Caltrain will once again be transformed into Santa’s sleigh on the first weekend in December, as the Caltrain Holiday Train, presented by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, spreads holiday cheer from Santa Clara to San Francisco. Glowing with lights and holiday decorations, the glittering “show train” marks the start of the holiday season for local communities and, in the 11 years since its inception, has become a favorite holiday tradition for the Bay Area community.
In addition, one Caltrain passenger car wrapped in Holiday Train artwork will be in service from early November to the end of December. For a preview this festive train, visit holiday-train.org/train-wrap.php
Decorated with tens of thousands of lights, the Holiday Train will visit nine Caltrain stations on the evenings of December 7th and 8th. At each of the train’s 20-minute station stops, people can join in singing with onboard carolers and a Salvation Army brass band. Santa, Mrs. Claus and their extended family will get off the train to greet kids and pose for pictures.
“The Holiday Train gives us the opportunity to come together with our friends and neighbors and give to those in need during the holiday season,” said Emmett D. Carson, Ph.D., CEO and president of SVCF.
Carson also announced that SVCF will be extending their support of the Holiday Train through 2014 and 2015. “We are proud to be a part of this great local tradition,” he said. “The excitement and joy that the Holiday Train brings to people when it pulls into the stations is truly a gift to our local communities.”
“I am happy that the Holiday Train will be chugging down the tracks once again, transporting the spirits of the young and young-at-heart,” said Caltrain Chair Ken Yeager. “We are proud to have the continued support of Silicon Valley Community Foundation in providing this magical experience.”
In keeping with the spirit of the season, the Holiday Train also offers people the opportunity to make a gift to a child in need. Representatives from The Salvation Army and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program will be at every station collecting toys for local children. Since the inception of Holiday Train, generous Bay Area residents have brought more than 49,000 toys to Caltrain stations. People are again encouraged to help make the holidays brighter for local children by bringing a new, unwrapped toy when they visit the Holiday Train.
Santa’s helpers can get into the holiday spirit by donating or becoming a sponsor on the Caltrain Holiday Train website: holiday-train.org
The Holiday Train would not be possible without generous support for everything from decorations and wiring to costumes.
Community Support:
Parsons and Whole Foods are Conductor Sponsors. The Nancy H. Handel/Handel Sunrise Foundation, Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation and Linear Technology Corporation are “Trainmaster” Sponsors.
Media sponsors include Comcast, the Daily Journal, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Magazine 94.5 KBAY, 95.7 THE GAME, 96.5 KOIT, 102.9 KBLX and 102.13/98.5 KFOX.
Bayside Equipment Company of Redwood City donated the use of a generator to light up the decorations. Other in-kind sponsors include Jim’s Handyman Services, Locando Positano Restaurant, McCune Audio & Lighting, Peterson Technical Services, the Subway store located in the San Francisco Caltrain Station and Whole Foods Markets.
Saturday, December 7
| Station | Arrive |
| San Francisco | 4:00 p.m. |
| Burlingame | 5:15 p.m. |
| Redwood City | 6:15 p.m. |
| Palo Alto (California Ave.) | 6:50 p.m. |
| Santa Clara | 8:10 p.m. |
Sunday, December 8
| Station | Arrive |
| San Francisco | 4:00 p.m. |
| Millbrae | 5:15 p.m. |
| San Mateo | 6:20 p.m. |
| Menlo Park | 7:45 p.m. |
| Sunnyvale | 8:40 p.m. |
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About Caltrain:
Owned and operated by the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, Caltrain provides commuter rail service from San Francisco to San Jose, with limited commute service to Gilroy. Caltrain serves 50,000 riders every weekday. For more information on fares and schedules, call 1-800-660-4287 (TTY 650-508-6448) or visit www.caltrain.com. “Like” Caltrain on Facebook at www.facebook.com/caltrain and follow us on Twitter @Caltrain_News.
About Silicon Valley Community Foundation Silicon Valley Community Foundation makes all forms of philanthropy more powerful. We serve as a catalyst and leader for innovative solutions to our region’s most challenging problems and give more money to charities than any other community foundation in the United States. The community foundation has approximately $3 billion in assets under management and more than 1,650 philanthropic funds. As Silicon Valley’s center of philanthropy, we provide individuals, families and corporations with simple and effective ways to give locally and around the world. Find out more at siliconvalleycf.org
