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If a regional transit funding measure, Senate Bill 63, on the November 2026 ballot fails and no other revenue source is identified, Caltrain would be forced to make significant service reductions, the agency said at a recent board meeting.
Potential cuts outlined to the board include eliminating weekend service, reducing trains to once an hour, ending service by 9 p.m., closing more than one-third of stations and shortening segments of the line. Caltrain officials said these steps would be necessary to address ongoing structural budget shortfalls as pandemic-era travel patterns continue to shift.
This comes after the agency raised its base fare by 25 cents on July 1 to help stabilize its finances. At the time, Caltrain said the fare increase was one of several steps already underway to manage rising operating costs.
The warning comes despite recent gains. Ridership has rebounded over the past year, particularly on weekends, and a recent customer survey reported record-high satisfaction with the system following its move to electric trains. But without a stable funding source, officials said Caltrain would not be able to maintain current service levels.
The board is expected to review detailed budget scenarios in 2026.
How about Caltrain fires at least 50% of management and keeps the trains running?
Every day I see mostly empty trains running up and down the Peninsula. Something’s been broken for a long time.