EDITORIAL: Caltrain speeds up, Atherton worries EDITORIAL: Caltrain speeds up, Atherton worries (March 23, 2005)

Last week, the board that oversees Caltrain began a series of public hearings to consider ways to save $13.6 million, a deficit that the agency can no longer afford to cover. And although a 17.5 percent average fare increase is part of the answer, Caltrain board members are betting the farm that more than doubling the number of Baby Bullet trains will attract more riders, and more revenue.

If current plans hold, up to 24 trips of the more fuel-efficient bullets could make the one-way, 57-minute commute between San Jose and San Francisco every weekday. The proposed weekday schedule has three bullet trains adding stops in Menlo Park in the morning and three in the evening, bringing the popular service to the city for the first time. And local trains that once stopped at every depot on the line will get a dose of speed as well, by becoming "hybrid" express trains, eliminating about half the stops.

One part of the plan, to temporarily close the four most lightly used stations, including Atherton's, is worrisome for Atherton officials, who have been battling not just to keep train service, but increase it to their town. Council member Jim Janz said the town is offering free parking in hopes of attracting more riders to the station.

The moves identified so far will save about $6 million of the $13.6 million goal, and represent a sea-change in strategy for Caltrain, which has been reluctant to completely drop service at any of the 23 stations between San Jose and San Francisco. But it was the success of the bullet trains, with far fewer fuel-consuming stops, that changed minds, by demonstrating that riders will get out of their cars if the train can meet or beat commute times.

With a 57-minute ride between San Francisco and San Jose, or only about 40 minutes between San Francisco and Palo Alto, the bullet trains are very competitive, and appear to be the way Caltrain must go if it is to build a widespread customer base on the Peninsula.

But while speed is of the essence, the railroad should not lose sight of its loyal customers who don't happen to live at a Baby Bullet stop. And while some stops could be eliminated, Atherton should not be on the hit list. With the recently added sidetrack capacity, it is possible to run more Baby Bullets and local or hybrid express trains, a combination that should make Atherton service possible even while bullet service is ramped up.

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