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Caltrain
Category: Hotels & Travel Transportation Public Transportation Public Transportation [Edit]
700 4th St(between Townsend St & Jewett St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood: SOMA
(800) 660-4287
Domi G. said: "*Black & Yellow, Black & Yellow* !!! (: haha Great to have you in my life... *teehee*" read more »
256 reviews for Caltrain
256 reviews in English
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Review from Tom L.
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have a love hate relationship with Caltrain...
Love:
You can drink alcohol on the trains
Centrally located walking distance from Union Square and AT&T Park
Clean and comfortable seating
Hate:
Only one train per hour in the weekends
Last train leaves at 12:15 on Saturday night and 9:15 on Friday
Last train out is always filled with drunk idiots
SF to Santa Clara takes 1:35 minutes -
Review from Britt B.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
It seems like everyone has a love/hate relationship with caltrain and I have to say I'm in the same boat.
They get 3 stars for the drink privileges, comfortable and clean seating, and the convenience factor (aka me not driving).
They lose 2 stars for the infrequency of trains and the cost of parking. I swear it just keeps going up in price at some of the stations and then it cancels out the reasonable train fare.
Basically, if you miss a train here, you are screwed because another won't come forever. But hey, take it or leave it! -
Review from Roy E.
12/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
It's a train. A train that provides public transportation. Public transportation that includes a bunch of weirdos. BUT... it did get us to San Francisco on the cheap and prevented us from getting stuck in traffic.
Way nicer than our crappy Metro provided trains. I'm in no way a fan of public transportation but CalTrain was exceptional. -
Review from Rebecca S.
Redondo Beach, CA
12/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Considering the lack of public transit in the Bay Area I'm definitely grateful for Caltrain (at least we've got something...).
Yes, it would be fantastic if the train went more places, but I guess I'll take what I can get. Schedules are a-ok and reliable for my needs, ie: on the rare occasion that I take the train to SF, so I definitely can't comment as a commuter.
Cars and seats are acceptable in terms of cleanliness (sometimes a few crumbs here and there)
My only complaint is the price increase! An adult round trip ticket from Menlo to SF is $13???!!! holy smokes! Thats insane! C'mon guys, give us public transit-ers a break! -
Review from Krista R.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
I am rating Caltrain's excellent customer service today. I had accidentally boarded the wrong train at Millbrae this morning and ended up going North towards San Francisco instead of South towards Palo Alto, my destination. (This was the first time I was trying the BART to Caltrain connection.) The Caltrain conductors went above and beyond the call of duty to help me reorganize my route and get on the train I needed in a timely manner. I am so very grateful for their kindess, creative thinking, and professionalism today.
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Review from Angie B.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Only took a quick trip from San Fran to Burlingame during a recent visit, but the train was on time, reasonably clean, easy to navigate (find the times, how to purchase a ticket, how to find the right train) - AND right around the corner from Philz Coffee, which you MUST visit if you love GREAT coffee.
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Review from John S.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
Am I reviewing Caltrain as a whole (and it's spelled Caltrain, not CalTrain, Yelp) or the San Francisco station? I would like to review both, but since no one seems to be minding the store in Yelpland, I'll have to make do with a combo and maybe eventually writing a separate review of the station itself and confusing and pissing a lot of people off or getting Yelp HQ to remove my review and starting a whole new row.
Caltrain as a Whole
It's pretty good. It's not speedy, but it runs faster in San Francisco than it does in other places, so that's cool, especially when you're on your way home. It's relatively cheap. They need to be better about making sure people have paid. They checked our tickets on the ride home, but not from San Francisco to Stanford. They also need to walk through the cars more often. This one guy was getting additionally soused up on the ride home. It's one thing to be drunk in public, and I will admit that the guy was minding his own business, but to drink a can of beer and then a glass bottle of beer and then ride your bike home late at night? He wasn't exactly hiding his containers, either, which leads me to believe he knew they wouldn't be walking around.
The second levels of the cars are weird. Kind of fascinating, but why not just have identical first and second levels, to increase the seating?
San Francisco Station
It's not as seedy as it looks like it will be. It's actually too open to be that dangerous and too open to be completely safe. The bathrooms are interesting, but they're always closed for cleaning, which is both a blessing and a curse. (Hint: If you really need to go, the Safeway across the street has bathrooms that are really hard to get to so they're clean.)
The signs are horrible. You have all these tracks and all these LED monitors, so why not use them? Instead of forcing people to decipher which train is which by reading tiny numbers located in different places on different kinds of train cars, why not just use the SIGNS YOU ALREADY HAVE and list which trains are departing from and arriving at which tracks? It's really not that difficult.
And you need ticket people. I know you don't want to pay anyone, but a station in which a person must ask off-duty conductors and custodial staff for track information just isn't working. -
Review from Rich K.
Mountain View, CA
1/16/2012 14 Check-ins Here
Caltrain tends to be cleaner than say BART. More commuters would explain that fact. If you bike, biker friendly. Baby bullet is nice.
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Review from Siliconvalley C.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
CALTRAIN simply does not care about their passengers! CALTRAIN DID NOT take us safely back home at 2.15am on NYE as promised and advertised !!!!!
We were at the main station in SF at 2.05am prompt hoping to get on the 2.15am last southbound train.
The station staff closed the gates already at that point and CAL train left at 2.10am!!!! leaving almost 1000 people behind! Police officer advised us to find alternative solution.
It was impossible to get a cab who wanted to drive us back home for reasonable price. Luckily, we found a nice driver, but still we paid almost $200 for a cab from SF to Menlo Park!
CALTRAIN SHOULD GIVE US A REFUND!
How iresponsible to abandon almost 1000 people and to advertise a MISLEADING INFO about extended NYE time table!
CALTRAIN lives on us who live and work in Silicon Valley and we deserved better!
We traveled on a packed train to SF and Caltrain put our life at risk, but also they put our life in danger on our way back because they abandoned us in SF and left to the mercy of greedy cab drivers after 2am on New Year's Eve.
Maybe Tasha Bartholomew or Mark Simon of CALTRAIN could offer us a refund or at least some free tickets or a monthly pass! -
Review from Melissa D.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011 135 Check-ins Here
This has to be my favorite transit agency in the Bay Area... by a longshot.
I like Caltrain's policies. You're allowed to eat AND drink alcohol (the alcohol drinking is before 9pm, I think...). I wish other agencies had that policy. I'm not really referring to liquor, but mainly, to food. I'm always on the go, and sometimes, it's just nice to be able to sit and eat your meal while you travel.
Maybe the reason Caltrain is able to do this is because the kinds of people who ride it aren't like a lot of the riff-raff you see on Muni/Bart. You know what I'm referring to - the ones who try to be defiant when it comes to rules and common sense of living... the ones who will litter just so they can piss someone else off and see who will be brave enough to challenge them.
Anyway, enough about the people on there. I like Caltrain because it runs late and runs fairly on time. It would be much more ideal if it could run just like the trains in NYC - all night long!
***OH CALTRAIN, QUICK NOTE! Why can't you continuously run the NICER trains, you know, the ones that have two entrances on each train, and on the top level are little tables with outlets where you can sit at. These trains are my FAVORITE! Why can't you run more of these?! Please get rid of the older-looking ones with the single seats on top. They feel so much more cramped.
I live across the street from the San Jose Diridon station, so this mode of transportation is best for me. :) -
Review from Denise L.
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
the last stop of the cal train, and GIANTS CENTRAL! great way to go to a giants game to avoid high parking fees, crazy drivers, and high gas prices. I also came here by the southbound bullet train to go to an event on Friday evening, and it was painless, cheaper than paying gas, and of course parking to get here. Very convenient, clean trains, and no weirdos on my train!
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Review from Romy I.
San Jose, CA
10/1/2011
Caltrain is the best thing that ever happened to Silicon Valley bachelorettes. this is a complex fuzzy logic statement but let me explain. If I break it down I"ll convince you since complex stuff that seems illogical actually are as long as you break it down into little boolean lego statements.
There's a huge mass of out of shape engineers making tons of mad loot at places like Google or Facebook and any smaller start-up. Even though they have access to buses, there are still a lot of pasty nerdy engineers who elect to live in places of civilization like San Francisco instead of the overpriced valley with its horrible apartment buildings.
And guess what? these engineer guys are doing it by taking the caltrain and riding bikes. They are supporting the excellent world class California mountain bike industry by buying non corporate locally made bikes. They are keeping the freeways clean of traffic. they are electing not to buy awful sportscar monstrosities to make up for not getting any play in high school and dating awful women in stiletto heels who think designer bags are the shizzle.
No, these guys are riding awesome bikes and electing to live in places where civilization and culture exists. if they didn't ride bikes, they would never exercise. they'd be out of shape and noticeably less attractive, less fashionable, and less interesting as human beings.
Why are people who ride trains more interesting? You are forced to read. While there is wireless, sometimes some of these computer engineer people do things like read books. When people choose print over online they become a zillion times more interesting.
A number of these factors makes caltrain the enabler for a critical tipping point. You will see more fascinating romances between women who come from first world countries and have an education instead of godawful creepy couples consiting of a nerdy guy with money and issues and his godawful materialistic bag of a wife from a country where women are oppressed and forced to be housewives running around in bad designer clothing.
Caltrain enables children to be born where the mom is actually intelligent and has a career of her own instead of neurotically going after botox treatments. Caltrain forces auto manufacturers to make kickass cars intsead of catering to the lowest common denominator, and it keeps these engineers from marrying materialistic bags who want to drive luxury SUVs and be stay at home moms who ruin PTA meetings.
Hotter engineers equal better fitness equal fewer incompetent marketing chicks wearing heels at conventions and godawful clingy clothes and fewer psycho pta moms losing their looks equals more rad women equals more moms who are punk rock and are not exploited and escaping countries where women are abused equals utopia. More reading too!
Thank Goddess we have the caltrain! -
Review from Rocco B.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2011
Awesome public transit, minus nights when the Giants have a home game. Don't get me wrong, I'd be one of those assholes too if I were going to a game, but when I'm winding down after a stressful work day, I want my peace and quiet.
Most days it's commuters, no bums, no riff raff. And bravo to CT for putting two bike cars on every train.
Don't forget to tag off. I've lost a pretty penny, paying for fares to San Jose when I stop in Redwood City. And while we're at it, don't drop your Clipper card while running to the train. I had proof of my tag-on, but you have to spend TWO three-hour court sessions to get it resolved :-(.
They're almost always on time. That's huge.
Improvements?
Get wifi on the train for us Silicon Valley drones, and stop going bankrupt. -
Review from Aaron S.
San Mateo, CA
12/21/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I wait, the train comes, I get on, takes me where I want to go. Can't get much better than that.
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Review from Amelia M.
San Francisco, CA
10/18/2011
It is convenient when I don't have a car avail. Love the baby bullets when I can catch them. The cost is not worth it for me to take it other than when I have a car emergency and need to make it to the southbay.
Clean and reliable. -
Review from Maria S.
9/29/2011 3 Check-ins Here
When heading to the ball park, this is my preferred mode of transportation. It's comfortable, it's clean, and I can eat and drink in here without fear of being cited (like on BART). It has dedicated bike cars and bathrooms if you're making the long haul from SF to SJ. Sure, the signs on 101 make it look like you're not saving yourself much time, but you definitely save some sanity letting someone else take the wheel.
Another good reason to carry a Clipper Card with you. -
Review from Whitney D.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Easy breezy. Nicest train I've been on, as compared to Amtrak, NYC Subway, and BART. (Haha!). Taking the bus there was easy enough, as well as buying a ticket at the kiosk and finding a good seat. Took about an hour and a half to get from SF to San Jose but it was a relaxing, scenic ride. Both of my trains (inb and outb) were on time and left on time (I ended up running to my train home!).
Two thumbs up for not smelling weird and having decent bathrooms! -
Review from Elaine N.
I much prefer the Milbrae station, mainly due to the cleanliness and the fancy, colorful roofing. Talk about nice architecture!
I like riding CalTrain more than I do MUNI or BART. The train has two stories, meaning there is a higher chance of open window seats. Plus, there are no smelly homeless people sitting by you, or any sketchy thievery to look out for.
The best part is being able to admire the view. Just sitting in solitude, drifting as you stare into the trees while singing aloud to "Friday I'm in Love". It certainly is a wonderful treat. You get to watch graffiti art, railroad tracks, cars, and people.
I also like that they have the honor system. During my first time, I was confused and ran around for twenty minutes, asking about where to tag my Clipper. There were signs all over the place saying, "Tag on, tag off," and I didn't really understand. A man sitting at the stop told me you're supposed to "tag on" inside the train and "tag off" in the station. This is false! Luckily, I got away with a free "courtesy ride". I have never had my ticket inspected, but I'd recommend you buy one anyways.
Note of caution: Don't end up tumbling down the stairs and missing your stop because you were too entranced.. )':Listed in: Little Bunny Traveler
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Review from nadine w.
Menlo Park, CA
11/18/2011
The Caltrain Clipper card system gets a BIG "F" rating for failure or "f*****d! It is truly INEPT and I have NEVER been so upset and embarrassed for TAGGING ON.
I routinely tag on at the Menlo Park Station. In checking customer cards, the Conductor gets a "NO" reading from mine. I'm puzzled and asked him to check again and it still reads "NO". Puzzled I explain to him that I did tag on at Menlo Park and he loudly responds "You didn't tag it's showing a negative balance!" I immediately reach for my phone to call Clipper for an explanation as I am truly baffled. The call is dropped and I go to the vestibule where the Conductor is and explained to him that I did tag on and something must be wrong with the tag machine at Menlo Park or the Clipper card itself. He then checks my card again and sees that I have 10 rides and a negative $4.25 balance. I told him that it can't be right because last night when I purchased my eight ride at Walgreens the Rep told me I had 10 rides and a positive $4.25 balance. By this time the train arrives at 22nd St and I detrain and tag off in front off the Conductor and the Tag machine shows that I have 9 rides and a positive $4.25. At the same time, there is a woman behind me who had the SAME issue, she tags off and tells the conductor that her card shows a positive balance as well. I hurry to work and immediately call Clipper for an explanation but they don't have one nor does their system reflect my latest card activity information their system is updated only a few times a day and currently it's not available!!! So then there is no explanation has to why this has happened to me and other riders... Is it the tag machine, is it there system, is it there Conductor's instrument? What is it? How can you not know or be held accountable?
I am extremely concerned by this scenario because it could have unfolded in a different manner and the scenario could have had a different outcome if there were fare enforcers checking tickets. I have observed their UNPROFESSIONAL AND TASTELESS interaction with Caltrain clients which include, HARRASSMENT, DISCRIMMINATION and BERATING AND INSULTS clients who aren't fare evaders.
All this could have been avoided and here is a possible solution for a more satisfied customer base; The Clipper system needs to be a REAL TIME SYSTEM as they aren't a banking institution but a service provider offering a tangible service in exchange for a given amount.
BTW, A RECENT CLIPPER EXEPERIENCE TO SHARE....hope that you don't share the same name as any other Clipper customer, let's say somewhere else in the Bay area because Clipper will more than likely merge your information with theirs , block your card and STILL have your information incorrect!!!! Ooyy!!!
Disappointed and frustrated!!! -
Review from Ching T.
Whittier, CA
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Caltrain rawks!
1) Damn pretty efficient and runs on time. I was never late because of you (meh...I missed the Caltrain a few times tho cuz *I* was running late)
2) For having a bathroom (although it was pretty nasty at the end of the evening, but when you gotta go, you gots to go!) way up front in the first car (Yes, it was pretty interesting going in between cars. I felt like I was in a scene in Will Smith's WIld Wild West)/
and drumroll please....this is the reason I love you BEST Caltrain:
3) You have outlets in the middle on each side of EACH top car.
I got so much done on Caltrain with calling into / email with work, coordinating meet up times and places with friends, facebooking, etc...never having to worry about battery life.
Loves you, Loves You, LOVES YOU!!
I only wish LA had something like this. I'd kill if I could switch my 1 hour 30-45 minute commute each way for an easy peasy non-stressful train ride like this. Pretty cheap too as it seems the most I had to pay for traveling through several zoned areas was about $8.50 tops. Can't beat that! All the train officers were super nice too when entertaining all my questions/needs.
Wut? you let people drink beer until 9pm? and let people eat too?Listed in: San Francisco Adventures, Travel / Shuttles, SF - SOMA
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Review from Nina Y.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Totally reminds me of the trains in Taiwan.
I was sitting on Caltrain, and kind of had a flashback to about 2 months ago when I was sitting on a train in Taiwan. It's pretty awesome.
It's a faster, although more expensive, version of Bart. I noticed that they had bullet trains, which is pretty cool for those people who won't need to stop at some of the stops. The trains are clean probably because only people who commute use them. The stations are really useful as well. Since they take clipper card, it makes it easy to get on and off.
Took me 40 minutes to get from SF to San Mateo. Awesome. -
Review from Mish L.
5/13/2011
I've taken it for Giants games to and from the South Bay to SF. So fun! Save the hassle of dealing with traffic, parking and driving... and as a added bonus, you can drink on the train! :-)
I've recently started to take it on a commute basis for work... and it sure as hell beats sitting in traffic and paying a gajillion dollars to fill up your tank each week. Score!
You can bring food and drinks and pretty much catch up on your nap, read, work or do whatever you need to do during the ride. It can be a relaxing experience after you get used to the system. It's not rocket science. Just buy your ticket (fill your clipper card), board, show your ticket and de-board at your stop. Easy!
It's clean, two decks and most people are considerate of others.
I have experienced the occasional obnoxious drunk tool and people who like to scream entire cell phone conversations during the commute. (Errrrrghhh! Time to switch compartments.)
Most often on time, unless some poor soul decides to jump the tracks. :-( Baby bullet trains (limited stops) during rush hour helps cut down the commute time to about 50 mins rather than the close to 1 & 1/2 it would take to get from the south bay to SF.
Have your tickets or clipper card ready when the conductor comes by to check. I've seen more than one person get reamed and kicked off/cited for trying to skirt the honor system of having a ticket before you board. Just pay it. It beats having to pay for gas or worse, fined, embarrassed and scolded by the conductor.
And be sure to tag off at your stop when you get off and keep a $1.25 minimum balance on your clipper card (you have no idea how annoying this announcement is).
This SF station is at 4th & King/Townsend. Right across from the light rail... 2 blocks from AT&T Park. Taxis/buses if you need to get around. So convenient! They have a Subway, a bagel place and newstand with your typical store of magazines, candy bars and such. Safeway's across the street if you need to grab something.
Hell, forget the high speed rail. Stick with CalTrains! -
Review from Captain B.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2011
Here's an experience I had:
Tried to buy a ticket with a credit card, but it wasn't work. My friend tried his card, but it also failed, so we knew it was the machine. Meanwhile, a station agent who saw we were panicking about missing our train was watching off and instead of helping she just laughed at us like an old hag. And yes, we missed the train.
Pros: you can drink beer on it
Cons: the above story and it's super slow -
Review from chl p.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2011
Caltrain is super convenient, pretty reliable, and affordable! I've never been late when taking the train, and it goes to a wide range of places. If not, it stops where you can take another connecting form of transportation to where you want to go, like Diridon Station (to go to various parts of San Jose, or Santa Cruz) and 4th and King (near tons of MUNI stops so all over SF).
They use Clipper cards too! So that's a plus for everyday commuters.
I never find that the train gets that crowded, but I've never been on it when all the Giants fans are rushing to the ballpark. I usually can get on at Diridon and arrive in SF in about 2 hours or less depending if the train is an express one. And I have two seats to myself most of the time. -
Review from Madeline N.
Cambridge, MA
8/6/2011 6 Check-ins Here
We all know that California is not the place to find excellent public transit. But for what we've got, CalTrain is pretty good.
Trains run relatively on time (I'd say about 5% of the time I've hit delays) and the train itself is quite clean. Stations during the day are large enough to have an enjoyable-ish 10 minute wait but I wouldn't spend much longer than that.
My biggest complaint is the limited number of trains that run later in the evening. -
Review from Richard F.
San Jose, CA
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only way to go is the Baby Bullet.
From Sunnyvale to SF in 50(ish) minutes for under 7 bucks. Beats the normal train that is double that time for the same price.
Also great for Giants games! -
Review from Bryan W.
San Francisco, CA
6/14/2011
Im a newbie to SF and Public Transportation! With that said I have been holding off on a review until I get the full hang of it & how to work it!
Undeniably, after a few months and considerable use I am a fan of the Caltrain. It helps that its conveniently located near mi casa on Tennessee St. Even better, its kept up/clean enough & safe not like that other train where they shoot people.
In addition, it stops everywhere I like to go in the South Bay/ Mid Peninnsula and it has a stop made for me! Who knew...I sure didnt but when I dont need to drive all over town (in Bay Area with a million errands & sales calls) I find the caltrain is a much needed relief. I can sit back, read, email, enjoy the view which mostly includes people watching and hop off at my preferred stop with no stress of rush hour traffic and worry free.
Oh and I reduce my expensive war mongering need for gasoline and get to reduce my carbon footprint.
I would give more stars and some snaps too but there should be some savings for buying a pass and there isnt.
**Also there needs to be outlets for charging devises...Especially if you have an EVO phone and I imagine numerous other droids lacking in battery life. -
Review from Gloria H.
5/17/2011 135 Check-ins Here
It's great to have this as one of your stops - first, you can choose the outbound that best fits your schedule and not one that will stop at your station. Second, you can take any train and get home because every train will ultimately stops here.
It's the biggest station with lots of indoor seatings, a coffee stand, a newstand, a Subway and large public bathrooms. -
Review from Allison S.
Manhattan, NY
8/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
During the last week of July 2011, my best friend Mike G. and I took a whirlwind roadtrip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and back in one weekend. This was the second stop on my trip.
After my stop at Safeway, I crossed the street and made my into the train station. I tagged in (God, I love the Clipper Card system) and settled in to wait the half hour for my train to board.
For such a high volume station, it's incredibly small and it lacks amenities. It also doesn't sign train bays well (the only train leaving at that time of night was the 10:40pm I was trying to get on, but there were no signs out letting you know which track it would be on). Aaaaaand it's pretty sketchy at night. They could stand to take a play from the NYC area stations and post at least one cop there at all times.
But, it gets the job done. And the trains are cheap and relatively fast, especially if you can grab a Baby Bullet. -
Review from Chloé N.
Mountain View, CA
5/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Caltrain helps, but I wish it could be more frequent...
I like the newer train with some table, electricity plugs, and more important, bathrooms on it!!!!! I don't have to use table or plugs when I'm on the train, but bathrooms...imagine sitting on 1+ hour train and you really need to take care of some business during that period of time...get off the train? who knows where to find bathroom when get off at a random station? and may need to wait for another hour for the next one...errrrrrr...:PListed in: Transportation, Travel
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Review from Lorrayne L.
Oakland, CA
4/26/2011
Since my BART review has been deleted due to a lack of first-hand experience, I thought I'd write about my experience on CalTrain.
I've only ever ridden on this train system once and recently, despite living in the Bay Area for more than three decades. The Commodore and I used this system to take us from Milbrae to San Jose to watch the Cirque show at the HP Pavilion a month or so ago (wow, has it really been that long?). The ride was enjoyable, the seats didn't make me itch, and I appreciated the double-tier composition of the cars. The C. pointed out to me that the view gets much nicer when a girl walks along the top row in a skirt, for the benefit of any observers below. I giggled, then my imagination ran wild. I also appreciated the fact that they had restrooms in each car, which came in handy on the ride home.
But this isn't the experience I am all a-twitter to share with you, dearest Yelper. Nope, not by a long shot. What really made my first ever trip on CalTrain so memorable was our return trip from hot pastrami goodness. This time, I elected to sit in the area where all the bicycle racks were. No one else was there, and I wanted a little privacy. But I was mistaken; to our amusement, we weren't alone.
On the second level directly above us were a group of teenage boys. Enthusiastic teenage boys. So enthusiastic, as a matter of fact, that the atmosphere was broken intermittently with moans, groans and lots of sex talk. My only issue was that the boy receiving head was way too noisy, and I had half a mind to tell him to quiet it down. lol My my, boys will be boys. But it was most entertaining on our ride home. To be honest, I had mistakenly thought the one giving head had been female, though the head was obviously down so I couldn't see very clearly. Nope! All boys. (I have nothing against gay sex, mind you)
That, my dear Yelpers, is a first-hand experience, and quite a memorable one, if you ask anyone. Now, try to top that! -
Review from Calvin C.
San Jose, CA
Caltrain is so much better than Bart.
Has restrooms inside the train...
Has Bike Rack area...
However, I don't think I could commute, takes too long per stop.
Like! -
Review from Art M.
Los Angeles, CA
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
CalTrain is a nice way to travel between SF and San Jose. Trains are clean and generally on time. Some of the upper-level seats near the middle have electrical outlets near the bottom. However, I do have a few complaints:
1) The upper level of each car has metal shelves running down the middle. No one uses them so they just take up space that could have been used for more seats.
2) The San Francisco station could use more seats -- there appears to be space for a lot more.
3) In the SF station, they don't let passengers board a train until 10 minutes before its scheduled departure time. Thus, people are forced to wait in the relatively small terminal. By contrast, in LA, Metrolink usually allows passengers to board trains well before their departure time. -
Review from Ricky Z.
Charlottesville, VA
7/15/2011
My morning commute consists of taking the N-Judah from the Outer Sunset to the CalTrain and then taking the CalTrain down to Burlingame. It's a commute that lasts between an hour and an hour and a half, the latter solely because of the MUNI.
I hate the MUNI with a passion. But I love the CalTrain. More space, less obnoxious passengers, and *virtually* always on-time for me. The only time I've ever experienced significant delays were times when "trespassing incidents" occur (very unfortunately). And you get to eat, drink, and just generally relax. I've seen them go around and kindly ask sleeping passengers if they know where they are--it's too easy to fall asleep and miss your stop.
But what does it for me are simply the employees. They are forever cheerful and jovial. They make my morning literally EVERY morning. There's bad blood between passengers and employees on the BART and the MUNI, but I always feel like I can strike up a conversation with any of the CalTrain employees. Specifically, there's that dude in the mornings with the handlebar moustache. I don't know how he does it but he's wide awake at 8AM in the morning and always brings a smile to my face, no matter how shitty my morning has been. -
Review from Ziggy J.
San Francisco, CA
6/16/2011 5 photos
If you don't own a car, CalTrain is an important option to have when traveling around the Bay Area. I have to say my experiences overall have been efficient and I can't hold the company responsible for people not acting appropriately. Overall, they try to keep things safe. I'd prefer more employees with a better command of the English language, but I'm sure there are reasons for that as well.
However, the reason I'm here to type up a review is because they did me A HUGE FAVOR over Memorial Day Weekend. I caught the next to last train back to San Francisco and after exiting the station realized that 1) I'd left something on board and 2) there was no way to get back into the station (they'd closed for the evening).
I don't recommend being ALONE in the location of Caltrain at NIGHT, it's unpleasant -- like drug addicts glaring at you unpleasant -- but life can't always be ideal. I shouted and screamed at a worker who was happy to ignore me for the sake of his headphones, but a security woman finally showed up and listened to my appeal to PLEASE-PLEASE-PLEASE allow me to find my little parcel (as it was a gift for my mother). They let me in. They were willing to watch my bags since I should've recalled better which car of the train it was on, but didn't. **make a note of that fellow passengers**
Quick as wind, I swooped through the cars and baffled people who clean the train after you and I leave. A MESS of nonsense is left thoughtlessly behind, only mine wasn't meant as refuse! Believe it or not, I actually managed to retrieve it from THE TRASH. That's how quick they work! It was bagged up well in it's own package and certainly hadn't been in the janitor's garbage bag long. I thanked EVERYONE PROFUSELY and wanted to do so again here. It meant a lot to me and I'm so very sorry for the confusion and chaos.
I also want to thank many strangers OUTBOUND (certainly not inbound) who graciously helped with my luggage. You're all angels. This city kid isn't used to the kindness. May luck and favor find you as well! -
Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2011
Reliable. (their posted schedule runs very close to their live schedule)
Clean (compared to BART's icky seats at least)
Comfortable (there's usually plenty of seating and decent leg room)
Laid back (though you do need to make sure you get your ticket ahead of time, once you're on Caltrain - you're more than welcome to eat or drink, or get some work done)
Efficient (though you have to be wary about when you catch Caltrain - since their peak hours have much more direct and shorter time spans, - Caltrain generally does a commendable job of getting you and to and from where you want to go)
My only real complaints with Caltrain is that I wish it was cheaper, I wish they had more San Francisco stations, and I wish that they ran later and more frequently at night.
Trust. -
Review from Markus N.
3/10/2011
Yesterday I rode all the trains. Amtrak to Sac and back for a 45 minute meeting, Bart to Millbrae to change to Caltrain to meet my pal for supper in Redwood City. Turns out I was supposed to meet him in San Mateo, but as I re-boarded to head back north to SM from RWC I was still impressed that I had made it over from West Oakland Bart in an hour an fifteen minutes.
If you know me you'll know that sometimes I show up in the wrong place at the right time. Once I tried to check in at SFO for a flight leaving from Oakland. Much to the agent's amusement.
Caltrain is to me almost European. It runs usually on time except when an inconsiderate person decides to extinguish themselves by ruining your commute. It's clean, people are purposeful and reasonably polite. It sure as hell beats driving. So what if in the quiet time it adds an hour to the peninsula from Oakland. Bring a book. Call your Mom.
Adding this - for those of us who voted to approve the high-speed rail bond measure I think maybe we should ask for a mulligan. In our immediacy of scarce resources I think this is a boondoggle we can ill afford. The money should instead go to keep Caltrain full service, to develop the Sonoma-Marin equivalent, to extend Bart to the nether regions. This will get more people out of their cars. The air route to the Southland is so well established, so convenient, so efficient, that directing cash to a rail replacement (cash that could be used far more wisely on other local rail projects) is just plain wasteful. I fear, though, that we've let the genie out of the bottle. The motivation to build is now by an Authority hell bent to justify their jobs and existence, less so to promote a project worth doing.
My two cents for your Thursday morning. -
Review from Sparkely K.
Silicon Valley, CA
Updated - 3/6/2011
I really do love CalTrain and I'm concerned for its future. This last week marked the first incident I've ever had on board in the 20+ years I've ridden. As we were just about to stop in SF at 4th and King, the train did not stop in time and we crashed in to the bumper at the end of the line. Those of us who were standing in the vestibule, were thrown either a few feet, on to the ground, or in to something. I flew about two feet and my upper right arm met with the vestibule door handle. I'm well bruised and was achy all over for a couple of days. My chiropractor will see me a few more times to unlock the muscles in my upper back / neck area, and my report filed with CalTrain will take care of the bills (hopefully). It was scary and I can still hear the loud metal on metal screeching sound. It was not pleasant and I'm thankful that we were only going a few miles per hour.
I heard yesterday that a man was brutally attacked at the RWC station.
It was not a good week for CalTrain. :(2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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9/2/2008
Still love CalTrain.....
....but you guys have got to add some cars! The 5:33pm Baby Bullet was… Read more »
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Review from Willson Z.
San Francisco, CA
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I can always count on Caltrain for a reliable ride throughout the Bay Area (well, most of the time).
But just a tip.... please stop increasing the price! A round trip ticket can buy me a nice delicious meal elsewhere :(
One thing I hate about the Caltrain is that they don't always check the ticket. Makes me feel like I'm wasting money... -
Review from James V.
San Jose, CA
9/23/2011 16 Check-ins Here
Gets me where I need to be!
