National award confirms Caltrain’s leadership in creating one of the safest U.S. rail corridors
San Mateo County, California – The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has given Caltrain the 2025 Commuter Rail Safety Gold Award, which is the highest national recognition for the agency’s outstanding dedication to safety innovation and implementation.
Every year, APTA picks one commuter rail agency that stands out for making safety enhancements that help passengers, staff, and the public in general. Caltrain has been recognized after making a number of important changes to its infrastructure and safety system that have completely changed how it works.
“Safety is paramount at Caltrain, and the culture of safety we practice permeates every aspect of our service,” said Caltrain Executive Director Michelle Bouchard. “Caltrain depends on both the riding public and its employees, and ensuring the safety of the people who ride our trains and keep them running is always our top priority.”
Caltrain has added additional technology to important railroad crossings in the past year to stop accidents and learn more about how people use the trains. AI systems are now in charge of the Broadway crossing in Burlingame, Churchill Avenue in Palo Alto, and 16th Street in San Francisco. These systems employ LiDAR and cameras to find vehicles or other things that are still on the tracks and let train operators know right away, so they can respond quickly and avoid crashes.
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The change at the Broadway crossing is a great illustration. Before recent improvements, Caltrain had to remove one vehicle off the tracks every three months. But the AI systems’ data showed that up to three cars a week were accidentally turning onto the tracks and then backing up on their own. That number has gone down to zero after the installation of solar-powered lane markings in January. These well marked lines assist cars stay on the road and stop them from making improper turns.
Caltrain has collaborated with local governments to enhance traffic flow around crossings and fine-tune signal timing, in addition to making physical improvements. Throughout the year, the system will get more improvements, such as fresh paint stripes, signs, and reflective posts. The organization has also worked with GPS navigation companies to make digital directions better and keep drivers from mistakenly going into track sections.
Caltrain has reorganized its safety procedures so that upper management can keep a closer eye on them. A Chief Safety Officer was hired, and an Executive Safety Committee was set up. Since 2022, these initiatives have already cut the number of workplace injuries by 25%.
The agency has also made safety a part of its culture by offering more training, increased transparency, and giving employees new tools like the Enhanced Employee Protection System (EEPS), which lets them speak to each other in real time through the Railroad Operations Control System (ROCS). Caltrain has also put in place a policy for managing fatigue that limits the hours of critical staff members and puts a lot of emphasizes on health education and monitoring.
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Caltrain has changed over the years, and it has a history that goes back more than 160 years. The switch from diesel to electric trains in 2024 was a historic move forward for the system. But this award shows that Caltrain’s focus on safety continues to be very much a part of its operations, making sure that the corridor stays one of the safest in the country for years to come.
