Caltrain fares
The Caltrain system is divided into six fare zones and fares are determined by the number of zones traveled.
Use the planner below to determine your one way fare:
Contents
Ticket types
All ticket types can be purchased at the ticket machines at all Caltrain stations, or in person at 4th & King Station and San Jose Diridon Station. Caltrain is a proof of payment System. No tickets are sold on-board. Passengers must have a valid ticket or pass to board the train.
All tickets are valid only within the zones indicated unless specified otherwise.
Ticket types | Validation period | Notes |
---|---|---|
One way | 4 hours after purchase for one way travel | Cannot be purchased in advance. Stop-overs are permitted. |
Day pass | Unlimited rides on the day of purchase | Cannot be purchased in advance. |
8-Ride | Tickets must be validated for each ride (using validators at stations) before boarding. Good for 4 hours after validation. At the end of January 2011, 8-ride tickets will be available on Clipper cards only. | Ticket expires in 60 days. |
Monthly Pass | Unlimited travel for the entire month. Pass is good for unlimited travel in all fare zones on weekends and holidays. At the end of February 2011, monthly passes will be available on Clipper cards only. |
Clipper
Caltrain fares can be paid with Clipper. To ride Caltrain with Clipper, tag the standalone reader located at the station before you board and tag again after you get off the train. Proper fare will be deducted on the second tag. If you forget to tag the second time, the maximum available fare will be deducted. Do not tag when you are transferring trains in the same direction. A minimum e-cash value of $1.25 is needed to ride Caltrain with Clipper.
Train conductors will check the card with a reader to see whether the fare is paid.
Caltrain 8-ride and monthly pass are available on Clipper. Riders with 8-ride tickets need to tag for each boarding and exiting. Riders with monthly passes need to activate the pass by tagging the boarding and exiting on the first ride of the month.
Zone upgrade
If you want travel to a station that your ticket or pass doesn't cover, you can purchase a "zone upgrade" to use along with a valid Caltrain ticket or pass. Each zone upgrade is good for four hours as long as your original ticket or pass is still valid.
Riders using Clipper card with 8-ride or monthly need to buy a zone upgrade from a ticket machine. If you use Clipper for zones beyond your 8-ride or monthly pass, you'll be charged for a regular one way fare on e-cash with no deduction taken from your 8-ride or monthly pass.
Although it is possible to use 8-ride tickets on Clipper with fare upgrades, the necessity of tagging on and off within the valid fare zones of the 8-ride ticket makes such usage impractical.
Eligible discount
One way, day pass, 10-ride ticket and monthly pass are available at a 50% discount (eligible discount) for riders who are under 18, 65 or above, disabled, or have a Medicare card.
Fare chart
Map of Caltrain system with fare zones
Fare is effective January 1, 2011.
Full fare | Eligible discount | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zones traveled | One Way | Day Pass | 8-ride | Monthly Pass | One Way | Day Pass | 8-ride | Monthly Pass |
1 zone | $2.50 | $5.00 | $17.00 | $66.25 | $1.25 | $2.50 | $8.50 | $33.00 |
2 zones | $4.50 | $9.00 | $30.50 | $119.25 | $2.00 | $4.50 | $15.25 | $59.50 |
3 zones | $6.50 | $13.00 | $44.25 | $172.25 | $3.25 | $6.50 | $22.00 | $86.00 |
4 zones | $8.50 | $17.00 | $57.75 | $225.25 | $4.25 | $8.50 | $28.75 | $112.50 |
5 zones | $10.50 | $21.00 | $71.50 | $278.25 | $5.25 | $10.50 | $35.75 | $139.00 |
6 zones | $12.50 | $25.00 | $85.00 | $331.25 | $6.25 | $12.50 | $42.50 | $165.50 |
Zone upgrade for 8-ride ticket and monthly pass costs $2.00 per zone for adult and $1 per zone for eligible discount riders.
Inter-agency fare arrangements
Caltrain monthly pass with 2 or more zones:
- Accepted as local fare credit on all SamTrans and VTA routes anywhere.
- Offers discounted day pass fare on Highway 17 Express ($4.00)
Caltrain monthly pass with 3 zones or more:
- Accepted on all Monterey-Salinas Transit routes.
Caltrain monthly pass holders can purchase a "Muni sticker" for unlimited rides on all Muni vehicles except cable cars.