Caltrain, Public transport network in San Francisco Bay Area, US.
Caltrain is a commuter train that runs 77 miles (124 kilometers) between San Francisco and Gilroy on the peninsula south of the bay. The train stops at 32 stations, many of them in city centers like Palo Alto, San José, and Millbrae.
The state of California purchased the rail line from Southern Pacific Railway in 1985 and began operating it as a public commuter system two years later. Since 2024, electric trains run the entire route between San Francisco and San José, which previously used diesel locomotives.
The train brings commuters to technology companies in Palo Alto and Mountain View, while on weekends families ride to baseball stadiums in San Francisco or beaches in San Mateo. Along the route you see riders carrying bicycles, surfboards, or backpacks who use the system for recreation.
Tickets can be purchased at machines on every platform, with the price depending on the distance between your starting and ending station. Trains run more frequently on weekdays than weekends, and travelers should check schedules ahead of time at smaller stations.
Every train has special cars with racks that hold dozens of bicycles, allowing commuters to combine both modes of transport for their daily trip. At some stations you can watch cyclists roll their bikes directly onto the platform and into marked areas in the train.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
