The problem is long-term underfunding of Caltrain. They have had capacity problems for years. Many commuters have given up on them and turned to solo cars instead, causing rampant traffic and parking problems in Bay Area cities. Better funding of public transit is just common sense. When will our politicians figure this out? Fixing public transit is much cheaper than widening highways and building more parking garages.

"When will our politicians figure this out?"

When Proposition 13 allows them. Therefore, never.

There seems to be plenty of sales tax money for highway and parking projects. Money is not the problem with public transit.

I know we're not in Europe, but for the sake of comparison the trains pass every five minutes at peak hours in major cities. I don't even take the train, but it's painful enough to hear about the high demand and low supply of trains in our town.

I got tired of being bumped long, long ago. Tired of the length of time to get anywhere, too. I gave up on the train!

on another note, has anyone in the Cal Ave area noticed that trains have been blaring their horns obnoxiously for at least a mile around 11pm and 4am. Super annoying. Started about 2 months ago. Wakes me up often.

How does one operate beyond 100% capacity?

blah, those are usually freight trains. The long horn is probably to remind the level crossing security guards to be vigilant.

@Rich: what operating above 100% capacity means depends on how capacity is defined. It always means standing room only, but sometimes capacity is defined to include a certain number of standees, and so "above" is everything beyond that.

Also, Caltrain has an over-budget and late project which involves inventing a homegrown version of federally-mandated PTS (Positive Train Control). The installation and testing for this can involve use of test trains doing plenty of late-night horn-blowing.

trains OVERFUNDED by 50 %to 100%
Even in a union environment, necessary on a U S train, a real train operator (not a self perpetuating pension govt system)
could operate trains every 11 minutes

better yet, "doodlebugs" e g buses on train wheels could have 90 sec intervals
I believe the old key system that crossed the bay bridge was 90 sec headway.
Eleven minutes downtown oakland to downtown s f (street level!) and therefore fore actually faster than B.A.R.F. is today == and at market affordable rates, profitable.

Uebr ,Lyft, Google buses clearly show market dynamics, free enterprise, adequate but not excessive regulation and the human nature profit motive, in which investment and hope of gain you think the govt will let you keep

mostly! drives innovation, and drives profits towards zero, and prices towards costs, as costs are driven down by efficiency and innovation

this IS silicon valley. If buses and trains were run by the techies, they would work, be more frequent, and cheaper, per demand.

once again, government is the PROBLEM sigh

I ended up renting a bicycle locker at Cal Ave. They're somewhat difficult to get, but save you from being bumped from the train. The over crowding is incredible though; we really could use twice the number of trains during the morning and evening rush hours.

@longwrite,

Silicon Valley doesn't always have the answers like it thinks it does:

Web Link

Hey all,

You can use this cool new app to be up to date with the last updates for the Caltrain schedule:
Web Link