Commuting from El Cerrito to Mountain View, Any Suggestions?

[Kenneth M. Lin]

I am guessing that it's two hours each way if I drive so I am asking for
suggestions on what's the most efficient way to get there using public
transportation. My final destination is Ellis St. near 101.

1. BART to Millabre, take CalTrain to Mountain. Walk 2.5 miles to Ellis
St. (1:05 on BART, < 30 min. on CalTrain, get a scooter so I could cover
the last 2.5 miles faster?) I don't know the bus system over there.

2. Go toward Fremont on BART and find a transbay bus to Mountain View?

[spamtrap1888]

On Oct 6, 11:34 am, "Kenneth M. Lin" <kenneth_m_...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> I am guessing that it's two hours each way if I drive so I am asking for
> suggestions on what's the most efficient way to get there using public
> transportation.  My final destination is Ellis St. near 101.
>
> 1.  BART to Millabre, take CalTrain to Mountain.  Walk 2.5 miles to Ellis
> St.  (1:05 on BART, < 30 min. on CalTrain, get a scooter so I could cover
> the last 2.5 miles faster?)  I don't know the bus system over there.

Change at Mtn View to VTA light rail; get off at Middlefield or at
NASA Bayshore, both of which intersect with Ellis. Or see if your
employer runs (or shares) a shuttle to the Caltrain station.

[van...@vsta.org]

AWC <a...@svpal.org> wrote:
> Take BART to Fremont, then take a VTA Express bus to the closest light
> rail station, then find whatever VTA bus is the closest to your
> destination from the rail station.
> http://www.vta.org/

With time allocated for making connections, you'll end up nearly
doubling your workday. Some suggestions:

Move
Telecommute
Choose a new job
Drive a car

A quick check didn't turn up any van pools which would help you, but those
sort of ride share deals can also work well--if one can runs where you need
to go, and has openings.

The Bay Area was built around private cars. You can't pick an arbitrary
start and endpoint, and expect a reasonable answer from anything except a
car. Either reconfigure so you can fit the special case of transit, or set
up a car-based solution.

--
Andy Valencia
Home page: http://www.vsta.org/andy/
To contact me: http://www.vsta.org/contact/andy.html

[Patrick Scheible]

van...@vsta.org writes:

> AWC <a...@svpal.org> wrote:
>> Take BART to Fremont, then take a VTA Express bus to the closest light
>> rail station, then find whatever VTA bus is the closest to your
>> destination from the rail station.
>> http://www.vta.org/
>
> With time allocated for making connections, you'll end up nearly
> doubling your workday. Some suggestions:
>
> Move
> Telecommute
> Choose a new job
> Drive a car
>
> A quick check didn't turn up any van pools which would help you, but those
> sort of ride share deals can also work well--if one can runs where you need
> to go, and has openings.
>
> The Bay Area was built around private cars. You can't pick an arbitrary
> start and endpoint, and expect a reasonable answer from anything except a
> car. Either reconfigure so you can fit the special case of transit, or set
> up a car-based solution.

Well, the Bay Area was built as separate small cities or towns connected
by railroads. But nobody would expect to live in a different town from
where they worked and commute, with a few exceptions like the
S.F. Peninsula.

-- Patrick

[Peter Lawrence]

On 10/6/11 11:34 AM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> I am guessing that it's two hours each way if I drive so I am asking for
> suggestions on what's the most efficient way to get there using public
> transportation. My final destination is Ellis St. near 101.
>

> 1. BART to Millbre, take CalTrain to Mountain. Walk 2.5 miles to Ellis St.

> (1:05 on BART, < 30 min. on CalTrain, get a scooter so I could cover the
> last 2.5 miles faster?) I don't know the bus system over there.
>
> 2. Go toward Fremont on BART and find a transbay bus to Mountain View?

If you work regular weekday daytime hours, your best bet is probably this:
take BART to the Fremont BART station. Transfer to the VTA Express Bus 120.
Take the Express 120 to the Lockheed Martin VTA Light Rail Station in
north Sunnyvale. Transfer to VTA Light Right headed toward Mountain View.
Get off at the either the NASA/Bayshore or Middlefield VTA Light Rail
Station. Walk a few more blocks to your work.

The alternative would be close to what you suggested above: take BART to
Millbrae. Transfer to Caltrain. Take Caltrain to Mountain View. But then
transfer to the VTA Light Rail at the Mountain View Caltrain Station and
take the Light Rail to either the Middlefield or NASA/Bayshore Light Rail
Station.

- Peter

[David Kaye]

By going to www.511.org it's possible to plan trips using various bus and
train services in the area. The system isn't good at giving alternative
routes, but by moving the start or destination addresses around a bit you
can force the system to other routes.

But as things stand currently, you're looking at a 1 3/4 to 2 hour travel
time including transfers and layover. It's not pretty.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

So how long do you think it'd take to drive there on a typical morning?
It's 55 miles but I have never drove to work since I moved to Bay Area. Can
I leave early enough to avoid the traffic?

"Kenneth M. Lin" wrote in message
news:5MudnXxn3MUoaRDT...@giganews.com...

[spamtrap1888]

On Oct 9, 10:08 pm, "Kenneth M. Lin" <kenneth_m_...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> So how long do you think it'd take to drive there on a typical morning?
> It's 55 miles but I have never drove to work since I moved to Bay Area.  Can
> I leave early enough to avoid the traffic?
>

> "Kenneth M. Lin"  wrote in messagenews:5MudnXxn3MUoaRDT...@giganews.com...

>
> I am guessing that it's two hours each way if I drive so I am asking for
> suggestions on what's the most efficient way to get there using public
> transportation.  My final destination is Ellis St. near 101.
>
> 1.  BART to Millabre, take CalTrain to Mountain.  Walk 2.5 miles to Ellis
> St.  (1:05 on BART, < 30 min. on CalTrain, get a scooter so I could cover
> the last 2.5 miles faster?)  I don't know the bus system over there.
>
> 2.  Go toward Fremont on BART and find a transbay bus to Mountain View?

If you leave your house by six, it should be fine, but then you have
to get home some time. Will you stay until seven PM? Plus a commute
like that will wear you out day in and day out.

I have a new suggestion: Capitol Corridor from Richmond or Berkeley to
Lick Mill, then light rail to Ellis Street. You will be able to work
on the Amtrak, and it's only one change.

[Mark Mellin]

In article <5MudnXxn3MUoaRDT...@giganews.com>,
"Kenneth M. Lin" wrote:

Google maps lists four transit options, ranging from 2 hours, 7 minutes
to 2 hours, 20 minutes travel time, one way, for a weekday arrival by
9 a.m.:

<http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=BART,+El+Cerrito,+CA&daddr=Ellis+St,+Mountain+View,+CA&hl=en&ll=37.646859,-122.259979&spn=0.78507,1.245575&sll=37.646859,-122.232513&sspn=0.78507,1.245575&geocode=FdNaQgIdedy1-CG4IpUVSDcDog%3BFauxOgIdqqK5-Clbo_0nErePgDHXeYkcO2D0pw&vpsrc=0&gl=us&dirflg=r&ttype=arr&date=10%2F12%2F11&time=9:00am&noexp=0&noal=0&sort=def&mra=ls&t=h&z=10&start=0>

or,

<http://preview.tinyurl.com/3qo9d66>

- Mark

--
Mark Mellin ULmar 9 - 5470
Mailstop 408-85 Menlo Park, CA 94025-3493 USA

[SMS]

Take Amtrak 523 from Richmond to Santa Clara-Great America. Departs:
6:55 AM, Arrives: 8:16 AM. Then take VTA light rail to Middlefield Road
Station. Of course this assumes that the Amtrak train is on time, a
very, very big if.

Return on the 544 or 546.

This doesn't include the time getting to Richmond Amtrak. While this
route would probably be the fastest, it would also be very expensive.

Your best bet is leaving a station car in Fremont, and taking BART to
Fremont.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"SMS" wrote in message news:4e952302$0$1644$742e...@news.sonic.net...

Amtrak is quite affordable if I purchase the monthly pass ($272 a month as
opposed to $17 per ride or $34 a day). However, connection from Great
America to VTA is not good as I must walk half an hour between stations then
wait upward of fifteen minutes. It's too bad because Capitol Corridor
trains have tables so I could put in some hours on the way to work. And
they even have WiFi. There's no way I could do anything on BART.

[SMS]

On 10/12/2011 5:47 AM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:

> Amtrak is quite affordable if I purchase the monthly pass ($272 a month
> as opposed to $17 per ride or $34 a day). However, connection from Great
> America to VTA is not good as I must walk half an hour between stations

You want to go to Lick Mill VTA, not Great America VTA. Google Maps
shows a 5 minute walk. <http://i56.tinypic.com/1zoc6jp.jpg>.

You might want to consider a _small_ folding bicycle that folds fast and
small, i.e.:

<http://www.strida.us/>
<http://www.brompton.co.uk/>.

Look for one with either belt drive (like the Strida) or one where the
chain is on the inside when folded (like the Brompton).

I would not deal with BART to Muni to Caltrain to VTA, or BART to AC
Transit to VTA. Too many connections. The Amtrak to VTA would be
tolerable, and as you stated, Amtrak is a much better experience than
other options (lavatories, food & drink, wi-fi, tables, and probably AC
outlets as well (though Caltrain has outlets too)). There is also the
matter of getting between your house and the Amtrak station in Berkeley
or Richmond.

[SMS]

On 10/12/2011 9:32 AM, SMS wrote:

> I would not deal with BART to Muni to Caltrain to VTA,

Sorry, I forgot about the Millbrae BART to Caltrain connection. That
would certainly work too, and you can take a folding bicycle on BART
even during commute hours, and bicycles are allowed on Caltrain. Or you
could leave a bicycle in a locker at the Caltrain station in Mountain View.

I think the Amtrak-VTA would be a nicer commute, and the cost is only
about $20 more per month ($336 versus $316), assuming 22 work days per
month, and the VTA yearly pass and the BART high-value ticket. BART is
tolerable, despite all the stops, but unless you get on a Caltrain
express train it would be intolerable. Of course you should try both
ways before committing to any monthly passes.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"SMS" wrote in message news:4e95c533$0$1728$742e...@news.sonic.net...

Bike locker sounds like a good idea because I don't want to carry a bike up
and down the stair on BART. I also might have to stand for an hour because
I have a bike on the train. If I go the BART/CalTrain route, I still have
2.3 miles to go and it will take me too long to walk that so I'd have to
shell out two more dollars for VTA to get within half an mile from the
office. How long do you think it'd take to cover 2.3 miles on those scooter
thingie? It's certainly easier to carry around than a bike and it could
potentially save me four dollars a day. It'd look silly for a grown man to
be on a kick scooter but time is money...

With Capitol Corridor it's more like seven more miles to go and I don't see
a direct surface route from Lafayette & Tasman to Ellis St.

Thanks everyone for great suggestions.

[SMS]

I thought you were going to use VTA from the Capitol Corridor over to
Ellis. The bicycle routes are okay, see
<http://www.vta.org/schedules/VTA_Bike_Map.pdf>

[spamtrap1888]

On Oct 12, 6:57 pm, "Kenneth M. Lin" <kenneth_m_...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> With Capitol Corridor it's more like seven more miles to go and I don't see

> a direct surface route from Lafayette & Tasman to Ellis St.
>

THE LIGHT RAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheesh.

An acquaintance of mine takes the Capitol Corridor all the way from
Sacramento twice a week. (He telecommutes the other days.)

[SMS]

On 10/12/2011 6:57 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:

> With Capitol Corridor it's more like seven more miles to go and I don't
> see a direct surface route from Lafayette & Tasman to Ellis St.

I would not be surprised for the VTA light rail to take longer than
cycling the seven miles when you factor in the time walking to the
station and the time waiting for the light rail train. There are bike
lockers at the Capitol Corridor station, but the web site says there is
a waiting list.

You might even want an eBike once you get a locker,
<http://www.pacificebike.com/bk1.html>, provided that you can charge it
at work.

Incidentally, the VTA Lick Mill station is listed as being 300M from the
Capitol Corridor station.

You might find this web site useful:
<http://acerider.org/cgi-bin/stations_great_america_index.cgi>.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"SMS" wrote in message news:4e96543c$0$1697$742e...@news.sonic.net...

I would take Amtrak except that it might not be safe:

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/state&id=8389958

I don't even own a bike right now so I am still figuring out what to do.
Capitol Corridor would definitely be faster if I have a bike and I could
also to the Richmond station so it might make sense. The WiFi is very
attractive as I could get a lot of work on the train.

Great map. On the AAA map I couldn't tell that Tasman goes over the Great
America Amtrak station.

P.S. What is "ADA" route? It's in that close-up box of that area.

[Peter Lawrence]

On 10/12/11 6:57 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> With Capitol Corridor it's more like seven more miles to go and I don't see
> a direct surface route from Lafayette & Tasman to Ellis St.

The VTA Light Rail station (Lick Mill) is just a short walk from the Great
America Amtrak/ACE train station. Take it to the Bayshore/NASA Light Rail
station which is right next to Ellis Street and Hwy 101.

Note that you can request two FREE TRANSFERS aboard the Capitol Corridor
train that's honored on the VTA Light Rail (or any of the VTA buses).

http://www.capitolcorridor.org/home/connections.php?subnav=transit_transfers


- Peter

[SMS]

That's great information. That lowers the cost of the original poster's
commute by more than $64/month.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"SMS" wrote in message news:4e998f5b$0$1673$742e...@news.sonic.net...

Amazing. I have gone through Capitol Corridor's website several times and
never came across this page. Yes, this will make the commute more
affordable and put Capitol Corridor on top of the list and making it by far
the cheapest option if I buy their monthly pass.

So CalTrain has no discounted transfer to VTA at all?

[Peter Lawrence]

It does if you have a two-zone or greater Caltrain monthly pass.

A Caltrain two-zone or greater monthly pass is good for local fare on VTA
light rail and buses.

http://www.caltrain.com/Fares/faresmisc/Inter-Agency_Transfers.html


- Peter

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j7bj6a$skl$1...@dont-email.me...

Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at Great
America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station at 7:20AM
so there's no way I can make it. The next 902 is at 7:35AM so I waste
twenty minutes there. Lick Mill station is much closer so it makes sense to
use it instead but it's still twenty minutes holdover. I wish I could bike
the rest of the way but I don't see a direct path and many streets are
labeled "extreme caution" and Tasman is one of them. This route will take
ten to fifteen minutes more than BART/CalTrain/VTA route but will cost good
$5 per trip if I get the monthly pass because VTA is free.

The fact that Capitol Corridor only run once an hour is also going to be a
major issue but if I could talk them into letting me work on the train, this
could work out.

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j7d0j7$cor$1...@dont-email.me...

> So CalTrain has no discounted transfer to VTA at all?

>It does if you have a two-zone or greater Caltrain monthly pass.
>
>A Caltrain two-zone or greater monthly pass is good for local fare on VTA
>light rail and buses.
>
>http://www.caltrain.com/Fares/faresmisc/Inter-Agency_Transfers.html

What happens if I load the monthly CalTrain ticket into Clipper? Would
that still work?

[Kenneth M. Lin]

"Peter Lawrence" wrote in message news:j7d0j7$cor$1...@dont-email.me...
> So CalTrain has no discounted transfer to VTA at all?

>It does if you have a two-zone or greater Caltrain monthly pass.
>
>A Caltrain two-zone or greater monthly pass is good for local fare on VTA
>light rail and buses.
>
>http://www.caltrain.com/Fares/faresmisc/Inter-Agency_Transfers.html

I am just so used to BART with no free transfer to anything.

[SMS]

On 10/15/2011 4:01 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:

> Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at
> Great America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station
> at 7:20AM so there's no way I can make it.

Probably less of a problem than you think. The Capitol Corridor time is
for the departure from the station, it probably arrives around
7:12-7:13. That's also one of the few stations where the schedule states
that the train may depart prior to the listed departure time (marked
with an L), so it's very likely that it gets to that station well in
advance of the 7:16 scheduled time. They can do that because almost no
one gets on the westbound train at Great America station to take an $8
train ride to San Jose.

Also remember that you can bring a folding bicycle with you on the
Capitol Corridor, so you could get to the VTA station in just a couple
of minutes if you move expeditiously.

Of course you should try each option a couple of times before buying any
monthly passes.

To bicycle to Ellis street you have a few routes, with the nicest, but
not the shortest, going behind Moffett then on the Shoreline
trail,<http://i54.tinypic.com/mhziu0.jpg> with a short section that is
presently not paved (just opened recently). It might add 5 minutes to
the ride, but you're off busy streets.

[Peter Lawrence]

I would hope so since all monthly CalTrain passes need to be loaded onto a
Clipper Card (no more paper Caltrain monthly passes).

Fortunately, the VTA now accepts Clipper Cards. So if things are programmed
correctly, when you tag in with your Clipper Card (that has a two-zone
Caltrain monthly pass loaded onto it) on a VTA bus or at a Light Rail
station, there ought to be no additional cost subtracted from your Clipper Card.

But I myself don't have a two-zone Caltrain monthly pass loaded onto my
Clipper Card, so I can't confirm this myself.


- Peter

[Peter Lawrence]

On 10/15/11 4:01 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at Great
> America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station at 7:20AM
> so there's no way I can make it. The next 902 is at 7:35AM so I waste twenty
> minutes there. Lick Mill station is much closer so it makes sense to use it
> instead but it's still twenty minutes holdover. I wish I could bike the rest
> of the way but I don't see a direct path and many streets are labeled
> "extreme caution" and Tasman is one of them. This route will take ten to
> fifteen minutes more than BART/CalTrain/VTA route but will cost good $5 per
> trip if I get the monthly pass because VTA is free.

Also, just remember that Amtrak trains aren't really *that* punctual. Treat
that 7:16 AM arrival time at Great America only as a ballpark estimate about
when the train will pullup to the station. It might be a few minutes early,
but it could very well be 5 to 10 minutes late.


- Peter

[spamtrap1888]

Does the light rail conform its schedule to the Capitol Corridor's
arrival, or does it just wing off?

A transit-dependent friend hated the coming of the Sharks to SJ,
because after a very long day, he would have to wait and wait for the
last NB Caltrain, which they held at Diridon until the fans had all
gotten on.

[Peter Lawrence]

On 10/16/11 8:31 AM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
> On Oct 15, 5:12 pm, Peter Lawrence<hummb...@aol.com> wrote:
>> On 10/15/11 4:01 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>>>
>>> Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at Great
>>> America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station at 7:20AM
>>> so there's no way I can make it. The next 902 is at 7:35AM so I waste twenty
>>> minutes there. Lick Mill station is much closer so it makes sense to use it
>>> instead but it's still twenty minutes holdover. I wish I could bike the rest
>>> of the way but I don't see a direct path and many streets are labeled
>>> "extreme caution" and Tasman is one of them. This route will take ten to
>>> fifteen minutes more than BART/CalTrain/VTA route but will cost good $5 per
>>> trip if I get the monthly pass because VTA is free.
>>
>> Also, just remember that Amtrak trains aren't really *that* punctual. Treat
>> that 7:16 AM arrival time at Great America only as a ballpark estimate about
>> when the train will pullup to the station. It might be a few minutes early,
>> but it could very well be 5 to 10 minutes late.
>
> Does the light rail conform its schedule to the Capitol Corridor's
> arrival, or does it just wing off?

I truly doubt that it would wait since that could cause a massive jam-up of
the Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) on the light rail line.

> A transit-dependent friend hated the coming of the Sharks to SJ,
> because after a very long day, he would have to wait and wait for the
> last NB Caltrain, which they held at Diridon until the fans had all
> gotten on.

That used to happen *only* if the hockey game went into overtime during the
playoffs. Even if the game goes into overtime and to a shootout during the
regular season, the 10:30 PM train should not be delayed more than 15
minutes from its 10:30 PM scheduled departure.

And now, it's official policy that the last Caltrain (10:30 PM) doesn't wait
more than 15 minutes (10:45 PM) before it heads off, regardless if all the
Sharks fans are on-board.


- Peter

[spamtrap1888]

On Oct 16, 1:25 pm, Peter Lawrence <hummb...@aol.com> wrote:
> On 10/16/11 8:31 AM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Oct 15, 5:12 pm, Peter Lawrence<hummb...@aol.com>  wrote:
> >> On 10/15/11 4:01 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>
> >>> Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at Great
> >>> America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station at 7:20AM
> >>> so there's no way I can make it. The next 902 is at 7:35AM so I waste twenty
> >>> minutes there. Lick Mill station is much closer so it makes sense to use it
> >>> instead but it's still twenty minutes holdover. I wish I could bike the rest
> >>> of the way but I don't see a direct path and many streets are labeled
> >>> "extreme caution" and Tasman is one of them. This route will take ten to
> >>> fifteen minutes more than BART/CalTrain/VTA route but will cost good $5 per
> >>> trip if I get the monthly pass because VTA is free.
>
> >> Also, just remember that Amtrak trains aren't really *that* punctual. Treat
> >> that 7:16 AM arrival time at Great America only as a ballpark estimate about
> >> when the train will pullup to the station.  It might be a few minutes early,
> >> but it could very well be 5 to 10 minutes late.
>
> > Does the light rail conform its schedule to the Capitol Corridor's
> > arrival, or does it just wing off?
>
> I truly doubt that it would wait since that could cause a massive jam-up of
> the Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) on the light rail line.

Lin said the next light rail train came 15 minutes later, so I'm not
picturing how that would cause a massive jam-up.

>
> > A transit-dependent friend hated the coming of the Sharks to SJ,
> > because after a very long day, he would have to wait and wait for the
> > last NB Caltrain, which they held at Diridon until the fans had all
> > gotten on.
>
> That used to happen *only* if the hockey game went into overtime during the
> playoffs.  Even if the game goes into overtime and to a shootout during the
> regular season, the 10:30 PM train should not be delayed more than 15
> minutes from its 10:30 PM scheduled departure.
>
> And now, it's official policy that the last Caltrain (10:30 PM) doesn't wait
> more than 15 minutes (10:45 PM) before it heads off, regardless if all the
> Sharks fans are on-board.
>

Enough people must have complained.

[Peter Lawrence]

On 10/16/11 2:20 PM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
> On Oct 16, 1:25 pm, Peter Lawrence<hummb...@aol.com> wrote:
>> On 10/16/11 8:31 AM, spamtrap1888 wrote:
>>> On Oct 15, 5:12 pm, Peter Lawrence<hummb...@aol.com> wrote:
>>>> On 10/15/11 4:01 PM, Kenneth M. Lin wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Here is the major problem with Capitol Corridor. The train arrives at Great
>>>>> America at 7:16AM. The next VTA 902 departs Great America station at 7:20AM
>>>>> so there's no way I can make it. The next 902 is at 7:35AM so I waste twenty
>>>>> minutes there. Lick Mill station is much closer so it makes sense to use it
>>>>> instead but it's still twenty minutes holdover. I wish I could bike the rest
>>>>> of the way but I don't see a direct path and many streets are labeled
>>>>> "extreme caution" and Tasman is one of them. This route will take ten to
>>>>> fifteen minutes more than BART/CalTrain/VTA route but will cost good $5 per
>>>>> trip if I get the monthly pass because VTA is free.
>>>>
>>>> Also, just remember that Amtrak trains aren't really *that* punctual. Treat
>>>> that 7:16 AM arrival time at Great America only as a ballpark estimate about
>>>> when the train will pullup to the station. It might be a few minutes early,
>>>> but it could very well be 5 to 10 minutes late.
>>>
>>> Does the light rail conform its schedule to the Capitol Corridor's
>>> arrival, or does it just wing off?
>>
>> I truly doubt that it would wait since that could cause a massive jam-up of
>> the Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) on the light rail line.
>
> Lin said the next light rail train came 15 minutes later, so I'm not
> picturing how that would cause a massive jam-up.

A number of sections of the Winchester-Mountain View Light Rail line are
single-tracked, so timing is critical to the smooth operation of the line. A
northbound LRV needs to get through the single-tracked portions of the line
at certain specific times so it won't cause a delay in the operation of the
southbound LRVs.


- Peter

[SMS]

On 10/15/2011 5:12 PM, Peter Lawrence wrote:

> Also, just remember that Amtrak trains aren't really *that* punctual.

That's the understatement of the year. I've only been on the Capitol
Corridor twice, but it was very late in both directions.

> Treat that 7:16 AM arrival time at Great America only as a ballpark
> estimate about when the train will pullup to the station. It might be a
> few minutes early, but it could very well be 5 to 10 minutes late.

Based on the on-time record of the Capitol Corridor lately (>80%) they
must be building in a lot of margin in the schedule. The Great America
Station is probably one place where it does often arrive early (and
leave early). The schedule makes a point of stating that it may leave
before the designated departure time, but since virtually no one would
get on at Great America to go to San Jose, it doesn't matter.

[spamtrap1888]

Ah. It's been double-tracked wherever I've seen it, even in narrow
spots like Tasman between Great America and Lawrence, in front of the
Adobe Wells Mobile Home Park.

[Peter Lawrence]

It's usually double-tracked when it's located on the median of streets. It's
often singled-tracked when it's located on an old right-of-way of an old
rail spur.


- Peter

[Travis James]

On 10/12/2011 9:54 AM, AWC wrote:
> Your best bet is to fimd a car pool partner.
>
As I was reading the thread, I thought the same thing. Consult
Craigslist. You're probably not the only doing this.