Bay Area Commuter Rail Ridership Soars Due To 'Baby Bullets'

Caltrain had been running as a traditional commuter rail service since it began operation as the San Francisco and San Jose Rail Road in 1864. With a recent influx of $128 million to provide 'super-express', or baby bullet service, ridership has soared.

1 minute read

November 14, 2005, 8:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"Average weekday ridership in September rose to 34,430 from 26,603 before Baby Bullet service began in June 2004. Revenue, meanwhile, is up 27.6 percent over last year's figure. Fares increased 17.5 percent July 1, which had been expected to reduce ridership."

Since June, 2004, Caltrain’s 76-train weekday schedule has grown to 96, including 22 Baby Bullets. While the new infrastructure and equipment that was made possible by California's investment in the system, staff has used ingenuity in scheduling to attract new riders.

"The board voted to eliminate more than 200 stops from the schedule...

We had to make some difficult and controversial decisions," said Caltrain board Chairman Mike Nevin. "But overall the strategy which was used to 'reinvent' Caltrain has been vindicated by overall ridership growth. Clearly, passengers want the faster travel times that Caltrain now offers."

Thanks to Richard Silver

Thursday, November 10, 2005 in San Francisco Business Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Cobblestone street with vintage street lamps in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah Reduces Speed Limits on Almost 100 City Streets

The historic Georgia city is lowering speed limits in an effort to reduce road fatalities.

May 20 - WJCL

Sign for Loma Alta Park in Altadena, Los Angeles County.

A Park Reborn: Resilience and Renewal in Fire-Stricken Altadena

Rebuilt in just two months after the devastating Eaton Fire, Loma Alta Park now stands as a symbol of community resilience and renewal, even as some residents hope recovery efforts will continue to support housing stability and long-term equity.

May 20 - Pasadena NOw

Colorful historic homes in Madrid, Spain.

Spain Moves to Ban 66,000 Airbnbs

The national government is requiring the short-term rental operator to remove thousands of illegal listings from its site as part of an effort to stem a growing housing crisis.

May 20 - The New York Times

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.