Published Friday, July 5, 2002, in the San Francisco Chronicle

Weekend Caltrain to stop running for 2 years

By Alan Gathright

Weekend Caltrain service will shut down Saturday for the two-year
construction of express-train tracks, requiring weekend riders and
Giants fans to take alternative bus service along the Peninsula and to
Pacific Bell Park.

The so-called Baby Bullet train project is expected to cut Caltrain's
90-minute San Francisco-to-San Jose commute nearly in half when it
opens in spring 2004.

But the promise of that long-term payoff can't stop some train riders
from panicking at the idea of having to make bus transfers and take a
couple of hours to get from the South Bay to San Jose.

Yet, supporters of the 77-mile San Francisco-to-Gilroy line said the
temporary loss of weekend train service is the fastest, most
cost-effective way to transform the 140-year-old railroad into a
modern high-speed commuter line. The alternative was night
construction seven days a week -- which was quickly rejected by riders
wary of evening commute delays and nearby residents who didn't want
jackhammers interrupting their slumbers.

"It's short-term pain for something that will revolutionize how we get
around on the Peninsula," said Margaret Okuzumi, executive director of
BayRail Alliance, a coalition of rail riders.

Caltrain officials are equally excited about the $110 million project,
which will provide seamless express tracks for $55 million worth of
sleek new engines and low-floor passenger cars.

The railroad is handicapped by its twin tracks -- one northbound, one
southbound -- which means the current 70-mph "express" trains get
stuck behind ones that stop at all 34 stations. The project will
install computerized signaling and four stretches of passing tracks,
allowing the Baby Bullet trains to zoom down the Peninsula with only
four stops.

State Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, author of the $127 million
bill financing the Baby Bullet project, has predicted that it will
remove 30,000 cars a day from Highway 101 and Interstate 280.

"This is a temporary inconvenience for a powerful benefit," said
Caltrain spokeswoman Jayme Maltbie. "It's about time to bring this
140-year-old railroad into the 21st century, and that's what we're
going to do."

At the urging of Caltrain riders -- who total 16,000 on weekends --
the railroad agreed to provide limited bus service during the weekend
train shutdown.

The replacement bus service, Route RRX, will take 98 minutes from San
Francisco to San Jose -- comparable to the current 90 minute train
ride. But it will stop only at two stations -- Hillsdale/San Mateo and
Palo Alto -- along the way. So, many traveler's will have to take
local bus service to reach one of those stations.

The RRX route will be augmented by buses on the Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority's Route 22 and the SamTrans' Routes 390, 391
and KX.

Caltrain is also providing express bus service to Giants games at
Pacific Bell Park and officials have promised that fans will arrive 45
minutes before the first pitch. Three routes (BB1, BB2 and BB3) will
make several stops along the Peninsula.

The BayRail Alliance July newsletter (http://www.bayrailalliance.org)
offers a survival guide for rail riders worried about relying on
weekend bus service for two years. Tips include the warning that route
RRX buses won't accept cash -- only regular Caltrain passes or tickets
that can be purchased at train stations.

And although Caltrain's RRX buses begin their last run at 8 p.m. on
weekends, BayRail's Okuzumi reminds night owls that they can still
dash over to San Francisco's TransBay Terminal and catch the last
south-bound SamTrans KX bus by 12:09 a.m.

"People will miss the train service, but it's not like they're
completely stranded," Okuzumi said.

For Information on Caltrain Weekend Bus Service: Go to
http://www.caltrain.com or call (800) 660-4287.



E-mail Alan Gathright at agathright@....