SAN CARLOS, Calif. – Bay area commuter rail operator Caltrain is increasing its base fare by 25 cents as of today (July 1, 2025).
The move reflects actions taken after the operator delayed a 50-cent increase in its base fares, scheduled for July 1, 2023, to avoid discouraging riders from returning to public transportation following the COVID pandemic. In a September 2023 meeting, the Caltrian board set the July 2025 date for an increase. The new fare arrives as Caltrain frequencies are their highest ever, the agency said in a press release, with 104 trains per weekday and increased weekend operation, following the launch of electrified service, which helped spur a 55% increase in ridership in May 2025 compared to the same month a year earlier.
The fare increase comes as Caltrain projects an annual deficit of $75 million beginning in 2027, when Caltrain could face service reductions, station closures, and other cost-cutting moves without additional funding from a regional sales tax measure or other sources.
Same old problem: the local politicians refuse to pass a regional tax of some kind to help fund local transportation. We’ll see how soon the local politicians introduce a bill to have state funding help out.