Category: Press Releases

Oakland, CA, November 22, 2024 – The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) is proud to celebrate the first anniversary of its Pets Onboard program, a popular initiative launched in November 2023 just in time for the Thanksgiving travel season. Over the past year, more than 1,000 pets have traveled with their owners onboard Capitol Corridor trains, generating more than $30,000 in revenue.

“We are delighted by the enthusiastic response to our Pets Onboard program,” said Rob Padgette, Managing Director of Capitol Corridor. “It’s heartening to see how this service has enhanced the travel experience for so many of our passengers by allowing them to bring their furry companions along. We’re grateful to Amtrak for their collaboration in bringing this highly requested service to life.”

The program has been well-received by passengers, offering a convenient and affordable way to bring small pets along for the journey. With the holiday season underway, the Capitol Corridor looks forward to continuing this popular service, allowing families and their four-legged friends to travel together.

Pet Travel Policy

• $29 per pet (one-way)
• Pets under 20 pounds (dogs and cats, only)
• One pet per reservation
• Pet travel must be booked online in advance
• Pet must remain in carrier onboard
• Carrier size: 19’Lx14’W x10”H
• Pets must remain in carrier onboard with carrier under the seat
• Pets allowed in all train cars, except the Quiet Car, and the Café car

For additional conditions of the pet travel policy, visit capitolcorridor.org/pets.

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service that connects Northern California’s most economically vibrant urban centers, from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi onboard, Capitol Corridor trains offer a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the region’s congested freeways. The service now transports over one million passengers annually. For more information, visit www.capitolcorridor.org.

Contact:
Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor

Oakland, CA – October 29, 2024 – Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) announced today it has been awarded $20 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which will be matched with $5 million from the California State Transportation Agency’s (CalSTA) Strategic Rail Assistance (SRA) Program. These combined funds will strengthen rail safety along the Capitol Corridor route at high-priority locations in Solano, Contra Costa, and Alameda Counties, as part of the Right-of-Way Safety Improvement Program.

“Safety is always our top priority, and this $20 million investment will make a meaningful impact to the safety of our corridor,” said Robert Padgette, Managing Director of CCJPA. “These improvements will help prevent fatalities, injuries, and service disruptions, making the corridor safer and more reliable for passengers and the communities we serve.”

“We express our appreciation to Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration for their dedication to supporting safety initiatives along our corridor,” said CCJPA Board Chair, Robert Raburn. “Our passengers will benefit from this partnership as we continue our commitment to service improvements.”

The CRISI funds will support CCJPA’s Right-of-Way (ROW) Safety Improvement Program, which seeks to reduce trespassing and minimize delays caused by unauthorized access to the tracks. The project target’s high-risk locations along the route responsible for 67% of Capitol Corridor’s safety incidents, including 59 fatalities since 2016. Planned improvements include installing 17 miles of new security fencing along the Union Pacific Railroad’s (UPRR) right-of-way. These enhancements will significantly reduce the risk of trespassing-related fatalities and injuries, creating safer conditions for both the public and railroad employees.

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service that connects Northern California’s most economically vibrant urban centers, from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi onboard, Capitol Corridor trains offer a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the region’s congested freeways. The service now transports over one million passengers annually. For more information, visit capitolcorridor.org.

Contact: Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor  

Oakland, CA – October 25, 2024 – The Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) is proud to announce it has been awarded $14 million from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) 2024 awards by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA). The funds will support the construction of three key project components that will enhance intercity and regional rail, improve bus services, and strengthen active transportation connections. These improvements, are designed to reduce delays, improve connectivity, and enhance the travel experience for Capitol Corridor passengers and surrounding communities.

“With this funding, we’re ready to implement multiple improvements in Santa Clara that will strengthen the reliability of service south of Oakland,” said Robert Padgette, Managing Director of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority. “These projects will help Capitol Corridor to deliver quality service to our riders, boost our on-time performance, and help our passengers connect to other services throughout the region.”

The three project components are:

• Santa Clara Interlocking: Construction of a crossover on the Coast Subdivision, north of Santa Clara – University Station. This will reduce the incidence and duration of delays for Capitol Corridor and Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) around this operational chokepoint.
• Agnew Siding: Construction of an additional track just south of Santa Clara – Great America Station, adjacent to Levi’s Stadium. This project will improve Capitol Corridor and ACE reliability and reduce locomotive idling. This siding will also provide a storage location for trainsets and allow CCJPA to provide enhanced special train service.
• Sacramento Valley Station (SVS) – Railyards Western Connector: Construction of an extension of Bercut Drive in the Railyards District to connect pedestrians and cyclists with the SVS Westside Tunnel, allowing for better connectivity between the Railyards, SVS transit options, and downtown Sacramento for sports, shopping, and entertainment events.

These Capitol Corridor investments align with TIRCP’s goal to reduce Greenhouse Gas levels, via transformative capital improvements that modernize the State’s transit system and reduce emissions, vehicle miles traveled, and congestion by offering more reliable and timely transit connections.

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service that connects Northern California’s most economically vibrant urban centers, from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi onboard, Capitol Corridor trains offer a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the region’s congested freeways. The service now transports over one million passengers annually. For more information, visit capitolcorridor.org.

Contact: Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor  

Oakland, CA, October 23, 2024 – Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) proudly announces that ridership has exceeded one million passengers in Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024), marking a significant milestone in its recovery from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This achievement builds on the momentum from FY2023, when Capitol Corridor carried over 921,000 passengers, bringing the service closer to pre-pandemic levels, when ridership reached 1.8 million in 2019.

“Our achievement of surpassing 1 million riders this fiscal year is a testament to the resilience of our service and the loyalty of our passengers,” said Robert Padgette, Managing Director of CCJPA. “As we continue to welcome back longtime riders and attract new ones, this milestone reflects the vital role Capitol Corridor plays in connecting communities across Northern California. We’re excited to build on this momentum and further improve the experience for everyone who chooses to travel with us.”

A key contributor to this success was the popularity of Capitol Corridor’s event trains to Levi’s Stadium, which transported over 13,000 passengers to San Francisco 49ers games and concerts during the Spring/Summer concert series. Additionally, Capitol Corridor brought Oakland A’s fans to the team’s final home game at the Oakland Coliseum in September, further boosting ridership.

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service that connects Northern California’s most economically vibrant urban centers, from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi onboard, Capitol Corridor trains offer a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the region’s congested freeways. The service now transports over one million passengers annually. For more information, visit capitolcorridor.org.

Contact: Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor  

Oakland, CA – September 17, 2024 – The Oakland Athletics (A’s) will play their final home game against the Texas Rangers at the historic Oakland Coliseum on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Tickets are already sold out, but there’s still a convenient way to get to the game—take Capitol Corridor trains! 

Capitol Corridor Train #531 arrives at the Oakland Coliseum station at 10:59 a.m., giving fans plenty of time to enjoy the pre-game atmosphere before the first pitch at 12:36 p.m. Skip the traffic, leave the car behind, and start the celebration on board! The train offers a stress-free journey with amenities like FREE Wi-Fi, spacious restrooms, comfortable seating, and a Café Car serving specialty beverages. 

After the game, conveniently timed eastbound trains are available for the return trip home, with Train #538 departing the Oakland Coliseum at 4:01 p.m. and Train #542 departing at 5:01 p.m. Be sure to check train schedules for trip planning. 

Special Offer: Take advantage of Capitol Corridor’s Friends and Family half-fare promotion—purchase one full-fare adult ticket and save 50% on up to five companion fares. 

About CCJPA and the Capitol Corridor®
Managed by the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), the Capitol Corridor is an intercity rail service connecting the most economically vibrant urban centers in Northern California – from Sacramento to Silicon Valley, and including San Francisco, Oakland, and Berkeley. With free Wi-Fi on board, Capitol Corridor trains provide a convenient, reliable, and comfortable alternative to the congested I-80, I-680, and I-880 freeways for more than 700,000 passengers a year. For more information, visit www.capitolcorridor.org. 

Contact: Vernaé Graham, Capitol Corridor