Ridership On Decline

POSTED: 10:39 am PDT October 2, 2009
UPDATED: 11:03 am PDT October 2, 2009

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Altamont Commuter Express is cutting one of four trains that run from Stockton to San Jose.

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission suspended the run at a special meeting Friday in Stockton.

The move will eliminate the midday ACE train, which sees only about 50 riders each way. The train leaves the Stockton station at 9:30 a.m.

ACE reports about 1,400 riders each day. Trains stop in Manteca, Tracy and Livermore along the way.

Thomas Reeves, an ACE representative, said it was more efficient to take away the train with the smallest number of riders.

The faltering economy and rising unemployment are blamed for a decline in ridership for the ACE system.

The midday train will end its run on Nov. 2.