San Francisco CA: Caltrain to Giant's Victory Parade

Champs! Fans Can March to Caltrain for Service to Giants Victory Parade

Looks like some celebrating is in order!

For the third time in five years, the Giants are World Series champs, and this Friday the team will parade through downtown San Francisco for their victory celebration. Caltrain will be providing extra service to help accommodate anticipated crowds heading to the revelry.

Caltrain will provide eight additional trains in the northbound direction before the parade, which starts at noon on Market and Steuart streets in downtown San Francisco.

Caltrain will also have extra southbound trains after the parade, but their departure intervals could vary significantly, based on the crowds and equipment availability.

To handle the flow of customers out of San Francisco after the parade, all trains after noon will provide local service. At that time, the normal southbound schedule will be suspended, and the trains will load at San Francisco and depart when full.

Northbound service will operate as regularly scheduled, although passengers may face delays.

Scheduled Caltrain service from San Jose to Gilroy will be pushed back by one hour, to accommodate passengers travelling back from the parade.

Passengers should expect very crowded conditions on the trains and at the stations, as well as service delays. During the last World Series Parade in 2012, Caltrain was carrying 50,000 average weekday riders. Roughly 38,000 additional customers were served on the day of that parade for a total of 88,000 passengers, making it the busiest day in the history of the agency. Today, Caltrain carries more than 60,000 average weekday riders.

Ambassadors will be deployed at the San Jose Diridon Caltrain Station in the morning and the San Francisco Caltrain Station in the afternoon, to help direct crowds and offer support regarding scheduling and fare information. Regular Caltrain commuters might want to consider alternative transportation options or working from home on Friday, to avoid the large crowds.

Caltrain is a proof-of-payment system. All customers must have a valid fare before boarding. Those who don’t may receive a citation and fine. Caltrain recommends purchasing a Day Pass to avoid having to buy a ticket after the parade. Giants’ fans travelling for the parade should press the “San Francisco” button on the station ticket machines to purchase their ticket. Daily parking permits also can be purchased from the ticket machines.

For fare and schedule information, passengers also can visit www.caltrain.com or call 1.800.660.4287 (TTY 650.508.6448.)

Fans driving to Caltrain stations should be advised that the lots are usually very busy on a daily basis. The following Caltrain stations typically have parking capacity issues: San Jose, Sunnyvale Mountain View, Palo Alto, Hillsdale and Millbrae. Passengers should adjust their travel plans accordingly. The SAP Center, located across the street from the San Jose station, will provide parking spaces for a nominal fee.

Media Contact: Will Reisman, 650.508.7704

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