago, we celebrated the launch of our Onboard Pet Policy at Emeryville Amtrak Station on a cold, yet cheerful morning. In attendance were Capitol Corridor riders and a variety of furry friends, though some were too big to ride the train. We learned that of the pets at the event, all but one were adopted from shelters or rescue agencies! This stat includes Cleo, the face of the Onboard Pet Policy campaign, who was adopted 10 years ago from an rescue agency in the South Bay. 

While we were overjoyed to learn this, we also know that many of our local shelters are overcrowded, overburdened, and need support to care for animals in need.  

Giving Tuesday is an annual day of extending generosity, social, and financial capital to communities and organizations across the globe. This holiday season, we invite you to support your local animal shelters by donating, fostering, or adopting an animal.

There are many local animal shelters and humane societies along our corridor. Oakland Animal Services plans many pet adoption fairs at local businesses in Jack London Square, right next to OKJ Amtrak Station. This Giving Tuesday, the shelter is doubling your impact! Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary located in Sacramento (and very close to Sacramento Station) is also matching funds. Other animal shelters along our corridor include Humane Society of Silicon Valley, Hayward Animal Shelter, and Berkeley Humane Society, just to name a few.  

And remember, if you decide to adopt a furry friend, remember that we now allow pets (cats and dogs under 20lbs) onboard our trains!