Published Tuesday, March 13, 2001, in the Contra Costa Times
ACE riders say evening train leaves too late
Silicon Valley commuters say the new 6:45 p.m. departure is not
convenient
By Bonita Brewer
Times Staff Writer
Many Altamont Commuter Express riders wanted a later evening commute
train, but not this late, service officials are discovering.
A lot of ACE riders are complaining that the newly added third ACE
train leaves San Jose for Pleasanton, Livermore and the Central
Valley too late for a convenient trip home. But officials also are
hearing from a contingent of riders that wants a mid-afternoon return
train, as once was planned.
During its first week of service, which began March 5, the third
evening train was less than half full with an average of just more
than 200 riders. The train leaves San Jose at 6:45 p.m. and the
Pleasanton station at 7:39 p.m.
Meanwhile, the first two evening trains remained jammed with standing-
room-only crowds -- though they have more seating capacity than the
third one does -- together carrying more than 2,000 commuters.
Although previous ridership surveys showed strong support for a later
train, riders are now telling ACE they want an earlier train.
"We're going to keep an eye on it," said Stacey Mortensen, ACE's
executive director. "We figure it will take about a month to monitor
the morning and evening train schedules, and we'll especially eyeball
the evening trains, to really know if there's a trend."
ACE officials could adjust schedules soon or wait until a fourth
train comes into service by November, Mortensen said.
A lot of riders say they like the later train, and Mortensen said the
real issue may be just too much demand for too few trains. A fourth
train will give people more scheduling choices, she said
Allen Strand of San Ramon likes the later train.
"They need it," Strand said while riding the train last week to
Silicon Valley. "In the last two to three months, I've missed the
last train because of 5 p.m. meetings. And there are times I had to
leave meetings early just to get the stupid train home."
But others have doubts.
"I don't think there will be many people on it; it's too late," said
Lynette Robbins of Livermore, who also rides ACE to Silicon Valley.
Orginally, ACE officials planned to have the third train leave San
Jose before the other two trains between 3:45 and 4 p.m. But many
riders, in both surveys and in e-mail responses, said that was too
early. They said they needed a train leaving an hour after what was
then the last train.
Officials used those surveys to adjust the schedule. The first six-
car train leaves San Jose at 4:15 p.m., as before. The second five-
car train leaves at 5:25 p.m., 18 minutes earlier than before, and
the third, new four-car train leaves at 6:45 p.m.
Changes in the schedule would require agreements with the Union
Pacific Railroad and CalTrain for additional trackage rights.
Brian Schmidt, ACE's director of rail services, said ridership on the
third train might be boosted in coming weeks as things settle in and
riders adjust their work schedules.
Train capacity will increase after three additional cars, in the
process of being delivered to ACE, come into service, Schmidt said
Those cars, each with 140 seats, eventually will be part of ACE's
fourth train but can be used in the meantime to lengthen the existing
three trains.
ACE plans to add a fifth train in 2003 and a sixth train in 2006,
although funds have not yet been secured.
Bonita Brewer covers Tri-Valley growth and transportation. Reach her
at 925-847-2120 or bbrewer@cctimes.com.
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