Bay Area – A railroad that spent years rebuilding itself is now being recognized as one of the best transit systems on the continent.
Caltrain will receive the American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement award this fall in Chicago, placing the Peninsula rail agency among North America’s top-performing transit operators. The honor is considered the most prestigious award available to an American public transportation system.
The recognition follows a year of major gains for Caltrain, led by fully electrified mainline service and a sharp rise in passenger use. In 2025, the agency recorded the fastest-growing transit ridership in the United States, with ridership increasing 57% from the previous year. The growth showed that more travelers were returning to the rail corridor and responding to the new service…