Altamont Commuter Express Train Begins New Mid-Day Service August 28

By Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Hacienda commuters already have three round trip options on the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) train. Starting Monday, August 28, a fourth will be added offering mid-day service from the San Joaquin Valley to San Jose.

The new service will depart Stockton at 9:30 am each weekday, stopping at each station en route to San Jose and arriving there at 11:40 am. This train will stop in Pleasanton at 10:45 am. The train will then depart San Jose at 12:05 pm, arriving in Pleasanton at 12:54 pm, and returning to Stockton at 2:15 pm.

Funding for the new service comes in part from Caltrans, which is aiming to reduce congestion from motor traffic on I-205 during the 3-year construction project which is currently underway on that highway. Funding also will come from Amtrak, whose passengers connecting to and from the San Joaquin trains #711 and #716 will be carried on the new train.

"The added convenience of this additional service will enable our customers to get to work later when necessary, or get back home sooner for important appointments," says Mike Steenburgh, ACE marketing manager. "It will allow new customers the opportunity to make shopping trips to Pleasanton or San Jose, or spend the day at a museum or Paramount's Great America."

ACE's existing trains leave Stockton at 4:20, 5:35, and 6:40 am, arriving in Pleasanton at 5:35, 6:50, and 7:55 am en route to 6:30, 7:50, and 8:50 am stops in San Jose. Existing evening trains leave San Jose at 3:35, 4:35, and 5:35 pm, with stops in Pleasanton at 4:24, 5:24, and 6:24 pm, before concluding in Stockton at 5:43, 6:43, and 7:43 pm. Stops are also made in Lathrop/Manteca, Tracy, Vasco, Livermore, Fremont, and at Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara.

While ACE's Pleasanton station is located outside Hacienda, park commuters are entitled to a free pass on Wheels, the Tri-Valley's bus and paratransit service. Wheels buses are scheduled to meet each ACE train, allowing for easy access to Hacienda. For additional information or to apply for a free Wheels pass, access the Hacienda web site at www.hacienda.org, select "Services" from the main menu, and "Commute Solutions" and "Free Wheels Pass" from the drop-down menus.

For additional information on ACE, including complete schedules, ticket and pass information, free Wi-Fi service aboard ACE trains, and ACE's New Rider program, access their web site at www.acerail.com or telephone (800) 411-7245.

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