Contact: Jonah Weinberg, 650.508.6238

Caltrain Wins National Marketing Award

Caltrain’s marketing staff took home a first place award in an international transportation-advertising competition. The AdWheel Award, from the American Public Transportation Association, was awarded in the “print” advertising category at its annual meeting, which was held in San Jose.

The color ad, which featured a gas pump nozzle sucking up cash, ran for several months in local publications. The ad featured the current gasoline price and offered “Take Caltrain for relief!” As gas prices went up, so did the number on the ad, although, when prices reached their peak at well over $3 a gallon, the price was taken out of the ad and replaced with the word “ENOUGH! Take Caltrain for relief!”

The ad also promoted Caltrain’s Web site, which features a gas calculator that allows commuters to see exactly how much money they would save using Caltrain to commute, versus driving.

“People may have started taking Caltrain because of the sky rocketing gas prices,” said Caltrain CEO Mike Scanlon, “but they have stuck with us, even as gas prices have gone down.”

Caltrain offers service between San Jose and San Francisco, that takes just under an hour, and offers a 95% or better on-time record.

“You can’t beat that in your car,” said Scanlon. “I don’t know anyone who can make it from San Jose to San Francisco at rush hour in under an hour, let alone do it while reading a book or taking a nap.”

Caltrain features 96 weekday trains. For more information about Caltrain’s schedule, contact the customer service line at 1.800.660.4287.

10/11/06 - jbw