During last night’s workshop (which did not include a 3d virtual walkthrough), I had realized that I have been using the term “Amtrak” on this blog somewhat synonymously with “Capitol Corridor,” and I shouldn’t be. Although Capitol Corridor itself states that it “provides Amtrak train services in Northern California,” the two are not one in the same.

Capitol Corridor runs trains from Sacramento to San Jose as a commuter line, with trains scheduled throughout the day and stops at several stations in the Bay Area (including Martinez and Richmond nearby). Amtrak runs two long-distance trains that pass Hercules every day — one from Los Angeles to Seattle, and one from San Francisco to Chicago. These trains will not stop at the future rail station in Hercules, at least not at the outset.

The future intermodal transit station will have an 800-foot long railway platform to accomodate the Capitol Corridor trains, not just for today (or tomorrow), but beyond. The Amtrak trains are typically longer however (by a few more train cars). This does not mean that the Amtrak train (to/from Seattle, Los Angeles or Chicago) will not be able to stop in Hercules at some point. The shorter platform would still be able to accomodate a partial deboarding of passengers (where certain cars will be off-loaded). A consultant to the City stated last night that such a condition has not prevented Amtrak in the past from stopping at other stations throughout the U.S.

In conclusion, Amtrak is not Capitol Corridor and Capitol Corridor is not Amtrak, although that is probably not correct either. More accurately, it is likely similar to the rectangle is not a square but a square is a rectangle argument.