Robert J. Cabral Station

Robert J. Cabral Station (called Stockton – Downtown station or Stockton ACE station by Amtrak), is a railway station in Stockton, California. In 2003, the station building was named in honor of the late Robert J. Cabral, a San Joaquin County supervisor instrumental in the creation of the Altamont Corridor Express (ACE), originally Altamont Commuter Express.

Robert J. Cabral Station Stockton, CA – Downtown
Front entrance of the Robert J. Cabral Station
General information
Location	949 East Channel Street Stockton, California United States
Coordinates	37°57′25″N 121°16′44″W
Owned by	City of Stockton
Line(s)	UP Fresno Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	3
Connections	Amtrak Thruway: 3, 6 San Joaquin RTD: Express 44
Construction
Parking	50 short term spaces
Bicycle facilities	Racks and lockers
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak: SKT
History
Opened	October 27, 1930
Rebuilt	2005
Original company	Southern Pacific
Passengers
FY 2023	11,714 (Amtrak only)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Lodi toward Sacramento San Joaquins Modesto toward Bakersfield Preceding station Altamont Corridor Express Following station Terminus San Jose – Stockton Lathrop/​Manteca toward San Jose
Future services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Lodi toward Natomas/​Sacramento Airport San Joaquins Modesto toward Bakersfield Preceding station Altamont Corridor Express Following station Lodi toward San Jose San Jose – Natomas Lathrop/​Manteca toward Natomas Lodi toward Natomas/​Sacramento Airport Valley Rail North Lathrop toward Ceres Union City – Natomas Opening 2030 Lathrop/​Manteca toward Union City
Former services Preceding station Southern Pacific Railroad Following station El Pinal toward Sacramento Sacramento – Lathrop French Camp toward Lathrop Terminus Oakdale Branch Peters toward Merced Lodi toward Sacramento Sacramento Daylight 1946–1970 Lathrop toward Los Angeles Sacramento Daylight Tracy Terminus
Location

Cabral Station is one of two train stations in Stockton. This station is the terminus for the ACE line to San Jose's Diridon Station and is also served by Amtrak San Joaquins trains between Sacramento and Bakersfield. San Joaquins trains between Oakland and Bakersfield do not pass this station and instead use Stockton – San Joaquin Street station.

History

The then-unused station in 1979

The station building was built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1930, replacing an earlier Stockton station located a few blocks to the south.

The overall design of the station is based on Italian Renaissance and Spanish Revival prototypes. It follows the classical Palladian five-part plan in which there is a center block connected to two end wings by hyphens. The brick building includes extensive terracotta detailing, such as stylized rope around the large arched windows and a wide frieze that runs around the structure.

Passenger trains to the station were discontinued in 1972. Abandoned in the early 1980s, the depot fell into disrepair.

Altamont Commuter Express service commenced operations with Stockton as its terminus in 1998, and the San Joaquin started service here the following year. In 2001, the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC), which provides ACE, purchased the old depot for $236,000 (equivalent to $406,092 in 2023 adjusted for inflation). Within a year, plans were drawn up for a full $6.5 million restoration that was completed in 2003. The majority of the funds came through "Measure K," a local voter-approved ½ cent sales tax dedicated to transportation improvement projects.

The station exterior was updated in early 2010 with improvements to the parking lot and landscaping, including added handicapped parking.

When originally constructed, the track closest to the Cabral Station platform was a dead-end tail track. This layout made it impossible for San Joaquins trains to stop at the platform. Instead, passengers loaded from the Weber Road grade crossing. In 2015, the platform track was extended north and tied back into the mainline, allowing Amtrak trains to serve the station platform.

Connections

San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) Express route 44, a bus rapid transit service, stops at the station every 20 to 30 minutes to the Downtown Transit Center and to the Union Transfer Station, major hubs for the RTD bus system. The Downtown Transit Center at 421 E. Weber Avenue is located five blocks (0.5 mi; 0.8 km) west of the station.

Two Amtrak Thruway routes serve this station daily. Route 3 buses connects passengers to the other station in Stockton, Sacramento, Chico and Redding. Route 6 connects passengers to San Jose and points in between using ACE trains.

External links

• Stockton, CA–Robert J. Cabral Station – Amtrak
• Stockton, CA–Robert J. Cabral Station – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• ACE Station Information