Altamont Corridor Express: Difference between revisions

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| image2 = ACE Altamont Pass.jpg
| image2 = ACE Altamont Pass.jpg
| imagesize2 = 300px
| imagesize2 = 300px
| caption2 = Altamont Corridor Express train climbing its namesake [[Altamont Pass]]
| caption2 = ACE train climbing its namesake [[Altamont Pass]] in 2010
| owner = San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
| owner = San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission
| area served = [[San Joaquin Valley]], [[Tri-Valley]] and [[Silicon Valley]]
| area served = [[San Joaquin Valley]], [[Tri-Valley]] and [[Silicon Valley]]
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| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| daily_ridership = {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total daily}} ({{American transit ridership|dailydate}}){{American transit ridership|dailycitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| annual_ridership = {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total annual}} ({{American transit ridership|annualdate}}){{American transit ridership|annualcitation}}
| headquarters = [[Robert J. Cabral Station]]<br />[[Stockton, California]]
| headquarters = [[Robert J. Cabral Station]] in [[Stockton, California]]
| website = {{URL|acerail.com}}
| website = {{URL|acerail.com}}
| began_operation = {{start date and age|1998|10|19}}<ref name=acehistory />
| began_operation = {{start date|1998|10|19}}<ref name=acehistory />
| operator = Herzog Transit Services
| operator = Herzog Transit Services
| marks = ACEX<ref name="RailServe">{{cite web |title=AAR Railroad Reporting Marks (2015) |url=http://www.railserve.com/aar_railroad_reporting_marks.html |website=Railserve |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>
| marks = ACEX<ref name="RailServe">{{cite web |title=AAR Railroad Reporting Marks (2015) |url=http://www.railserve.com/aar_railroad_reporting_marks.html |website=Railserve |access-date=June 28, 2016}}</ref>
| host = [[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] (Stockton–Santa Clara)<br />[[Caltrain]] (Santa Clara–San Jose)
| host = {{ubl|[[Union Pacific Railroad|Union Pacific]] (Stockton–Santa Clara)|[[Caltrain]] (Santa Clara–San Jose)}}
| vehicles = 10 locomotives, 30 passenger cars
| vehicles = 10 locomotives, 30 passenger cars
| train_length = 1–2 locomotives, 4–8 passenger cars
| train_length = 1–2 locomotives, 4–8 passenger cars
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}}
}}


The '''Altamont Corridor Express''' (also known as  '''ACE''', formerly '''Altamont Commuter Express''') is a [[commuter rail]] service in [[California]], connecting [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] and [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] during peak hours only. ACE is named for the [[Altamont Pass]], through which it runs.<ref name="Solomon_2013">{{cite book|last1=Solomon|first1=Brian|title=North American Railroad Family Trees : An Infographic History of the Industry's Mergers and Evolution|date=2013|publisher=Voyageur Press|location=Minneapolis, MN|isbn=978-0-7603-4488-0|page=127}}</ref> Service is managed by the '''San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission''', and operations are contracted to Herzog Transit Services.<ref name="Solomon_2013" /> The {{convert|86|mi|adj=on}} route includes ten stops, with travel time about 2 hours and 12 minutes end-to-end. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the line had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. ACE uses [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es, [[EMD F40PH|MPI F40PH-3C]] locomotives, and [[Siemens Charger]] locomotives.
The '''Altamont Corridor Express''' ('''ACE''') is a [[commuter rail]] service in [[California]], connecting [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] and [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] during peak hours only. ACE is named for the [[Altamont Pass]], through which it runs. Service is managed by the '''San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission''', and operations are contracted to Herzog Transit Services.<ref name="Solomon_2013" /> The {{convert|86|mi|adj=on}} route includes ten stops, with travel time about 2 hours and 12 minutes end-to-end. In {{American transit ridership|annualdate}}, the line had a ridership of {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total annual}}, or about {{American transit ridership|CA Stockton ACE total daily}} per weekday as of {{American transit ridership|dailydateasof}}. ACE uses [[Bombardier BiLevel Coach]]es, [[EMD F40PH|MPI F40PH-3C]] locomotives, and [[Siemens Charger]] locomotives.


Service began on October 19, 1998, with two weekday round trips. A third round trip was added in May 2001, followed by a fourth round trip in October 2012. Saturday service commenced in September 2019. {{As of|2018}}, average weekday ridership was 5,900.<ref name=apta>{{cite web |url=http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2018-q2-ridership-APTA.pdf |title=Transit Ridership Report: Second Quarter 2018 |date=August 24, 2018 |publisher=American Public Transportation Association |access-date=December 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004062506/https://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Documents/Ridership/2018-Q2-Ridership-APTA.pdf |archive-date=October 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
'''Altamont Commuter Express''' began on October 19, 1998, with two weekday round trips. A third round trip was added in May 2001, followed by a fourth round trip in October 2012. The service was rebranded as Altamont Corridor Express in 2012. Saturday service began in September 2019, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in California|outbreak of COVID-19]]. The tracks are owned by [[Union Pacific Railroad]], previously built along the [[Western Pacific Railroad]] main line. Under the ACE''forward'' program, a number of improvements to the service are being considered. These include a rerouted line through Tracy, an extension to [[Modesto]] and [[Merced]], and connections to BART at Union City and Tri-Valley.
 
The tracks are owned by [[Union Pacific Railroad]], previously built along the [[Western Pacific Railroad]] main line. Under the ACE''forward'' program, a number of improvements to the service are being considered. These include a rerouted line through Tracy, an extension to [[Modesto]] and [[Merced]], and connections to BART at Union City and Tri-Valley.


== History and funding ==
== History and funding ==
=== Planning ===
=== Planning ===
[[File:Altamont Commuter Rail MPI F40PH-3C 3106 with ACE Train 4 at San Jose Diridon Station, July 16th, 2012.jpg|thumb|left|ACE train at [[Diridon Station|San Jose Diridon station]]]]
[[File:Altamont Commuter Express (logo).png|thumb|left|Former ACE logo, used until 2013]]
By the 1980s, three rapidly growing areas in California – [[Silicon Valley]], the [[Tri-Valley]], and the [[San Joaquin Valley]] – were poorly connected by public transit, as [[Interstate 580 (California)|Interstate 580]] and [[Interstate 680 (California)|Interstate 680]] became more congested. Commuting from the San Joaquin Valley or the Tri-Valley to Silicon Valley required using a car or limited bus service.
By the 1980s, three rapidly growing areas in California – [[Silicon Valley]], the [[Tri-Valley]], and the [[San Joaquin Valley]] – were poorly connected by public transit, as [[Interstate 580 (California)|Interstate 580]] and [[Interstate 680 (California)|Interstate 680]] became more congested. Commuting from the San Joaquin Valley or the Tri-Valley to Silicon Valley required using a car or limited bus service.


In 1989, the San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stockton Chamber of Commerce, and the Building Industry Association of the Delta started work on a 20-year transportation plan for the northern section of the San Joaquin Valley. In November 1990, [[San Joaquin County]] voters passed Measure K, a half-cent sales tax to fund a variety of transportation improvements.<ref name="bra">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayrailalliance.org/altamont_commuter_express_ace |title=Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) |publisher=BayRail Alliance}}</ref><ref name="measureK">{{cite web |url=http://www.sjcog.org/index.aspx?NID=97 |title=Measure K |publisher=San Joaquin Council of Governments |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902112639/http://www.sjcog.org/index.aspx?nid=97 |archive-date=September 2, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The highest-priority project was the establishment of passenger rail service to San Jose.<ref name="acehistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/History-of-ACE |title=History of ACE |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913084903/http://www.acerail.com/About/History-of-ACE |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1989, the San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stockton Chamber of Commerce, and the Building Industry Association of the Delta started work on a 20-year transportation plan for the northern section of the San Joaquin Valley. In November 1990, [[San Joaquin County]] voters passed Measure K, a half-cent sales tax to fund a variety of transportation improvements.<ref name="bra">{{cite web |url=http://www.bayrailalliance.org/altamont_commuter_express_ace |title=Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) |publisher=BayRail Alliance}}</ref><ref name="measureK">{{cite web |url=http://www.sjcog.org/index.aspx?NID=97 |title=Measure K |publisher=San Joaquin Council of Governments |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902112639/http://www.sjcog.org/index.aspx?nid=97 |archive-date=September 2, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The highest-priority project was the establishment of passenger rail service to San Jose.<ref name="acehistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/History-of-ACE |title=History of ACE |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-date=September 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913084903/http://www.acerail.com/About/History-of-ACE |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Altamont Commuter Express (logo).png|thumb|left|Former ACE logo, used until 2013]]
 
In 1995, San Joaquin County and seven cities along the route formed the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) to oversee the creation of the service.<ref name="acehistory" /> In May 1997, the Altamont Commuter Express Joint Powers Authority (ACE JPA) was formed by the SJRRC, [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority]] (VTA), and Alameda Congestion Management Agency (ACMA). That agreement formalized financial support, administrative processes, and governance for the rail service.<ref name="acehistory" /> The operation is funded by a variety of state and federal sources, largely sales tax revenue collected by the three JPA signatories, while farebox revenues account for about one-third of costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/AskACE/1415-WP-Budget.pdf |title=2014-2015 WORK PROGRAM & BUDGET |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=June 6, 2014 |page=6}}</ref>
In 1995, San Joaquin County and seven cities along the route formed the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) to oversee the creation of the service.<ref name="acehistory" /> In May 1997, the Altamont Commuter Express Joint Powers Authority (ACE JPA) was formed by the SJRRC, [[Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority]] (VTA), and Alameda Congestion Management Agency (ACMA). That agreement formalized financial support, administrative processes, and governance for the rail service.<ref name="acehistory" /> The operation is funded by a variety of state and federal sources, largely sales tax revenue collected by the three JPA signatories, while farebox revenues account for about one-third of costs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/AskACE/1415-WP-Budget.pdf |title=2014-2015 WORK PROGRAM & BUDGET |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=June 6, 2014 |page=6}}</ref>


Cost sharing for capital projects, excluding stations, during the initial 36 months of service was determined by the JPA on a case-by-case basis and approved by each of the member agencies. The initial purchase of rolling stock, construction of stations, and other start-up costs, amounting to some $48 million, were covered primarily by Measure K funds. Station improvements are the responsibility of the county in which the station is located. ACE pays the Union Pacific Railroad about $1.5 million per year to use their tracks. ACE trains also use about {{convert|4|miles}} of Caltrain track in San Jose.<ref name="vanhattem" /> Service began on October 19, 1998, with two daily round trips running to San Jose in the morning and Stockton in the evening.<ref name="bra" />
Cost sharing for capital projects, excluding stations, during the initial 36 months of service was determined by the JPA on a case-by-case basis and approved by each of the member agencies. The initial purchase of rolling stock, construction of stations, and other start-up costs, amounting to some $48 million, were covered primarily by Measure K funds. Station improvements are the responsibility of the county in which the station is located. ACE pays the Union Pacific Railroad about $1.5 million per year to use their tracks. ACE trains also use about {{convert|4|miles}} of Caltrain track in San Jose.<ref name="vanhattem" /> Service began on October 19, 1998, with two daily round trips running to San Jose in the morning and Stockton in the evening.<ref name="bra" /> The service was named Altamont Commuter Express after the [[Altamont Pass]] through which it runs.<ref name="Solomon_2013">{{cite book|last1=Solomon|first1=Brian|title=North American Railroad Family Trees : An Infographic History of the Industry's Mergers and Evolution|date=2013|publisher=Voyageur Press|location=Minneapolis, MN|isbn=978-0-7603-4488-0|page=127}}</ref>
 
{{clear left}}
=== Service expansion ===
=== Service expansion ===
[[File:Santa Clara station 0937 11.JPG|thumb|left|ACE service to Santa Clara station began in 2001, was suspended in 2005, and returned in 2012.]]
[[File:Santa Clara station 0937 11.JPG|thumb|left|ACE service to Santa Clara station began in 2001, was suspended in 2005, and returned in 2012.]]
The original service used two trainsets, each with four bilevel coach cars, for a total seated capacity of 1,120 passengers in each direction daily. In September 1999, less than a year after opening, the service reached 1,000 daily riders per direction, near full capacity.<ref name="subwaynut">{{cite web |url=http://subwaynut.com/california/ace/ |title=Altamont Commuter Express on the SubwayNut |publisher=Subway Nut |date=July 10, 2013 |first=Jeremiah |last=Cox}}</ref>
The original service used two trainsets, each with four bilevel coach cars, for a total seated capacity of 1,120 passengers in each direction daily. In September 1999, less than a year after opening, the service reached 1,000 daily riders per direction, near full capacity.<ref name="subwaynut">{{cite web |url=http://subwaynut.com/california/ace/ |title=Altamont Commuter Express on the SubwayNut |publisher=Subway Nut |date=July 10, 2013 |first=Jeremiah |last=Cox}}</ref>


With that success, the agency wanted to add additional runs. To enable more trains on the line, ACE funded $3 million in track improvements,<ref>{{cite web |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=November 16, 1999 |title=ACE to Add Third Morning Train / Pleasanton-to-San Jose service will begin by Feb 15 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ACE-to-Add-Third-Morning-Train-2896900.php |access-date=August 29, 2016 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> but the limited amount of equipment allowed ACE to add only a morning "[[short turn]]" run between San Jose and Pleasanton. This "turn-back train" started service on February 21, 2000, and gave Pleasanton and Fremont a third inbound train to alleviate the crowding on the two earlier trains.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511182101/http://www.acerail.com/history.html |archive-date=May 11, 2000 |url=http://www.acerail.com/history.html |title=History |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Even with the added capacity, by early 2001 ACE was regularly carrying more than 700 daily standees.<ref name="bolster">{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011108161652/http://acerail.com/herald-news-3-12-01.html |url=http://acerail.com/herald-news-3-12-01.html |archive-date=November 8, 2001 |title=4th Ace train to bolster the fleet |first=Mike |last=White |date=March 12, 2001 |newspaper=Press Herald |via=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref>
To enable more trains on the line, ACE funded $3 million in track improvements, but the limited amount of equipment allowed ACE to add only a morning "[[short turn]]" run between San Jose and Pleasanton.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=November 16, 1999 |title=ACE to Add Third Morning Train / Pleasanton-to-San Jose service will begin by Feb 15 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/ACE-to-Add-Third-Morning-Train-2896900.php |access-date=August 29, 2016 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> This "turn-back train" started service on February 21, 2000, and gave Pleasanton and Fremont a third inbound train to alleviate the crowding on the two earlier trains.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511182101/http://www.acerail.com/history.html |archive-date=May 11, 2000 |url=http://www.acerail.com/history.html |title=History |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Even with the added capacity, by early 2001 ACE was regularly carrying more than 700 daily standees.<ref name="bolster">{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011108161652/http://acerail.com/herald-news-3-12-01.html |url=http://acerail.com/herald-news-3-12-01.html |archive-date=November 8, 2001 |title=4th Ace train to bolster the fleet |first=Mike |last=White |date=March 12, 2001 |newspaper=Press Herald |via=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref>
 
ACE purchased additional equipment, allowing the "turn-back train" to operate to Lathrop/Manteca station, nearly the full length of the route, beginning on March 5, 2001; trains also began stopping at [[Santa Clara Transit Center|Santa Clara station]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bott |first=Fran |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Third ACE train ready to roll |newspaper=The Record |url=http://acerail.com/stockton-news-3-1-01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011108152441/http://acerail.com/stockton-news-3-1-01.html |archive-date=November 8, 2001 |via=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Although the third train added 560 seats in each direction, it brought an immediate increase of 380 daily riders.
 
ACE then planned to add a fourth round trip later in the year, with fifth and sixth round trips by 2006.<ref name="bolster" /> However, by late 2001, the deepening [[dot-com bubble|dot-com recession]] was severely hurting ridership, and expansion plans were put on hold. On June 30, 2003, the ACE JPA was dissolved in favor of a Cooperative Services Agreement between the three member agencies.<ref name="acehistory" />


On January 6, 2003, ACE introduced the Stockton Solution Shuttle, allowing Stockton passengers to use the ACE trip which terminated at Lathrop/Manteca.<ref name="subwaynut" /> The trip was extended to Stockton on August 1, 2005. At that time, service to Santa Clara was suspended to allow for the construction of a second platform and pedestrian tunnel at the station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/main/documents/Schedule2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126105940/http://www.acerail.com/main/documents/Schedule2.pdf |archive-date=November 26, 2005 |title=Schedule Changes will be effective August 1, 2005 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=August 1, 2005}}</ref>
ACE purchased additional equipment, allowing the "turn-back train" to operate to Lathrop/Manteca station – nearly the full length of the route – beginning on March 5, 2001. Trains also began stopping at [[Santa Clara Transit Center|Santa Clara station]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bott |first=Fran |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Third ACE train ready to roll |newspaper=The Record |url=http://acerail.com/stockton-news-3-1-01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011108152441/http://acerail.com/stockton-news-3-1-01.html |archive-date=November 8, 2001 |via=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Although the third train added 560 seats in each direction, it brought an immediate increase of 380 daily riders. ACE then planned to add a fourth round trip later in the year, with fifth and sixth round trips by 2006.<ref name="bolster" /> However, by late 2001, the deepening [[dot-com bubble|dot-com recession]] was hurting ridership, and expansion plans were put on hold. On June 30, 2003, the ACE JPA was dissolved in favor of a Cooperative Services Agreement between the three member agencies.<ref name="acehistory" />


On August 28, 2006, ACE added a fourth round trip, which operated midday using one of the existing trainsets.<ref name="acehistory" /> On November 7, 2006, San Joaquin County voters approved a 20-year extension of Measure K.<ref name="measureK" /> Suffering from reducing funding due to the [[Great Recession]], ACE cut the lightly used midday trip on November 2, 2009.<ref name="subwaynut" /> On May 14, 2012, ACE restored service to Santa Clara station.<ref name="bra" /><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508074128/http://www.acerail.com/Home.aspx |archive-date=May 8, 2012 |url=http://www.acerail.com/Home.aspx |title=ACE {{!}} Altamont Corridor Express |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> On October 1, 2012, a fourth rush-hour round trip was added, running approximately one hour after existing trips.<ref name="subwaynut" />
On January 6, 2003, ACE introduced the Stockton Solution Shuttle, allowing Stockton passengers to use the ACE trip which terminated at Lathrop/Manteca.<ref name="subwaynut" /> The rail trip was extended to Stockton on August 1, 2005. At that time, service to Santa Clara was suspended to allow for the construction of a second platform and pedestrian tunnel at the station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/main/documents/Schedule2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126105940/http://www.acerail.com/main/documents/Schedule2.pdf |archive-date=November 26, 2005 |title=Schedule Changes will be effective August 1, 2005 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=August 1, 2005}}</ref>


On August 28, 2006, ACE added a fourth round trip, which operated midday using one of the existing trainsets.<ref name="acehistory" /> On November 7, 2006, San Joaquin County voters approved a 20-year extension of Measure K.<ref name="measureK" /> Suffering from reducing funding due to the [[Great Recession]], ACE cut the lightly used midday trip on November 2, 2009.<ref name=25years /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/174729446/ |title=Train's midday run could be over |first=Cheryl |last=Winkelman |newspaper=Oakland Tribune |date=September 28, 2009 |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune/174732138/ 15] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/schedules/train-schedule.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125135508/http://www.acerail.com/schedules/train-schedule.htm |archive-date=November 25, 2009 |title=Train Schedule |publisher=Altamont Commuter Express}}</ref> On May 14, 2012, ACE restored service to Santa Clara station.<ref name="bra" /><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508074128/http://www.acerail.com/Home.aspx |archive-date=May 8, 2012 |url=http://www.acerail.com/Home.aspx |title=ACE {{!}} Altamont Corridor Express |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> On October 1, 2012, a fourth rush-hour round trip was added, running approximately one hour after existing trips.<ref name="25years">{{cite web |url=https://acerail.com/25-year-anniversary/ |title=Celebrating 25 Years of Express Service |publisher=Altamont Corridor Express |year=2023}}</ref>
{[clear left}}
=== Altamont Corridor Express ===
=== Altamont Corridor Express ===
[[File:New ACE livery at Fremont-Centerville station, July 2018.JPG|left|thumb|Car in new Altamont Corridor Express livery at Fremont station in July 2018]]
[[File:New ACE livery at Fremont-Centerville station, July 2018.JPG|left|thumb|Car in new Altamont Corridor Express livery at Fremont station in July 2018]]
In December 2012, the service was rebranded from Altamont Commuter Express to Altamont Corridor Express to reflect plans for a broader scope of service.<ref name="mass_transit">{{cite press release |url=http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/10843528/sjrrc-refreshes-ace-brand-with-new-logo |title=SJRRC Refreshes ACE Brand with new Logo |via=Mass Transit Magazine |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=December 10, 2012}}</ref>
In December 2012, the service was rebranded from Altamont Commuter Express to Altamont Corridor Express to reflect plans for a broader scope of service.<ref name="mass_transit">{{cite press release |url=http://www.masstransitmag.com/press_release/10843528/sjrrc-refreshes-ace-brand-with-new-logo |title=SJRRC Refreshes ACE Brand with new Logo |via=Mass Transit Magazine |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=December 10, 2012}}</ref> In March 2014, ACE opened a $65 million, {{convert|121000|sqft|adj=on}} maintenance facility in Stockton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mantecabulletin.com/archives/101376/ |title=ACE opens $65M state-of-art facility |newspaper=Merced Bulletin |date=March 23, 2014 |first=Vince |last=Rembulat |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916131527/http://www.mantecabulletin.com/archives/101376/ |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On July 1, 2015, management and governance of the ''San Joaquin'' passed from Caltrans to the new San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. The SJRRC continued to handle normal operation and administration.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article25646398.html |title=Valley agency takes control of Amtrak San Joaquin trains|first=Tim |last=Sheehan |newspaper=[[Fresno Bee]]|date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630220516/http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article25646398.html |archive-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> On March 7, 2016, an ACE train was derailed by a mudslide in [[Niles Canyon]] near [[Sunol, California|Sunol]]. The front car plunged into the rain-swollen [[Alameda Creek]]. Fourteen passengers were injured, but there were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/07/us/ap-us-commuter-train-derails.html |title=Fallen Tree Derails Train in California; At Least 9 Injured |work=New York Times |date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 8, 2016|last1=Hauser |first1=Christine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Commuter-train-derails-in-Niles-Canyon-6876223.php |title=14 hurt as commuter train derails -- no ACE service Tuesday |first1=Jill |last1=Tucker |first2=Jenna |last2=Lyons |first3=Michael |last3=Cabanatuan |date=March 8, 2016 |publisher=SFGate |access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>
 
In March 2014, ACE opened a $65 million, {{convert|121000|sqft|adj=on}} maintenance facility in Stockton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mantecabulletin.com/archives/101376/ |title=ACE opens $65M state-of-art facility |newspaper=Merced Bulletin |date=March 23, 2014 |first=Vince |last=Rembulat |access-date=August 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916131527/http://www.mantecabulletin.com/archives/101376/ |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On July 1, 2015, management and governance of the ''San Joaquin'' passed from Caltrans to the new San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article25646398.html|title=Valley agency takes control of Amtrak San Joaquin trains|first=Tim |last=Sheehan |newspaper=[[Fresno Bee]]|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=August 29, 2016}}</ref> The SJJPA has nominal control over the SJRRC, but delegates all responsibility over ACE to the SJRRC.
 
On March 7, 2016, an ACE train was derailed by a mudslide in [[Niles Canyon]] near [[Sunol, California|Sunol]]. The front car plunged into the rain-swollen [[Alameda Creek]]. Fourteen passengers were injured, but there were no fatalities.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/03/07/us/ap-us-commuter-train-derails.html |title=Fallen Tree Derails Train in California; At Least 9 Injured |work=New York Times |date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 8, 2016|last1=Hauser |first1=Christine }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Commuter-train-derails-in-Niles-Canyon-6876223.php |title=14 hurt as commuter train derails -- no ACE service Tuesday |first1=Jill |last1=Tucker |first2=Jenna |last2=Lyons |first3=Michael |last3=Cabanatuan |date=March 8, 2016 |publisher=SFGate |access-date=March 8, 2016}}</ref>
 
ACE received [[Road Repair and Accountability Act]] funds in order to initiate Saturday service in January 2018,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wanek-Libman|first1=Mischa|title=California rail providers receive $52M in state funding|url=http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/california-rail-providers-receive-52m-in-state-funding.html|access-date=February 2, 2018|agency=RT&S|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref> with two Saturday round trips added in September 2019.


ACE received [[Road Repair and Accountability Act]] funds in January 2018 to begin Saturday service.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wanek-Libman|first1=Mischa|title=California rail providers receive $52M in state funding|url=http://www.rtands.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/california-rail-providers-receive-52m-in-state-funding.html|access-date=February 2, 2018|agency=RT&S|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref> Two Saturday round trips were added on September 7, 2019.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/saturday_service/ |title=ACE® SATURDAY SERVICE TO BEGIN September 7, 2019 |date=August 21, 2019 |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority}}</ref> Saturday service was suspended effective March 21, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://acerail.com/suspension-of-ace-saturday-service/ |title=Suspension of ACE Saturday Service |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> One weekday round trip was suspended on March 23 and another on April 6.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=John |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Coronavirus upends ACE rail between Stockton and San Jose. What riders need to know |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241352716.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323151436/https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241352716.html |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |work=The Modesto Bee}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/important-coronavirus-update-ace-service-adjustments/ |date=March 18, 2020 |title=Important Coronavirus Update: ACE Service Adjustments |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/important-update-ace-to-suspend-ace-05-06/ |date=April 1, 2020 |title=Important Update: ACE to Suspend ACE 05/06 |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Commission}}</ref> One of the suspended weekday round trips returned on May 3, 2021, followed by the fourth round trip on September 7, 2021.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/return-of-ace-05-ace-06-and-wi-fi/ |date=May 3, 2021 |title=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Brings back ACE 05 and Ace 06, And relaunches the Wi-Fi on the same day |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/ace-07-and-10-return-september-7-2021/ |date=September 3, 2021 |title=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission Brings Back ACE 07 and ACE 10 |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Commission}}</ref> On November 18, 2024, the latest evening eastbound train was replaced with a mid-afternoon train.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/new-ace-schedule-for-evening-commuters/ |date=October 22, 2024 |title=New ACE Schedule for Evening Commuters |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Commission}}</ref>
{{clear left}}
=== Future plans ===
=== Future plans ===
====ACEforward====
{{ACEforward}}
{{ACEforward}}
 
In association with the [[California High-Speed Rail]] project, ACE developed plans to upgrade and expand service. Beginning around 2008, initial plans called for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project to produce a [[high speed rail]] "Super ACE" capable of halving the travel time between the endpoints.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.recordnet.com/article/20091113/a_news/911130318 |title='Super ACE' rail project touted |newspaper=Modesto Bee |date=November 13, 2009 |first=Zachary K. |last=Johnson |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>
In association with the [[California High-Speed Rail]] project, ACE has developed plans to upgrade and expand service. Beginning around 2008, initial plans called for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project to produce a [[high speed rail]] "Super ACE" capable of halving the travel time between the endpoints.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.recordnet.com/article/20091113/a_news/911130318 |title='Super ACE' rail project touted |newspaper=Modesto Bee |date=November 13, 2009 |first=Zachary K. |last=Johnson |access-date=August 22, 2016}}</ref>


As the high-speed rail project was scaled back and rerouted to [[Pacheco Pass]] several years later, these plans were replaced with the more modest '''ACE''forward''''' program. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission issued a notice of intent to proceed with an [[Environmental Impact Statement]] in June 2013;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/Public-Projects/ACEforward/NOTICE-OF-PREPARATION-OF-AN-ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT-R |title=NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531143409/http://www.acerail.com/About/Public-Projects/ACEforward/NOTICE-OF-PREPARATION-OF-AN-ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT-R |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> this was released in 2017 and prioritized goals as either long term or short term.<ref name=reportreleased /> Short term goals included track improvements, a possible reroute through downtown [[Tracy, California|Tracy]] including new stations, a West Tracy station, and a new extension to [[Modesto, California|Modesto]] in addition to additional daily round trips. Long term goals included upgrades to the existing corridor to allow as many as 10 daily round trips, extension to [[Merced, California|Merced]] and [[railway electrification|electrification]] of the line from Stockton to San Jose.<ref name=reportreleased>{{cite news|title=ACE expansion report released|url=http://www.goldenstatenewspapers.com/tracy_press/news/ace-expansion-report-released/article_226f65de-464b-11e7-9d08-f38acbae2ebe.html|access-date=June 2, 2017|agency=Tracy Press|date=May 31, 2017}}</ref>
As the high-speed rail project was scaled back and rerouted to [[Pacheco Pass]] several years later, these plans were replaced with the more modest '''ACE''forward''''' program. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission issued a notice of intent to proceed with an [[Environmental Impact Statement]] in June 2013;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/Public-Projects/ACEforward/NOTICE-OF-PREPARATION-OF-AN-ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT-R |title=NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=June 24, 2013 |access-date=August 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531143409/http://www.acerail.com/About/Public-Projects/ACEforward/NOTICE-OF-PREPARATION-OF-AN-ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT-R |archive-date=May 31, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> this was released in 2017 and prioritized goals as either long term or short term.<ref name=reportreleased /> Short term goals included track improvements, a possible reroute through downtown [[Tracy, California|Tracy]] including new stations, a West Tracy station, and a new extension to [[Modesto, California|Modesto]] in addition to additional daily round trips. Long term goals included upgrades to the existing corridor to allow as many as 10 daily round trips, extension to [[Merced, California|Merced]] and [[railway electrification|electrification]] of the line from Stockton to San Jose.<ref name=reportreleased>{{cite news|title=ACE expansion report released|url=http://www.goldenstatenewspapers.com/tracy_press/news/ace-expansion-report-released/article_226f65de-464b-11e7-9d08-f38acbae2ebe.html|access-date=June 2, 2017|agency=Tracy Press|date=May 31, 2017}}</ref>
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====Valley Rail====
====Valley Rail====
[[File:ACE and San Joaquins routemap with Valley Rail extensions (semi-schematic).svg|thumb|right|Schematic routemap, approximately to scale, with Merced and Sacramento extensions planned under Valley Rail project]]
[[File:ACE and San Joaquins routemap with Valley Rail extensions (semi-schematic).svg|thumb|right|Schematic routemap, approximately to scale, with Merced and Sacramento extensions planned under Valley Rail project]]
{{main|Valley Rail (ACE)}}{{Distinguish|North Valley Rail|Valley Link}}
{{main|Valley Rail (ACE)}}
However, during the development of ACE''forward'', significant financial and logistical challenges to expanding service on the existing route between Stockton and San Jose were identified, and further work on the project was halted in favor of a new [[Valley Rail (ACE)|Valley Rail]] project, focusing initially on the eastern expansion to serve commuters living in the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]].<ref name=LC-DEIR-Ch1>{{cite report |url=https://www.sjrrc.com/lathrop-ceres-extension-eir/ |title=Draft Environmental Impact Report: ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced, State Clearinghouse #2018012014 |author=ICF |date=April 2018 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |chapter=1: Introduction |chapter-url=https://d2j5fyfnufxt9o.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/1_0_Intro.pdf |access-date=30 October 2024}}</ref>{{rp|1-1}} ACE was awarded $500.5 million in April 2018 for expanded service to Ceres and Sacramento<ref>{{cite news|last1=Holland|first1=John|title=Expanded train service coming to Modesto, Merced; what it means for commuters|url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article209941964.html|access-date=April 28, 2018|agency=Modesto Bee|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref> to provide more rail service and connections within the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vaughn|first1=Danielle|title=San Joaquin rail service plans expansion of Sacramento route|url=http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_d1641724-ee99-11e6-9905-773d897007de.html|access-date=February 14, 2017|publisher=Lodi News-Sentinel|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acerail.com/getattachment/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/ACE-Ext_NOP_Final.pdf |title=NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT: ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced |date=January 10, 2018 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Service is expected to begin from Ceres by 2023<ref name=ManRip2023 /> with interim [[Rail replacement bus service|bus bridge]] service to Merced until that segment of Union Pacific right-of-way is upgraded. Four trains will depart Ceres in the mornings, and one train may make the complete run to San Jose with others transferring passengers at North Lathrop.<ref>{{cite web |title=ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced Draft EIR Executive Summary ES.3.1.2 Operation and Maintenance |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/Draft-Environmental-Impact-Report/00_ES.pdf |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023219/http://www.acerail.com/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/Draft-Environmental-Impact-Report/00_ES.pdf |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
However, during the development of ACE''forward'', significant financial and logistical challenges to expanding service on the existing route between Stockton and San Jose were identified, and further work on the project was halted in favor of a new [[Valley Rail (ACE)|Valley Rail]] project, focusing initially on the eastern expansion to serve commuters living in the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]].<ref name=LC-DEIR-Ch1>{{cite report |url=https://www.sjrrc.com/lathrop-ceres-extension-eir/ |title=Draft Environmental Impact Report: ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced, State Clearinghouse #2018012014 |author=ICF |date=April 2018 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |chapter=1: Introduction |chapter-url=https://d2j5fyfnufxt9o.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/1_0_Intro.pdf |access-date=30 October 2024}}</ref>{{rp|1-1}} ACE was awarded $500.5 million in April 2018 for expanded service to Ceres and Sacramento<ref>{{cite news|last1=Holland|first1=John|title=Expanded train service coming to Modesto, Merced; what it means for commuters|url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article209941964.html|access-date=April 28, 2018|agency=Modesto Bee|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref> to provide more rail service and connections within the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vaughn|first1=Danielle|title=San Joaquin rail service plans expansion of Sacramento route|url=http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_d1641724-ee99-11e6-9905-773d897007de.html|access-date=February 14, 2017|publisher=Lodi News-Sentinel|date=February 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acerail.com/getattachment/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/ACE-Ext_NOP_Final.pdf |title=NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT: ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced |date=January 10, 2018 |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission}}</ref> Service is expected to begin from Ceres by 2023<ref name=ManRip2023 /> with interim [[Rail replacement bus service|bus bridge]] service to Merced until that segment of Union Pacific right-of-way is upgraded. Four trains will depart Ceres in the mornings, and one train may make the complete run to San Jose with others transferring passengers at North Lathrop.<ref>{{cite web |title=ACE Extension Lathrop to Ceres/Merced Draft EIR Executive Summary ES.3.1.2 Operation and Maintenance |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/Draft-Environmental-Impact-Report/00_ES.pdf |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |access-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115023219/http://www.acerail.com/About/Projects-Initiatives/Current/ACE-Extension-Lathrop-to-Ceres-Merced/Draft-Environmental-Impact-Report/00_ES.pdf |archive-date=January 15, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


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== Service ==
== Service ==
{{See also|List of Altamont Corridor Express stations}}
{{See also|List of Altamont Corridor Express stations}}
{{As of|July 2019}}, ACE operated four round trips per weekday in the peak rush hour directions – westbound (to San Jose) in the morning and eastbound (to Stockton) in the evening. Trains were scheduled to make the {{convert|85|mile|adj=on}} one-way trip in 2 hours 12 minutes, an average speed of {{convert|39|mph}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acerail.com/Getting-You-There |title=Getting You There |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref>
{{As of|2025}}, ACE operates four round trips per weekday in the peak rush hour directions – westbound (to San Jose) in the morning and eastbound (to Stockton) in the evening. Trains are scheduled to make the {{convert|85|mile|adj=on}} one-way trip in 2 hours 12 minutes, an average speed of {{convert|39|mph}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acerail.com/schedules |title=Schedules |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |access-date=June 17, 2025}}</ref> Special trains serve events at [[Levi's Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Victoria |title=Levi's Stadium, San Joaquin Rail Commission to renew partnership for ACE special train |url=https://stocktonia.org/news/transportation/2024/08/16/levis-stadium-san-joaquin-rail-commission-to-renew-partnership-for-ace-special-train/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |agency=Stocktonia |date=August 16, 2024}}</ref> ACE does not operate on weekends or major holidays.
 
Special trains serve events at [[Levi's Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Victoria |title=Levi's Stadium, San Joaquin Rail Commission to renew partnership for ACE special train |url=https://stocktonia.org/news/transportation/2024/08/16/levis-stadium-san-joaquin-rail-commission-to-renew-partnership-for-ace-special-train/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |agency=Stocktonia |date=August 16, 2024}}</ref>
 
ACE did not operate on weekends or major holidays until September 7, 2019, when two Saturday round trips were added.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/saturday_service/ |title=ACE® SATURDAY SERVICE TO BEGIN September 7, 2019 |date=August 21, 2019 |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority}}</ref> These were later cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not returned, largely due to low ridership and a lack of funding to expand service.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=John |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Coronavirus upends ACE rail between Stockton and San Jose. What riders need to know |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241352716.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 21, 2025 |work=The Modesto Bee}}</ref>


=== Route ===
=== Route ===
Line 137: Line 125:
| Bombardier BiLevel IX cab car || 5 || 3310–3314 || Deliveries started mid 2022
| Bombardier BiLevel IX cab car || 5 || 3310–3314 || Deliveries started mid 2022
|}
|}
== See also ==
*[[List of San Francisco Bay Area trains]]
{{clear left}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
{{Attached KML |display=title,inline}}
*[http://www.acerail.com/ Official Altamont Corridor Express website]
*[http://www.acerail.com/ Altamont Corridor Express website]
*[https://acerail.com/about-us/ ACE''forward'' project on the About page]
*[https://www.sjrrc.com/ San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission website]
*[https://www.sjrrc.com/ San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission website]
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}

Revision as of 00:14, 18 June 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) is a commuter rail service in California, connecting Stockton and San Jose during peak hours only. ACE is named for the Altamont Pass, through which it runs. Service is managed by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission, and operations are contracted to Herzog Transit Services.[1] The Template:Convert route includes ten stops, with travel time about 2 hours and 12 minutes end-to-end. In Template:American transit ridership, the line had a ridership of Template:American transit ridership, or about Template:American transit ridership per weekday as of Template:American transit ridership. ACE uses Bombardier BiLevel Coaches, MPI F40PH-3C locomotives, and Siemens Charger locomotives.

Altamont Commuter Express began on October 19, 1998, with two weekday round trips. A third round trip was added in May 2001, followed by a fourth round trip in October 2012. The service was rebranded as Altamont Corridor Express in 2012. Saturday service began in September 2019, but was suspended in March 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The tracks are owned by Union Pacific Railroad, previously built along the Western Pacific Railroad main line. Under the ACEforward program, a number of improvements to the service are being considered. These include a rerouted line through Tracy, an extension to Modesto and Merced, and connections to BART at Union City and Tri-Valley.

History and funding

Planning

File:Altamont Commuter Express (logo).png
Former ACE logo, used until 2013

By the 1980s, three rapidly growing areas in California – Silicon Valley, the Tri-Valley, and the San Joaquin Valley – were poorly connected by public transit, as Interstate 580 and Interstate 680 became more congested. Commuting from the San Joaquin Valley or the Tri-Valley to Silicon Valley required using a car or limited bus service.

In 1989, the San Joaquin Council of Governments, Stockton Chamber of Commerce, and the Building Industry Association of the Delta started work on a 20-year transportation plan for the northern section of the San Joaquin Valley. In November 1990, San Joaquin County voters passed Measure K, a half-cent sales tax to fund a variety of transportation improvements.[2][3] The highest-priority project was the establishment of passenger rail service to San Jose.[4]

In 1995, San Joaquin County and seven cities along the route formed the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) to oversee the creation of the service.[4] In May 1997, the Altamont Commuter Express Joint Powers Authority (ACE JPA) was formed by the SJRRC, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), and Alameda Congestion Management Agency (ACMA). That agreement formalized financial support, administrative processes, and governance for the rail service.[4] The operation is funded by a variety of state and federal sources, largely sales tax revenue collected by the three JPA signatories, while farebox revenues account for about one-third of costs.[5]

Cost sharing for capital projects, excluding stations, during the initial 36 months of service was determined by the JPA on a case-by-case basis and approved by each of the member agencies. The initial purchase of rolling stock, construction of stations, and other start-up costs, amounting to some $48 million, were covered primarily by Measure K funds. Station improvements are the responsibility of the county in which the station is located. ACE pays the Union Pacific Railroad about $1.5 million per year to use their tracks. ACE trains also use about Template:Convert of Caltrain track in San Jose.[6] Service began on October 19, 1998, with two daily round trips running to San Jose in the morning and Stockton in the evening.[2] The service was named Altamont Commuter Express after the Altamont Pass through which it runs.[1]

Service expansion

File:Santa Clara station 0937 11.JPG
ACE service to Santa Clara station began in 2001, was suspended in 2005, and returned in 2012.

The original service used two trainsets, each with four bilevel coach cars, for a total seated capacity of 1,120 passengers in each direction daily. In September 1999, less than a year after opening, the service reached 1,000 daily riders per direction, near full capacity.[7]

To enable more trains on the line, ACE funded $3 million in track improvements, but the limited amount of equipment allowed ACE to add only a morning "short turn" run between San Jose and Pleasanton.[8] This "turn-back train" started service on February 21, 2000, and gave Pleasanton and Fremont a third inbound train to alleviate the crowding on the two earlier trains.[9] Even with the added capacity, by early 2001 ACE was regularly carrying more than 700 daily standees.[10]

ACE purchased additional equipment, allowing the "turn-back train" to operate to Lathrop/Manteca station – nearly the full length of the route – beginning on March 5, 2001. Trains also began stopping at Santa Clara station.[11] Although the third train added 560 seats in each direction, it brought an immediate increase of 380 daily riders. ACE then planned to add a fourth round trip later in the year, with fifth and sixth round trips by 2006.[10] However, by late 2001, the deepening dot-com recession was hurting ridership, and expansion plans were put on hold. On June 30, 2003, the ACE JPA was dissolved in favor of a Cooperative Services Agreement between the three member agencies.[4]

On January 6, 2003, ACE introduced the Stockton Solution Shuttle, allowing Stockton passengers to use the ACE trip which terminated at Lathrop/Manteca.[7] The rail trip was extended to Stockton on August 1, 2005. At that time, service to Santa Clara was suspended to allow for the construction of a second platform and pedestrian tunnel at the station.[12]

On August 28, 2006, ACE added a fourth round trip, which operated midday using one of the existing trainsets.[4] On November 7, 2006, San Joaquin County voters approved a 20-year extension of Measure K.[3] Suffering from reducing funding due to the Great Recession, ACE cut the lightly used midday trip on November 2, 2009.[13][14][15] On May 14, 2012, ACE restored service to Santa Clara station.[2][16] On October 1, 2012, a fourth rush-hour round trip was added, running approximately one hour after existing trips.[13] {[clear left}}

Altamont Corridor Express

File:New ACE livery at Fremont-Centerville station, July 2018.JPG
Car in new Altamont Corridor Express livery at Fremont station in July 2018

In December 2012, the service was rebranded from Altamont Commuter Express to Altamont Corridor Express to reflect plans for a broader scope of service.[17] In March 2014, ACE opened a $65 million, Template:Convert maintenance facility in Stockton.[18] On July 1, 2015, management and governance of the San Joaquin passed from Caltrans to the new San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority. The SJRRC continued to handle normal operation and administration.[19] On March 7, 2016, an ACE train was derailed by a mudslide in Niles Canyon near Sunol. The front car plunged into the rain-swollen Alameda Creek. Fourteen passengers were injured, but there were no fatalities.[20][21]

ACE received Road Repair and Accountability Act funds in January 2018 to begin Saturday service.[22] Two Saturday round trips were added on September 7, 2019.[23] Saturday service was suspended effective March 21, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[24] One weekday round trip was suspended on March 23 and another on April 6.[25][26][27] One of the suspended weekday round trips returned on May 3, 2021, followed by the fourth round trip on September 7, 2021.[28][29] On November 18, 2024, the latest evening eastbound train was replaced with a mid-afternoon train.[30]

Future plans

ACEforward

Template:ACEforward In association with the California High-Speed Rail project, ACE developed plans to upgrade and expand service. Beginning around 2008, initial plans called for the Altamont Corridor Rail Project to produce a high speed rail "Super ACE" capable of halving the travel time between the endpoints.[31]

As the high-speed rail project was scaled back and rerouted to Pacheco Pass several years later, these plans were replaced with the more modest ACEforward program. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission issued a notice of intent to proceed with an Environmental Impact Statement in June 2013;[32] this was released in 2017 and prioritized goals as either long term or short term.[33] Short term goals included track improvements, a possible reroute through downtown Tracy including new stations, a West Tracy station, and a new extension to Modesto in addition to additional daily round trips. Long term goals included upgrades to the existing corridor to allow as many as 10 daily round trips, extension to Merced and electrification of the line from Stockton to San Jose.[33]

Also under studied were possible connections with BART at Union City or the Tri-Valley[34][35] via traditional ACE rail, diesel multiple units, or bus bridges.[36] This connection is planned to be facilitated by the Tri-Valley–San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.[37]

The California state senate allocated $400 million in revenue from a gas tax increase to ACEforward expansion.[33] By 2019, the plan had come to be called the Altamont Corridor Vision, with an expected price of $9.7 billion, allowing ACE to run up to six weekday round trips in 2023 with the goal of ten weekday round trips once additional track infrastructure is completed. ACE and the Tri-Valley–San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority sought funding to construct a shared tunnel under Altamont pass in order to speed service and increase reliability.[38]

Valley Rail

File:ACE and San Joaquins routemap with Valley Rail extensions (semi-schematic).svg
Schematic routemap, approximately to scale, with Merced and Sacramento extensions planned under Valley Rail project

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". However, during the development of ACEforward, significant financial and logistical challenges to expanding service on the existing route between Stockton and San Jose were identified, and further work on the project was halted in favor of a new Valley Rail project, focusing initially on the eastern expansion to serve commuters living in the Central Valley.[39]Template:Rp ACE was awarded $500.5 million in April 2018 for expanded service to Ceres and Sacramento[40] to provide more rail service and connections within the Central Valley.[41][42] Service is expected to begin from Ceres by 2023[43] with interim bus bridge service to Merced until that segment of Union Pacific right-of-way is upgraded. Four trains will depart Ceres in the mornings, and one train may make the complete run to San Jose with others transferring passengers at North Lathrop.[44]

The Union Pacific right of way between Ceres and Lathrop will be double tracked to facilitate passenger service.[43] Template:As of platforms are being extended to accommodate longer trains.[45]

Valley Rail also includes a project segment to route ACE and Amtrak San Joaquins along the little-used Sacramento Subdivision between Stockton and Sacramento. Six new stations would be constructed along the line with a layover facility at Natomas. Trains would run the length of the line from Natomas to San Jose or Ceres with a midday short turn to Stockton. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released in 2020, with services expected to begin no later than 2023.[46] The North Elk Grove station was eliminated from planning in September 2020.[47] The project received funding via California's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program in 2023, by which time the project was expected to open in phases beginning in 2025.[48] Later that year, the estimated commencement of service to Ceres and Natomas were again pushed back to 2026, with service to Merced and infill stations opening by 2030.[49]

Service

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Template:As of, ACE operates four round trips per weekday in the peak rush hour directions – westbound (to San Jose) in the morning and eastbound (to Stockton) in the evening. Trains are scheduled to make the Template:Convert one-way trip in 2 hours 12 minutes, an average speed of Template:Convert.[50] Special trains serve events at Levi's Stadium.[51] ACE does not operate on weekends or major holidays.

Route

File:ACE EMD F40PH Fremont - San Jose.jpg
Altamont Corridor Express train crossing the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge between Fremont and San Jose

From San Jose to just north of Santa Clara, ACE uses the Caltrain main line (Peninsula Subdivision), shared with Caltrain and Amtrak service. From Santa Clara to Stockton – the majority of the route – ACE runs on Union Pacific Railroad freight lines. From Santa Clara to Newark, ACE uses the Coast Subdivision, then the Niles Subdivision to Niles. From Niles to Lathrop, the line uses the Oakland Subdivision.[52][53] From Lathrop to Stockton, the line uses the Fresno Subdivision.

The route runs through Niles Canyon, parallel to the Niles Canyon Railway, Highway 84, and the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct. The line passes through a Template:Convert long tunnel which cuts off one of the canyon's horseshoes. This tunnel was modified from its original configuration to accommodate intermodal double-stack freight trains. However, this left the track in poor condition, reducing speeds from Template:Convert to Template:Convert in the summer and as low as Template:Convert during the rainy season. The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission plans to rehabilitate the tunnel.[54]

East of Pleasanton and Livermore, the line runs through the Altamont Pass on the original Feather River Route. After crossing the California Aqueduct and the Delta-Mendota Canal into the Central Valley, skirting the southern edge of Tracy. It then turns north between Lathrop and Manteca and runs to Robert J. Cabral Station in Stockton.

Tickets and fares

ACE fares are distance-based and available in one-way, round trip, 10 trip, 20 trip, and monthly passes. Unlike many of the other commuter rail services on the West Coast, ACE does not have ticket machines at stations. Passengers are encouraged to use the railroad's mobile ticketing app, but paper tickets can be purchased from agents at all stations except Vasco Road and the Santa Clara Transit Center. Also, unlike many other transit services in the Bay Area, ACE does not accept the Clipper Card.

Rolling stock

File:ACE train at Santa Clara station, September 2021.jpg
Charger locomotive at Santa Clara in 2021

ACE operates push-pull trains with one to two diesel locomotives and four to eight bilevel coach cars.[6] Trains typically operate with the locomotive(s) leading westbound and the cab car leading eastbound.

ACE has ordered 17 additional Bombardier BiLevel cars (5 cab cars and 12 coaches). Deliveries were expected to begin sometime in 2021. The entire fleet of Bombardier bilevel coach cars and MPI F40PH-3C locomotives will be rebuilt, overhauled, and repainted to have a matching paint. They will then continue to operate along with the newer Siemens Charger SC-44 locomotives, which entered service in 2020.[55]

Model Quantity Number Notes
MPI F40PH-3C 6 3101–3106
Siemens Charger 6 3110–3115
Bombardier BiLevel VI coach 22 3201–3222
Bombardier BiLevel VI cab car 9 3301–3308 3309 was wrecked in a 2016 accident in Niles Canyon and was rebuilt into a coach numbered 3222.
Bombardier BiLevel IX coach 12 3223–3228 (delivered cars) Deliveries started mid 2022
Bombardier BiLevel IX cab car 5 3310–3314 Deliveries started mid 2022

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Attached KML

Template:Sister project

Template:Altamont Corridor Express navbox Template:SFBAtransit Template:USCommRail Template:California railroads Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  6. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  13. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  33. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Template:Cite report
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  53. ↑ Template:CA rail schematics
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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