Caltrain

Ways to Pay

Tap your Clipper card or contactless bank card at the beginning and end of each trip. Learn why tapping off is important.

Tips for Tapping:

Using cash value? Tap on and off for each ride, so you're charged the right fare. Tap off within 4 hours, or you'll be charged the maximum one-way fare.
Riding multiple trains in the same direction? Do not tap off until the end of your trip.
Need to cancel your ride? Tap your card twice at the same station within 30 minutes.

Tip: Riders who need help finding a card reader with audio signals can listen for a low beeping sound at 15-second intervals. Here is a sample of the tone.

Paying with Clipper

Caltrain accepts the following on a Clipper card:

Cash value: Clipper customers get discounts on one-way fares (55 cents for adults, 15 cents for others).
Monthly pass: UUnlimited weekday rides for adults within the zones you specify for one calendar month. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, the pass is honored for unlimited trips between all zones. Available for sale from the 21st of the prior month through the 15th. Discount passes available for youth, senior, and disabled riders. If you have a monthly pass, you do not need to have any cash value on the card, but you cannot have a negative balance.

Please note: Caltrain's monthly passes are based on the number of zones you will travel between, not the specific zones. For example, if you normally travel between zones 1 and 3, you will purchase a 3-zone monthly pass, which can be used on travel between any three consecutive zones in the Caltrain system. If you travel outside of 3 zones, (e.g., Zone 1 to 4) you will be charged the zone upgrade fee as described below.

Zone upgrade fee: Valid monthly passes can be used for weekday travel to the zones not indicated on the pass with an additional zone upgrade fee equal to the number of additional zones traveled. The zone upgrade fee does not apply to the Youth monthly pass, as the Youth monthly pass offers unlimited trips across all zones for a flat fare of $24. The zone upgrade fee will automatically be charged from your cash value balance when traveling outside of the zones indicated on your monthly pass, so your Clipper card is your proof of payment.

Tip: Monthly pass customers can also buy a monthly parking permit. Visit Caltrain for information.

Transferring with Clipper

Clipper knows when to give you free and discounted rides when you transfer.

Any transfer to Caltrain from another transit agency (within 2 hours of boarding first agency) will result in a discount of $2.85 off your total adult trip price.

If you have a Youth, Senior, Clipper Access or Clipper START card, you will receive the proportional discount when transferring to Caltrain.

You must tap on and off to get a free or discounted ride on a connecting service.