Hayward is a simple unstaffed (and even lacks a Quik-Trak Machine) Capitol Corridor Station serving this city in Alameda County. It is approximately 2/3 of a mile west of the Hayward BART Station. The station opened and became a stop on San Jose-bound Capitol Corridor Trains on May 29, 1997. The Coast Starlight doesn't bypass this station normally because it follows a different more westerly route (from just south of the Oakland Coliseum Station to Newark, CA, just south of the Fremont Station) on its non-strop trip between Oakland-Jack London Square and San Jose. The stop is located in an area with two tracks although only the east track has a genuine platform with tactile warning that is the normal low-level height for level-boarding of California Cars. There is a pedestrian grade crossing at the northern end of the platform to another side platform for the opposite track. This side platform is unfinished and is a simple low-level stretch of pavement with a yellow line. This isn't normally used but can be in the event of track work. Towards the northern end of the platform is a wooden shelter structure that provides the only covering for waiting passengers. This shelter is small but has an elaborate gabled roof held up by green posts with some purple trim. A nice touch is small Hayward signs etched into the sides of the shelter. The shelter is by the platform's only entrance through a 50 space parking lot. This lot's (and the station's) entrance is at the end of B Street at the intersection of Meekland Avenue parallel to the tracks. The rest of the platform has a tall black fence and black lampposts with a number of older style Hayward signs with the directions to Oakland/Sacramento and San Jose written beneath above a red line. The station is located in an area of the line that is grade-separated with streets ending before the tracks and the major avenues crossing the tracks on overpasses or underpasses. The station is just south of the overpass bridge for A street that also crosses over Meekland Av and luckily for pedestrians trying to reach the other side of the tracks there is a staircase down from the bridge to Meekland Avenue to not force them to walk around the block.
All photos taken on 13 June, 2013
Fremont-Centerville, CA 