1. National Train Day – Saturday, May 7, 2011
2. Fare Increase Scheduled for May 10, 2011
3. Service Advisory: Highway 50 Closure/Detour
4. Kids Ride Free Promotional Offer Clarification
5. Bike to Work Day
6. New Timetable, effective May 9, 2011
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1. National Train Day – Saturday, May 7, 2011
City of Martinez Celebrates National Train Day
Join us at the Martinez station on Saturday, May 7th for rail-related fun for the whole family! From 10am – 1pm, the City of Martinez will host a community celebration in coordination with the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA), Caltrans Division of Rail and Amtrak to recognize National Train Day.
Representatives from the CCJPA, Caltrans and Amtrak will present the California Golden STAR (State Advocate of Rail) Award to recognize a local intercity passenger rail leader, and the station will feature family-friendly fun such as a model train display, community exhibits and kid’s activities.
California Celebrates with 25% off
In celebration of National Train Day, Capitol Corridor invites you to enjoy 25% off when you travel May 1- 22, 2011. Don’t delay—this offer is valid for sale until May 19, 2011 only. Bring the whole family along: each adult may bring up to 2 children at half the regular adult fare.
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2. Fare Increase Scheduled for May 10, 2011
The pain at the pump that began in February is affecting most of the commodities and services we all use. On April 18, we advised you that we are not immune to the soaring fuel prices, therefore fares will be going up effective May 10, 2011. Train fare increases are based on miles traveled and will rise an average of 5% for rail trips that do not include a connecting bus to or from San Francisco . The price of Capitol Corridor train tickets that include a segment on a connecting bus across the Bay Bridge to or from San Francisco will increase an average of 8% due to rising bus fuel costs.Â
Last summer when we created our budget for the current fiscal year, we projected an increase in diesel prices, but we had no way to predict just how steep fuel costs would rise in response to the unrest in North Africa and the Middle East–in fact, according to the American Petroleum Institute, gas prices per gallon have gone up a whopping 36 percent compared to the May 2010 average cost of a gallon. Even with greater ridership and better revenue, what we allocated for fuel and what we are actually paying for fuel this year does not match up. To keep our train service at the frequencies that you depend on, it is necessary for the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority to raise fares.
According to AAA’s 2011 true cost of driving figures, it costs sedan drivers 58 cents per mile and SUV drivers 75 cent per mile to travel. In comparison, with the upcoming fare increase, systemwide travel costs on the Capitol Corridor average 26 cents per mile.
Thank you for your understanding and we appreciate your continued loyalty to the Capitol Corridor.
View the new fare charts on our Fares & Tickets page.
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3. Service Advisory: Thruway bus service to/from Placerville temporarily suspended due to Highway 50 Closure/Detour
Caltrans will temporarily close U.S. Highway 50 at Echo Summit for a two-week period beginning May 11th, 2011 (depending on weather), for a safety enhancement project. As a result, Thruway bus service to Placerville, CA will be suspended for the two-week period beginning on May 11th through approximately May 25th. For additional information, please visit the service alerts section of our website.
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4. Kids Ride Free Promotional Offer Clarification
Back by popular demand, Kids Ride Free on Weekends this spring & summer aboard Capitol Corridor trains. Bring up to two kids to ride free with each full-fare paid adult (valid Saturday and Sunday only) when tickets are booked using fare code V486 online, at a Ticket Kiosk machine or at a station.Â
Amtrak is currently running a promotion also called “Kids Ride Free” that allows one child to travel for free with one full-fare paying adult for a limited 40-day period. Please note this offer is valid on the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight routes, but is NOT valid on the Capitol Corridor route.Â
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5. Bike to Work Day
Capitol Corridor is joining dozens of entities in the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area and Sacramento region that urge drivers to bike to work this month. The East Bay’s biggest bicycling event is coming up Thursday, May 12, 2011, when over 110 energizer stations will be set up on the streets of the East Bay, ready to greet cyclists with morning snacks, beverages and musette bags full of goodies and bike-friendly information including Capitol Corridor’s Free Companion Fare Coupons.
If Sacramento is your destination, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2011, we will join Amtrak, Caltrans and other local groups that are working together to promote cycling and other clean air transportation alternatives at the annual “Capitol Bike Fest.â€Â The Bike Fest will be at the west wide of the State Capitol. This annual event features prizes, music and information booths. Come visit us!
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6. New Timetable effective May 9, 2011
The spring/summer timetable will go into effect on Monday, May 9, 2011. All train times have stayed the same, and there have only been minor changes to the bus schedule.