Caltrain won a national award for transit excellence, capping a two-year stretch in which the Peninsula commuter railroad electrified its fleet and saw ridership jump 37.6% in the latest fiscal year.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) named Caltrain one of its Outstanding Public Transportation Systems, Caltrain announced on X on Tuesday, Sept. 22. The award recognizes transit systems that demonstrate superior achievement in efficiency and effectiveness.

Caltrain won in the category for systems serving more than 3 million but fewer than 15 million annual passenger trips, Railway Age reported. The railroad will receive the honor at APTA's TRANSForm Conference and EXPO in Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Caltrain carried 12.6 million passengers in fiscal year 2026, a 37.6% increase over the prior year, according to the agency's annual ridership report. Average weekday ridership hit 40,800. The system began the fiscal year at 64.4% of pre-pandemic ridership and ended it at 81.6%.

The turnaround traces to Caltrain's electrification project, completed in fall 2024. The railroad shifted its mainline service from diesel to 100% renewable electricity. Railway Age reported that Caltrain saw 57% year-over-year ridership growth in 2025, following the switch. A February 2026 Caltrain board memo called the system the fastest-growing transit agency in the country.

Caltrain also cited more than $76 million in cost savings over the past five years, a 4.5 out of 5 customer experience rating and a 91% rider approval rating, according to Railway Age.

Executive Director Michelle Bouchard praised the recognition in a statement published by Railway Age on July 31. "Caltrain is honored to receive APTA's nationwide recognition of excellence. Our newly electrified railroad is offering the best service this rail corridor has seen in 162 years, and we're seeing the result every day as more and more people choose to ride the Peninsula the way it was meant to be traveled," Bouchard said.

The APTA award is the latest in a string of honors. Caltrain previously received the 2025 Sustainability Award from Sustainable San Mateo County, APTA's Commuter Rail Safety Gold Award and the Build America Highway and Transportation Renovation Award from the Associated General Contractors of America, according to the board memo.

APTA is honoring 12 organizations and leaders at the Oct. 6 ceremony. The other Outstanding System winners are Indian River Transit in Vero Beach, Fla., Valley Metro in Phoenix, and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.