From Fremont Ang Argus
Article last updated:
Saturday, February 17, 2001 2:41 AM MST
ACE train hot ticket for Silicon Valley trip
Additional train replaces Fremont turnaround run
By Mark Abramson
STAFF WRITER
FREMONT -- Packed freeways and more people moving to the Central
Valley have made the Altamont Commuter Express a hot ticket for those
commuting to the Silicon Valley.
ACE officials say ridership is so high that a third train will begin
service to and from San Jose on March 5.
"We are pretty much running standing-room-only," said Jonathan
Garzoli, the ACE manager of contracts administration.
"The ridership has grown more than anyone has expected at this
point. It's going to get a pretty good response passenger-wise."
Also on that date, ACE trains will begin stopping at the Santa Clara
Caltrain station -- in addition to the current stop at Great America
-- on the way to Diridon Station in San Jose.
ACE currently operates two morning trains from Stockton that stop at
the Centerville depot in Fremont -- at 6:02 and 7:14 a.m. -- on the
way to San Jose. In addition, the first train turns around and returns
to Pleasanton to start a second run to San Jose, stopping in Fremont
at 8:18 a.m.
The new train, which will replace the turnaround train, will start at
the Manteca/Lathrop station at 6:52 a.m., arriving in Fremont at
8:15. It will arrive at the Great America station at 8:36, and the
Santa Clara Caltrain station at 8:46 before stopping in San Jose at
8:56.
The new evening return will leave San Jose at 6:45 p.m., arriving in
Fremont at 7:16.
The new train will start its morning run and end its evening run at
the Manteca/Lathrop station, rather than Stockton, because that
facility attracts the most riders, Garzoli said.
The new schedule also will include slight changes to the two trains
from Stockton to San Jose. The first train will arrive in Fremont at 6
a.m., stopping at Great America at 6:21 and Santa Clara Caltrain at
6:31 before arriving in San Jose at 6:41.
The second train will arrive in Fremont at 7:09 a.m., stopping at
Great America at 7:30 and Santa Clara Caltrain at 7:40 before arriving
in San Jose at 7:50.
Afternoon returns from San Jose will start at 4:15 and 5:25 p.m.,
stopping at Santa Clara Caltrain at 4:20 and 5:30 and at Great America
at 4:29 and 5:39 before arriving in Fremont at 4:46 and 5:56.
A one-way ticket from Fremont to Santa Clara County costs $4;
round-trip, $7; 20-trip, $32; and monthly, $103. A round-trip ticket
to the Silicon Valley from Manteca/Lathrop costs $16 and a monthly
pass is $235.
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ACE information: (209) 468-5600 or www.acerail.com
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