Editing Altamont Corridor Express (section)

== Service ==
{{See also|List of Altamont Corridor Express stations}}
{{As of|July 2019}}, ACE operated four round trips per weekday in the peak rush hour directions – westbound (to San Jose) in the morning and eastbound (to Stockton) in the evening. Trains were scheduled to make the {{convert|85|mile|adj=on}} one-way trip in 2 hours 12 minutes, an average speed of {{convert|39|mph}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.acerail.com/Getting-You-There |title=Getting You There |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority |access-date=July 2, 2019}}</ref>

Special trains serve events at [[Levi's Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Franco |first1=Victoria |title=Levi's Stadium, San Joaquin Rail Commission to renew partnership for ACE special train |url=https://stocktonia.org/news/transportation/2024/08/16/levis-stadium-san-joaquin-rail-commission-to-renew-partnership-for-ace-special-train/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |agency=Stocktonia |date=August 16, 2024}}</ref>

ACE did not operate on weekends or major holidays until September 7, 2019, when two Saturday round trips were added.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://acerail.com/saturday_service/ |title=ACE® SATURDAY SERVICE TO BEGIN September 7, 2019 |date=August 21, 2019 |publisher=San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority}}</ref> These were later cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not returned, largely due to low ridership and a lack of funding to expand service.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=John |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Coronavirus upends ACE rail between Stockton and San Jose. What riders need to know |url=https://www.modbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241352716.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 21, 2025 |work=The Modesto Bee}}</ref>

=== Route ===
[[File:ACE EMD F40PH Fremont - San Jose.jpg|thumb|Altamont Corridor Express train crossing the [[San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge]] between Fremont and San Jose]]
From San Jose to just north of Santa Clara, ACE uses the [[Caltrain]] main line (Peninsula Subdivision), shared with Caltrain and Amtrak service. From Santa Clara to Stockton – the majority of the route – ACE runs on [[Union Pacific Railroad]] freight lines. From Santa Clara to Newark, ACE uses the [[Coast Line (UP)|Coast Subdivision]], then the [[Niles Subdivision]] to [[Fremont, California#Niles District|Niles]]. From Niles to Lathrop, the line uses the [[Western Pacific Railroad|Oakland Subdivision]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acerail.com/About/Board/Board-Meetings/2016/April-1,-2016/ACE_Forward_Supplemental_NOP_Final-May-2016.pdf |title=SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT: ACEforward – Notice of Additional Project Element – Niles Junction Connections |publisher=San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission |date=May 9, 2016 |page=8}}</ref><ref name=schematics>{{CA rail schematics}}</ref> From Lathrop to Stockton, the line uses the [[Fresno Subdivision]].

The route runs through [[Niles Canyon]], parallel to the [[Niles Canyon Railway]], [[California State Route 84|Highway 84]], and the [[Hetch Hetchy#Hetch Hetchy Project|Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct]]. The line passes through a {{convert|0.75|mi|km|adj=on}} long tunnel which cuts off one of the canyon's horseshoes. This tunnel was modified from its original configuration to accommodate intermodal double-stack freight trains. However, this left the track in poor condition, reducing speeds from {{convert|45|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} to {{convert|25|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} in the summer and as low as {{convert|10|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} during the rainy season.  The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission plans to rehabilitate the tunnel.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Luna|first1=Henry J.|last2=The Pacific Locomotive Association|title=Niles Canyon Railways|date=2005|publisher=Arcadia|location=Charleston, SC|isbn=978-0-7385-2983-7}}</ref>

East of Pleasanton and Livermore, the line runs through the [[Altamont Pass]] on the original [[Feather River Route]]. After crossing the [[California Aqueduct]] and the [[Delta-Mendota Canal]] into the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], skirting the southern edge of [[Tracy, California|Tracy]]. It then turns north between Lathrop and Manteca and runs to [[Robert J. Cabral Station]] in Stockton.

=== Tickets and fares ===
ACE fares are distance-based and available in one-way, round trip, 10 trip, 20 trip, and monthly passes. Unlike many of the other commuter rail services on the West Coast, ACE does not have [[Ticket machine|ticket machines]] at stations. Passengers are encouraged to use the railroad's mobile ticketing app, but paper tickets can be purchased from agents at all stations except Vasco Road and the Santa Clara Transit Center. Also, unlike many other transit services in the Bay Area, ACE does not accept the [[Clipper card|Clipper Card]].