Welcome Aboard
Dear Riders,
As we start the new year, I’d like to thank each of you for riding Capitol Corridor. We saw strong momentum in Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025), surpassing 1 million riders for the second consecutive year and generating $29.6 million in revenue, the highest since 2019.
This year we also returned to full service, introduced lower fares for shorter trips, and launched a refreshed advertising campaign that highlights Capitol Corridor’s seamless travel and amenities. In addition, this report shares more about how our service performed, the events and partnerships that brought us together, and the long-term projects underway to make your travel even better.
Looking ahead, we’re preparing for major regional events including Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup 26™ SF Bay Area while continuing to invest in increased service capacity, comfort, and convenience.
It’s been exciting to see so many of you back onboard, whether you’re commuting to work or school, heading to a big event, or just getting to where you need to go. Thank you for riding with us and being part of the Capitol Corridor community.
See you on the train,
Rob Padgette
Managing Director, Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority
27 Years of CCJPA Management
FY2025
SERVICE LEVEL
+275%
+275%
SINCE FY1998
FY2025
RIDERSHIP
+146%
+146%
SINCE FY1998
FY2025
REVENUE
+374%
+374%
SINCE FY1998
+175
-23
42
-30
Ridership
Revenue
On-Time Performance
Overall Satisfaction
“This service is vital! The ride is pleasant, staff are very professional, and it’s the ultimate relaxing way to travel.”
Service Levels
Capitol Corridor had a solid year with service fully back to pre-pandemic levels. Riders now have more options, with 15 weekday round trips, 30 weekday trains, and 22 weekend trains.
Access Mode to Stations
“I need MORE excuses to ride the train!”
Customer Experience
In 2025, Capitol Corridor provided more ways to make train travel easier and more enjoyable with a new advertising campaign, enhanced service offerings, and engaging events.
Reenergizing Our Brand
We debuted a fresh advertising campaign designed to rebuild awareness and inspire both new and returning riders, Only by Train. Targeting students, seniors, leisure travelers, new residents, and commuters, our brand campaign utilized digital video, social media, and strategic outdoor placements to elevate visibility and highlight the ease, comfort, and scenic appeal of Capitol Corridor.
To date, this campaign has generated 13.8 million impressions and boosted engaged online sessions by 92%.
Enhancing the Rider Experience with Special Event Trains
Providing service for major events continued to be a priority, offering riders convenient, stress-free travel while avoiding traffic and parking challenges. Some highlights include:
- San Francisco 49ers Games: More than 5,000 passengers enjoyed direct service to Levi’s® Stadium for home games during the 2025–2026 season.
- Soccer Events: Special trains to the Concacaf Gold Cup carried over 70 attendees, and a coordinated group trip with Sacramento Republic FC brought 200 season ticket holders to Oakland for a match against the Oakland Roots.
- Concerts: Summer shows, including Metallica and Morgan Wallen, welcomed more than 1,000 riders traveling directly to Levi’s® Stadium.
By providing these targeted services, Capitol Corridor made it easier for passengers to attend major events while delivering a comfortable and convenient travel experience.
“Amazing service. Since I don’t drive, I rely on this train to see family.”
Community Engagement
Partners United for Rail Safety:
For California Rail Safety Month, Capitol Corridor joined California Operation Lifesaver, Union Pacific, Amtrak, City of Davis, and other partners at Davis Station for an open house and safety train ride focused on reducing rail trespasser incidents.
Bike & Scooter Outreach Campaign:
To increase awareness and education of our Bike and Scooter policy, we conducted an outreach campaign that included station tabling, “how-to” reels on social media, and distributed a customer survey. Efforts included:
- Receiving 295 survey responses.
- Distributing over 1,000 flyers about the policy onboard trains.
- Producing highly engaging reels about how to store bikes at stations, how to bring bikes and scooters on board, and staff spotlights.
Onboard Surveys
We conducted our annual onboard survey in June, giving riders the opportunity to share feedback on service quality, amenities, safety, and marketing campaigns. Their insights help guide future improvements.
Pet Program
Launched in 2023, our Pet Program continues to grow in popularity. Over two years we carried 2,200 pets, generating $64,000 in revenue. In FY2025 alone we carried about 1,200 pets and generated $34,000 in revenue, reflecting a 20% increase in pet ridership and a 13% increase in revenue over the previous year.
Partnerships
We collaborated with destination marketing organizations, sports teams, and transit advocacy groups including San Francisco Travel, Visit Oakland, Sacramento Republic FC, Oakland Roots SC, UC Davis Athletics, Bike East Bay, and Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates to connect riders to major events and promote sustainable travel.
Community Art Activation
We partnered with Oakland Roots, City of Oakland, and the Oakland Improvement District on the City’s “Paint the Town” initiative, creating a vibrant mural at the entrance to Jack London Station.
“I love riding the train to beat the traffic and decompress before work.”
Fares and Discounts
Short-Distance Fares
In April, Capitol Corridor implemented fare changes, including reduced fares for trips under 50 miles, making short commutes and local travel more affordable while attracting new riders. Paired with ongoing incentives like the Tap2Ride fare capping, upcoming group travel options, and onboard promotional discounts, these adjustments strengthen our commitment to accessible, convenient travel while encouraging more frequent ridership.
Other Essential Promotions
BOGO Deals
We offered Buy-One Get-One Free (BOGO) promotions both as part of our brand campaign and in collaboration with partners to boost ridership to key destinations.
Friends & Family
One of our most popular deals, riders can buy one full-fare ticket and save 50% on up to five companion fares.
SENIOR DISCOUNT
Seniors aged 62 and older can enjoy a 15% discount on train travel with this California Everyday Discount.
Student Discount
This California Everyday Discount offers students aged 13-25 a 15% discount.
“I’m a student with a summer internship that wouldn’t be able to do it without Capitol Corridor. Thank you!”
MILESTONES
Agnew Siding
Funding: Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), Proposition 1A funds, State Rail Assistance (SRA), CCJPA Operating Fund Reserves, and City of Santa Clara
CCJPA is partnering with the City of Santa Clara and Union Pacific to advance the Agnew Siding project, which will add a new passing siding on the single-track segment between Newark and San Jose. The project will reduce delays by creating a new location for trains to meet and pass near the Santa Clara Great America Station.
Key milestones:
2019 Final design started
2023 Utility relocation under way
2025 Final project design to be completed
2026 Construction expected to begin
Alviso Railroad Adaptation Planning Study
Funding: Caltrans Sustainable Transportation
The Alviso Railroad Adaptation Planning Study (Study) is a resiliency planning effort along the Union Pacific Coast Subdivision between Albrae and Alviso. The Study aims to adapt railroad infrastructure for sea level rise and create long-term capacity to serve passenger and freight rail services between Alameda County and Santa Clara County while minimizing negative environmental impacts to adjacent wetland ecosystem and broader estuary. This current Study directly builds upon findings of the previous Alternatives Study.
Key milestones:
2025 Study kicked off, outreach initiated
2027 Study expected to be completed
Carquinez High Level Crossing Studies
Funding: TIRCP
The Benicia-Martinez Rail Bridge lift to allow for maritime traffic is a current source of train delays and limits future expansion of Capitol Corridor service. This two-part study identified three viable alternatives and engineering feasibility for high-level (non-lift) rail bridge options across the Carquinez Strait. It also identified the various engineering considerations in any subsequent operation studies or environmental studies, which would be the next steps before moving forward with more formalized project development.
Key milestones:
2021 Developed funding package and initial studies scope
2022 Phase One – Examined feasible and viable high-level options
2023 Phase Two – Narrowed options
2027 Expected to complete CEQA/NEPA project development
2029 Expected to complete 100% design
2030 Construction expected to begin
2033 Construction expected to be completed
CCJPA ROW Safety Improvement Program
Funding: Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), SRA
CCJPA’s Right-of-Way (ROW) Safety Improvement Program will install high security fencing at locations with a particularly high rate of fatalities, injuries, and/or delays. This project will include a before and after study to understand the effectiveness of the fencing in preventing unauthorized access to the ROW and related incidents, identify locations where fencing is often breached, and develop a plan of how to secure other locations on our route and maintain its condition to maximize its effectiveness over time.
Key milestones:
2023 Completed safety incident hotpot analysis to identify highest priority areas for improvements and preliminary survey of fencing needs
2024 Project selected for federal CRISI grant funding
2025 Executed agreements with UPRR, completed environmental clearances, and secured matching state dollars for federal grant obligation
2026 Construction expected to begin
2031 Construction expected to be completed
Davis Station Improvement Project
Funding: Public Transportation Account (PTA), SRA, CCJPA Revenue Above Budget, Amtrak, and UPRR
CCJPA is collaborating with Amtrak and Union Pacific for track and signal upgrades. This is the first phase of a larger future project of improvement initiatives at Davis Station that will improve safety and ADA access with a center island platform and restore access to the neighborhood east of the station.
Key milestones:
2019 $4M committed for track and signal upgrades
2021 Platform replacement design kicked off
2024 Developed concepts for station reconstruction
2025 Track and Signal design completion; Track construction expected to begin
2028 Platform replacement expected to begin
Link21 Program
Funding: TIRCP
The Link21 program vision is to help transform Northern California's passenger rail network into a faster, more integrated system, providing safe, efficient, and affordable travel. At the core of Link21 is a new Transbay passenger rail crossing between Oakland and San Francisco. Link21 will be part of the federal Corridor Identification and Development Program and CCJPA staff will work with the State and Federal Railroad Administration to plan for and fund multiple improvements along the Capitol Corridor route.
Key milestones:
2019 Funding awarded
2020 Hired staff dedicated to managing project
2021 Renamed program Link21, Bay Area Council Economic Institute issues report on a new rail crossing’s benefit to the Megaregion
2022 CCJPA and BART Boards adopted program Vision, Goals, Objectives and approved the continuation of program development (Stage Gate 1)
2023 $11.3M in TIRCP funding awarded to Link21
2024 Technical work on two crossing concept considerations completed Link21 included in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program
2025 CCJPA and BART Boards approved staff recommendation that Link21 be planned as a standard-gauge project; CCJPA becomes the day-to-day manager of Program.
Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) Modernization
Funding: SRA
The PIDS Modernization project will implement new software and hardware that improves upon the functionalities of existing PIDS in providing train status and other service information to passengers at stations. The project also involves implementation of a new data network at Capitol Corridor stations and delivery of a new GTFS-Realtime feed showing real-time location and status of Capitol Corridor trains.
Key milestones:
2020 Software development began
2023 Software testing and validation continued. GTFS-Realtime feeds made available for third-party developer use.
2025 Equipment cabinet installations continued
2026 New CalPIDS expected to begin operations
Sacramento-Roseville Third Track Service Expansion Project
Funding: TIRCP, Prop 1A, Prop 1B, CRISI
With the addition of a third railroad track between Sacramento and Roseville, Capitol Corridor will be able to increase the number of trains operated between these two stations. An overnight train layover/servicing facility will also be a part of the project.
Key milestones:
2015 Environmental phase completed
2016 Awarded $87M from TIRCP, Prop 1A and 1B towards project design and construction
2021 25% design completed
2022 30% design completed
2023 Awarded $42.51M CRISI Grant from FRA
2025 NEPA clearance expected to be completed
2028 Phase one construction expected to begin
South Bay Connect
Funding: TIRCP
South Bay Connect proposes to relocate the service between Oakland Coliseum and Newark from the current route on the Union Pacific (UP) Niles Subdivision to a shorter, more direct route on the UP Coast Subdivision to improve efficiency and reliability. The project includes construction of a new train station in Fremont/Newark (adjacent to the existing Ardenwood Park & Ride) to facilitate new transbay transit connections for passengers between the East Bay and the San Francisco Peninsula, an underserved market for the service.
Key milestones:
2019 Project Definition Report completed
2020 Environmental documentation and review process initiated with Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
2024 Draft EIR circulated for public review and comments, Final EIR certified by CCJPA Board
2025 Preliminary engineering continued
2029 Construction expected to begin (pending funding)
2032 Construction expected to finish and project operational (pending funding)
State Route (SR) 84 Intermodal Bus Facility
Funding: TIRCP
As a companion project to South Bay Connect with its own independent utility, the SR-84 Intermodal Bus Facility will enhance the multimodal transit connection at the existing Ardenwood Park & Ride, which is also the location of the proposed new Ardenwood station for Capitol Corridor as a part of South Bay Connect. The facility would add westbound and eastbound bus stop platforms on SR-84, allowing transbay buses and shuttles to pick-up and drop-off passengers from the Ardenwood Park & Ride and future train station. This project is being planned and designed in coordination with Caltrans, the right-of-way owner of SR-84.
Key milestones:
2021 Caltrans Project Initiation Document (PID) completed
2026 Draft Environmental Document expected to be released for public review
2027 Final Environmental Document expected to be completed
Tap2Ride Contactless Fare Payment
In 2025, CCJPA worked closely with program partners supporting Tap2Ride, our contactless pay pilot program. During this period, our primary focus was on resolving technical faults and lessons learned from this process have allowed our partners to introduce further system improvements, ensuring a smoother service onboard. Looking ahead, the team aims to expand Tap2Ride beyond the original pilot scope, allowing more users access to greater flexibility and ease of use in their travel plans, and strengthening our commitment to the integrated transit system established by the California Integrated Travel Project.
Key milestones:
2021-2022 Initial Development and Testing of payment systems on the corridor
2023 Installation of onboard readers and Pilot Launch
2025 Fare Policy Adjustment initiated
2026 Pilot growth scaling active participants
“I love the Café Car, pleasant conductors, and great scenery.”
FY2025 CCJPA Board Members
To contact them, please reach out to their respective agencies.
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District
Edward Wright
Janice Li
Mark Foley
Matthew Rinn
Melissa Hernandez – Vice Chair
Robert Raburn
Placer County Transportation Planning Agency
Bruce Houdesheldt – Chair
Ken Broadway
Suzanne Jones (alt.)
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
Linda Sell
Sudhanshu Jain
Sacramento Regional Transit District
Roger Dickinson
Tim Schaefer
Patrick Kennedy (alt.)
Rod Brewer (alt.)
Yolo County Transportation District
Josh Chapman
Lucas Frerichs
Mayra Vega (alt.)
Solano Transportation Authority
Alma Hernandez
Steve Bird
Catherine Moy (alt.)
Looking Ahead
We’re excited to welcome even more passengers in the year ahead as we expand capacity to support our full-service schedule. In 2026, we expect to have additional fleet for Capitol Corridor service ready to serve major regional events such as the Super Bowl LX and FIFA World Cup 26™ SF Bay Area. This along with expanded customer programs and enhanced special event services, riders will have more ways than ever to experience the ease and convenience of Capitol Corridor. We hope you’ll join us for the ride!