Category: From the Managing Director

Dear Riders,

I hope you’re all enjoying these final days of summer and making the most of your travels on our Capitol Corridor service. We truly appreciate your choice to ride with us and the role you play in our success.

Important News
As September Rail Safety Month approaches, and kids are back to school, we want to remind everyone to stay safe around railroad tracks. Passenger safety is our top priority at Capitol Corridor and unfortunately California leads the nation in rail-related fatalities. We partner with California Operation Lifesaver, other rail agencies, and local communities to work towards preventing accidents and keeping everyone safe. Every month is Rail Safety Month.

Other News
This summer, we had the pleasure of hosting Luke Combs and Rolling Stones fans on our special event trains to Levi’s® Stadium for concerts in May and July. Nearly 700 passengers enjoyed our late-night return train service for these events. As we look forward to the upcoming 49ers football season and other events, we will continue to provide convenient train services. Check our webpage for schedules and game dates!

Pets Onboard
We’re thrilled to have welcomed over 600 pets since introducing our Carry-On Pets policy last November. Don’t forget to bring your furry friends with you when traveling on the train this holiday season. Book early!

In closing, we have an exciting Fall schedule packed with events and promotions. We look forward to seeing you onboard soon.

 

 

 

Dear Riders,

It has been a busy three months since we last shared our FY2023 accomplishments and first quarter of FY2024 developments with you. I’m pleased to report that Capitol Corridor’s ridership continues to rebound, growing closer to pre-pandemic numbers. Recently, we surpassed the 1 million ridership mark for the previous 12 months (Trailing 12 Months, TTM, a term for data collected from the past 12 consecutive months. This data differs from fiscal year reporting).

In January, we asked for your input regarding our FY2024-25 & FY2025-26 Business Plan. We appreciated the overwhelming feedback we received and are addressing some of your suggestions that will ultimately improve your traveling experience. We thank you for choosing to ride our service and the role you play in its success.

Updates

We are once again encouraging passengers to consider traveling on Trains 536 and 540 to alleviate crowds on Train 538. We are offering 50 percent off café items on Trains 536 and 540 now through May 31. If you decide to ride Train 538, please be sure to place your bags under your seat or in the overhead compartment, keeping the seat next to you free for someone else. And please make room at the tables for four, so everyone has a comfortable ride home. While we hate to see trains so crowded that we run short of seats, we are fortunate to have this “problem” again.

Bicycle Capacity – With more passengers using bikes and scooters for the first and last mile connection, we ask that you securely store them in the lower-level bike storage area of the train. Please avoid leaving your bike in the aisles or vestibules. Additionally, electronic bike lockers are available at stations along the route for a nominal fee. For more information, please visit our bikes page.

Travel Planning Apps – In the previous Message to Riders, I mentioned that we launched real-time train information (GTFS-Realtime feeds) available to riders through their favorite travel planning apps. It now includes Google Maps, as well as Transit App, and Moovit.  In the future, complete GTFS-Realtime feeds will allow passengers to view train locations, trip updates, and service alerts all in one place.

First-Time Riders – We recently updated our online First-Time Rider guide, adding more video content to help first-time and regular riders navigate and learn helpful tips about our service.  And coming soon at your request, we are developing new onboard first-time rider posters. We hope these posters and online tips will help enhance the first-time rider’s overall experience. Please share these links with your friends and family that have an interest in taking the train but might be a little intimidated to give it a try.

Special Offers/Activities

• Buy One, Get One Free (BOGO) – In March, we launched a new promotion allowing you to purchase one full-fare ticket and get another companion ticket for free. This promotion runs through Labor Day and is only available on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
• On Wednesday, May 8, Capitol Corridor will host “Cappy Hour” with discounted beverages on all trains traveling between 3:00 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Levi’s® Stadium – Kick-off of Levi’s Stadium Summer Concert Series with Luke Combs is around the corner, Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18. We encourage you to take advantage of the late-night train after the concert, leaving Santa Clara Station at 11:30 p.m. Visit our website for more information.
• A friendly reminder to please be vigilant and aware of your surroundings when traveling through train stations, on platforms, and onboard our trains. If you see something that doesn’t seem like it belongs, please say something to Capitol Corridor, Amtrak personnel, call Amtrak Police or 911. For other safety tips, please review our Rail Safety and Security page.

In closing, if you’re a first-time rider, we welcome you aboard the Capitol Corridor. Let us know your thoughts about your first trip. Your input is essential to our success.

 

 

Dear Riders,

I’m thrilled to share the remarkable accomplishments and exciting developments that marked our journey in FY2023 and the first few months of FY2024. Your continued support has played a significant role in the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority’s (CCJPA) success, and I extend my sincere gratitude to each one of you.

We are delighted to report significant growth in both ridership and revenue for FY2023. Throughout the fiscal year, more than 921,000 passengers traveled on our service. This resulted in $23 million in revenue, a 30 percent increase over the previous year. We recently posted our FY2023 Performance Report on our website and invite you to explore the report’s microsite to see all the positive growth we achieved. These milestones reflect the dedication of our team and the strong partnership we have with our valued riders.

In November, we introduced the Carry-On Pets policy, and since then, we’ve welcomed over 150 pets and their humans on board. This initiative was at the request of our riders. We hope it will enhance your travel experience.

As I mentioned in the previous Message to Riders, events to Levi’s Stadium were a major highlight of FY2023 and exceeded our ridership expectations, with over 9,500 passengers traveling to concerts and San Francisco 49er games. The post football season is now here, and the 49ers are serious contenders. We look forward to fans riding the train to this weekend’s NFC Divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

Breaking News

I’m thrilled to announce that we now offer GTFS-Realtime data feeds to third-party travel planning apps, which will allow you to view real-time train status and ETAs via your favorite travel apps. Currently, we are aware that Transit.app and Moovit are using our Realtime data, but more apps may start in the next few months. This is an early result of our California Passenger Information Display System (CalPIDS) modernization effort, with more details coming soon. Thanks to MTC’s 511 Transit Data team for helping us validate and distribute our GTFS-Realtime feeds.

Please review our FY2024-25 & FY2025-26 Business Plan Update, also now available on the Capitol Corridor website. Highlights include future service expansion projects, service amenities, equipment updates, and much more. We would like to hear from you, so we’re hosting public workshops about the plan on select trains and virtual workshops so you can join the conversation. A two-week online public comment period will follow for you to share your thoughts. Your input is vital!

Onboard Workshops – Join us for Cappy Hour on January 23 and 24 onboard! Our staff will be at the Café Car to discuss the Annual Business Plan, answer your questions, and gather your feedback. For Cappy Hour, all trains will enjoy discounted beverages!

• Tuesday, January 23: Train 540 (Oakland to Sacramento)
• Wednesday, January 24: Train 538 (San Jose to Richmond) and Train 545 (Sacramento to Richmond)

Virtual Workshops – We’ll also conduct online public workshops in the afternoon, each requiring registration. Our staff will discuss the Annual Business Plan and answer questions towards the end of the session.

• Thursday, January 25, Noon – 1 p.m.
• Friday, January 26, Noon – 1 p.m.

We’re anticipating another robust year and look forward to hearing from you every step of the way. Your support and feedback are crucial as we strive to enhance your travel experience on the Capitol Corridor.

See you on the train!

Rob Padgette, Managing Director, Capitol Corridor