Public comment sought on Caltrain timetable changes Public comment sought on Caltrain timetable changes (February 04, 2004)

When Caltrain finishes its track upgrades later this spring, new Baby Bullet express trains will operate on weekdays, and non-express service will be restored on weekends -- assuming no new budget bombshells derail the service.

The Caltrain Board of Directors will hold a public hearing on its new timetable Thursday, February 5, starting at 10 a.m. at Caltrain headquarters, 1250 San Carlos Ave. in San Carlos.

The draft schedule calls for a complete restructuring of the current schedule, and the introduction of 10 trains every weekday that will run on Baby Bullet express schedules.

The express trains will not stop at the Menlo Park or Atherton station. The Baby Bullet stops are: San Jose Diridon, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Hillsdale, Millbrae, and 4th and King in San Francisco. Three express trains will run northbound on weekday mornings and two on weekday evenings; southbound, two express trains will run in the morning and three in the evening.

Under the draft schedule, on weekdays, 38 non-express trains going each way would stop at Menlo Park and Redwood City. Nineteen of these trains would stop at Atherton, roughly once every hour, compared to every half hour at the larger stations.

The Caltrain board will consider these options for hourly service on weekends:

** Option A would eliminate all stops at Atherton, Belmont, and several other small stations. Menlo Park and Redwood City would have full hourly service.

** Option B would eliminate all weekend service to Atherton, but have trains stop every two hours at other stations losing service under Option A. Menlo Park and Redwood City would retain hourly service.

** Option C would have all hourly trains stop at all stations.

** Option D would allow trains to stop at Atherton every two hours.

Copies of the proposed schedules are available on information boards at Caltrain stations, online at www.caltrain.com, and by calling Caltrain at 1-800-660-4287.

The public may comment at the public hearing; submit written comments by Wednesday, February 4, at 5 p.m. to the Caltrain Board Secretary, 1250 San Carlos Ave., San Carlos, CA 94070; or call in comments to (800) 660-4287.

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