How to Save on Caltrain Fares

Want to save money on your Caltrain fares? It's as simple as switching from a paper ticket to a Clipper Card, the Bay Area's reloadable fare payment card.

As an incentive to move riders to the regional card, a one-way ride on Caltrain is 25 cents less for customers who use a Clipper card rather than purchasing a paper ticket at a Caltrain ticket vending machine, Caltrain spokeswoman Christine Dunn said this week.

Caltrain’s goal is to have at least half of its one-way customers pay using Clipper, according to Dunn.

If the rail agency doesn’t meet the 50 percent mark by next month, then it may increase the cost of paper one-way tickets by 25 cents per zone. That would mean that those traveling from San Jose to San Francisco would pay an additional 75 cents per one-way trip.

Customers who’ve been purchasing a paper Day Pass, valid for unlimited rides all day long in the designated zones, but only making a round-trip, can save 50 cents per round trip. 

Clipper offers other advantages for customers. Unlike paper tickets purchased from Caltrain ticket machines, cash stored on a Clipper card never expires. Riders also can register their cards, and if the card is ever lost, stolen or damaged, the balance can be restored.

Adult Clipper cards can be purchased at www.clippercard.com, one of Clipper's retailers such as Walgreens or at the Caltrain office in San Carlos. Adult cards cost $3. Youth and Senior cards, which require a completed application, are free and available at select locations.

More information about Clipper on Caltrain, visit www.caltrain.com/clipper

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