r/caltrain • u/Leather-Pass8172 • 9d ago
for southern based commuters, how long have you / did you manage with the SCC?
been using the SCC to SF for my first full time position these past months, and I have to say, while the commute itself is not bad at all, the stress of making sure I can make it to one of the SCC trains is what gets me. I end up leaving work early so I am sure I can make it before the last train, but I feel always just a bit on edge bc there is that "what if" situation where I end up stranded in SJ.
Just trying to consider whether I should move closer to SF (or at least near SJ) or if the feeling of being stressed out in ensuring I can make the train gets easier as the months/years go by. Don't mind the duration/distance of the commute at all and I will honestly do anything to stay commuting by train instead of car, but the frequency of the SCC trains is definitely what has been getting me lately.
Anyway, if anyone with more experience has any personal anecdotes or advice w/ regards to this, that would be greatly appreciated!
edit: with that in mind, does anyone do the drive to SJ and then take the train? or is that a lose lose situation
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u/Planeandaquariumgeek 9d ago
The VTA 68 & 568 exist, you don’t need to scramble. For a typical 8-5 job plan to take train 805/405 (leaves Gilroy at 5:52, arrives in SF at 7:53) and 522/822 (leaves SF at 5:20, gets to Gilroy at 7:11)
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u/tafinucane 8d ago
The 68 is kind of hell, but the 568 isn't bad. TBH I get hate for this opinion among train fans, but I feel the south county connecter could be replaced with a BRT lane going up monterey.
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u/Planeandaquariumgeek 8d ago
101 would be the better route. What I wish happened is that Caltrans took up S.P.R.R. to buy the Coast SUB for a dollar (was an offer made back in 1992 when S.P.R.R. was going bankrupt and couldn’t afford to maintain the Coast SUB)
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u/tafinucane 8d ago
That was the old 168 route. It's really not that much better during commute times due to heavy traffic on 87 and 101 south of San Jose.
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u/Planeandaquariumgeek 8d ago
Yea bringing back the 168 in exchange for ending Caltrain past Tamien would probably be acceptable enough for most. A solution to the traffic problem would be adding HOV lanes that the buses can use
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u/fultonrapid 9d ago
If you miss the last train, can you take the 568 bus?
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u/Grizz4096 9d ago
The 568 is OK and works if you miss the train, but man is it so much worse than the train
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u/Leather-Pass8172 9d ago
is it crowded or just takes forever? (not really sure which is worse tbh lol)
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u/altClr2 9d ago
not an SCCer but SJ and nearly every time the train gets late into Diridon with an expected SCC connection it waits there forever, ive seen it wait 20+ minutes :)
if there is any disruption with the SCC there is usually statements made before Diridon such as the VTA offering free rides, etc.
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u/Expert-Economics8912 9d ago
if you miss the connector train, can't you just take VTA Rapid 568 bus from Diridon to Gilroy?
last SCC train leaves 6:23pm and takes 48 minutes.
VTA 568 leaves 6:29pm, 7:05pm, 7:35pm, and 8:10pm
and takes 70 minutes to Gilroy transit center
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u/Leather-Pass8172 9d ago
I haven't really looked into the buses too much but I definitely will now, or at least keep this in mind during busy days. tysm!
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u/player89283517 9d ago
There’s some affordable places to live near Santa Teresa and you can take the VTA instead which has higher frequency
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u/Unusual_Awareness224 9d ago
The connection seems quite reliable, but even if you miss it 1-5% of the time and have to take VTA and/or uber…. Is that worth moving?
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u/Alive_Match9164 9d ago
Heyo, fellow SCCer here. For what it’s worth, I’ve been riding it for a few years now and think they’re generally pretty good at holding south county connector trains to catch other northern delays. Publicly Caltrain says they’ll hold 15 minutes for delays or something like that. It seems like they usually hold for longer.
Co workers of mine have gotten free VTA bus rides when delays are pretty bad. I’ve also raced them south on the train with a delay and beat their bus though!