Editorial Editorial (March 18, 2005)@12small:Caltrain gets it right: speed will sell

Earlier this week, the board that oversees Caltrain began a series of public hearings to consider ways to save $11.3 million, a deficit that the agency can no longer afford to cover. And although a significant fare increase is part of the answer, Caltrain board members are virtually betting the farm that doubling the number of baby bullet trains will attract more riders.

If current plans hold, up to 20 bullets could make the 57-minute trip between San Jose and San Francisco every weekday, with about half stopping in Mountain View. Other trains that once stopped at every station on the line will get a dose of speed as well, by becoming "hybrid" express trains, eliminating about half the stops in the southbound or northbound direction.

Adding baby bullet trains and hiking fares about 17.5 percent on average, as well as a few other board actions, will bring about $6 million in annual savings to the agency, still far short of its goal. But the board will continue to meet and search for other economies, including the possible elimination of some weekend trains.

The moves represent a sea-change in strategy for Caltrain, which has long focused on providing service to virtually every station between San Jose and San Francisco. But it was the success of the bullet trains that changed minds, by demonstrating that riders will get out of their cars if the train can equal commute times.

With a 57-minute ride between San Francisco and San Jose, or a 45-minute trip between San Francisco and Mountain View, the bullet trains are very competitive. The Caltrain board finally has realized that speed is of the essence, at least when you are trying to extract commuters out of their cars.

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