Short answer: The ACE (Altamont Corridor Express) train runs Monday through Friday between Stockton and San Jose, with four westbound trains in the morning and four eastbound trains in the afternoon and evening. Tracy, Vasco Road, Livermore and Pleasanton are all stops. On the published timetable, a westbound ride from Tracy to San Jose Diridon is scheduled at 1 hour 41 minutes, from Livermore 1 hour 7 minutes, and from Pleasanton 59 minutes. ACE does not run regular weekend service, and the pattern only suits a commute that matches the morning and evening train times. Schedules change, so check the current ACE schedule at acerail.com before you plan around it.
If you are weighing Tracy or Mountain House against Livermore or Pleasanton because someone in the household works in Silicon Valley, the train can change the math on the drive over the Altamont Pass. This guide lays out what ACE publishes about stations, times, fares, parking and connections, plus where the Valley Link rail project stands.
How many ACE trains run each weekday, and in which direction?
According to the ACE FAQs, ACE has 4 westbound trains (ACE 01, 03, 05 and 07) in the morning and 4 eastbound trains (ACE 02, 04, 06 and 08) in the evening. The ACE weekday schedule shows the first westbound train leaving Stockton at 4:10 am and the last eastbound train leaving San Jose at 5:35 pm, with the first eastbound departure from San Jose at 2:10 pm. The 511.org ACE agency page describes the same pattern of eight weekday commuter trains. There is no reverse-commute pattern in the morning, so a Silicon Valley resident working in Tracy cannot rely on ACE.
Which ACE stations serve Tracy, Livermore and Pleasanton?
The ACE line has ten stops: Stockton, Lathrop/Manteca, Tracy, Vasco Road, Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, Great America, Santa Clara and San Jose. ACE's station list does not include a Mountain House stop, so Tracy is the closest listed station for Mountain House and Tracy Hills. The table compares the stations most relevant to home buyers, using the ACE stations page and the ACE tickets and fares page.
| Station | Address | Parking (per ACE) | One-way to San Jose | Monthly pass to San Jose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy | 4800 S. Tracy Blvd., Tracy | Free for ACE passengers only | $13 | $330 |
| Vasco Road | 575 South Vasco Rd., Livermore | Free for ACE passengers only | $11 | $254 |
| Livermore | 2500 Railroad Ave., Livermore | Free in the parking garage | $11 | $254 |
| Pleasanton | 4950 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton | Free Monday to Friday, shared with the Alameda County Fairgrounds and may be limited during events | $11 | $254 |
How long does the ACE ride to San Jose take?
ACE does not publish a single "travel time" figure, so the numbers below are the difference between the departure times printed on the ACE weekday schedule. They are scheduled times, not guarantees, and real trips can run late.
| Station | ACE 01 | ACE 03 | ACE 05 | ACE 07 | Scheduled ride to San Jose Diridon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy | 4:41 am | 6:06 am | 7:11 am | 8:03 am | 1 hr 41 min |
| Vasco Road | 5:10 am | 6:35 am | 7:40 am | 8:32 am | 1 hr 12 min |
| Livermore | 5:15 am | 6:40 am | 7:45 am | 8:37 am | 1 hr 7 min |
| Pleasanton | 5:23 am | 6:48 am | 7:53 am | 8:45 am | 59 min |
| San Jose Diridon (arrival) | 6:22 am | 7:47 am | 8:52 am | 9:44 am |
Eastbound trains leave San Jose Diridon at 2:10 pm (ACE 02), 3:35 pm (ACE 04), 4:35 pm (ACE 06) and 5:35 pm (ACE 08). For the exact eastbound times at your station, use the schedule tool on acerail.com.
How much does the ACE train cost?
ACE fares are based on the origin and destination station pair. The ACE tickets and fares page lists one-way, round-trip, 10-trip, 20-trip and monthly tickets. For San Jose, it lists a one-way fare of $13 from Tracy and $11 from Livermore or Pleasanton, a round-trip fare of $22 from Tracy and $18 from Livermore or Pleasanton, and monthly passes of $330 from Tracy and $254 from Livermore or Pleasanton. The ACE FAQs say monthly passes are valid from the 1st to the last day of the month.
Fares are moving. ACE published a ACE fare increase notice dated April 14, 2026, for a public hearing on April 30, 2026 about a 10% fare increase effective July 1, 2026, and another 10% effective July 1, 2027, rounded to the nearest $1.00. The tickets page notes that the July 1, 2026 increase is in effect, so the fares above are the current ones as of October 2026. The second 10% step is planned for July 1, 2027.
Where do you park at the Tracy and Livermore ACE stations?
Per the ACE stations page, the Tracy station offers free parking for ACE passengers only, with video surveillance. The Vasco Road station also lists free parking for ACE passengers only. At Livermore, the station is part of the Livermore Transit Center and parking is free in the parking garage. Pleasanton parking is free Monday through Friday, but the lot is shared with the Alameda County Fairgrounds, so it may be limited during events, and overnight parking may be limited or unavailable. Fremont is listed as paid parking, and the Santa Clara and San Jose stations list the Caltrain daily parking fee.
How do you get from the ACE station to work in Silicon Valley?
The ACE stations page describes three useful points at the Silicon Valley end.
- Great America (5099 Stars & Stripes Dr., Santa Clara): ACE describes a large network of dedicated ACE shuttles plus Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) light rail, and says the shuttles are included at no cost with a valid ACE ticket. Great America parking is free but may be limited because of events at Levi's Stadium. The ACE Great America shuttle schedule is a separate PDF on acerail.com.
- Santa Clara (1001 Railroad Ave.): Connects to VTA buses (including route 60 via San Jose airport), the Caltrain Santa Clara station, and the Amtrak Capitol Corridor Santa Clara University station.
- San Jose Diridon (65 Cahill St.): The last stop, with connections to VTA buses and light rail, Caltrain, Amtrak and other agencies. ACE tickets at Diridon are sold at the Amtrak counter, one-way only.
How do you connect to BART and Tri-Valley jobs from Livermore and Pleasanton?
The ACE stations page lists Wheels (LAVTA) connections from the Livermore and Pleasanton stations to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, and says ACE passengers can present proof of valid ACE fare for a free transfer to and from Wheels and Rapid buses. At Pleasanton it lists Wheels route 54 to Hacienda Business Park and East Dublin BART, and the 511.org ACE page also describes a free Wheels route 54 shuttle between Pleasanton station and Dublin BART. County Connection route 92X is listed as free for ACE riders and serves Bishop Ranch, Danville and Walnut Creek.
Does ACE run on weekends?
No regular weekend service. The ACE FAQs state that ACE operates Monday through Friday, except on major holidays. The ACE weekday schedule lists 2026 holidays with no service or modified service. ACE also publishes a separate special train schedule for events, such as Levi's Stadium games and concerts, so a weekend ACE train generally means an event train. If you need weekend trips to Silicon Valley, plan on driving or another mode.
What is the status of Valley Link between Tracy, Mountain House and Dublin/Pleasanton BART?
Valley Link is a planned rail project to link the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station with the Altamont Corridor and San Joaquin County. The Valley Link project page describes the Phase 1 project as proposed for construction in two 11-mile phases:
- Phase 1A: Dublin/Pleasanton BART station to the Vasco Road ACE station in Livermore, with a new parallel platform for cross-platform transfers with ACE, and battery-electric trains.
- Phase 1B: Southfront Road station in Livermore to the Mountain House community station, labeled "Funding to be determined."
So as of my reading of the project page on October 7, 2026, the Tracy and Mountain House side of the line is not funded for construction, and the page does not give an opening date for either phase. Do not buy a home counting on Valley Link service by a particular year. If it matters to your decision, ask for the current status directly from Valley Link and read its latest board materials.
How does driving compare with the train?
The alternative is driving over the Altamont Pass on I-580, then using I-680 or I-880 depending on your destination. Drive times on these corridors vary widely by hour, day and incident, so I am not quoting a single number. Test the drive at your real commute times before you buy, and compare it with the printed ACE times above, including the walk or shuttle ride at each end.
How does the ACE commute fit into a home search?
If ACE is part of your plan, start with the station rather than the zip code. Tracy has the longest scheduled ride of the three at 1 hour 41 minutes, so compare total monthly cost for each option, including the train fare, any special taxes on newer homes, and property tax. See the guides for Tracy, Livermore, Pleasanton and Mountain House, plus the Tracy Hills neighborhood guide. Our Mello-Roos guide explains special taxes on newer Tracy and Mountain House homes, and the affordability calculator can help you model the monthly payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ACE trains run each weekday?
ACE runs four westbound trains in the morning (ACE 01, 03, 05 and 07) and four eastbound trains in the afternoon and evening (ACE 02, 04, 06 and 08), Monday through Friday except major holidays. Check the current ACE schedule on acerail.com before you plan around a specific train.
How long is the ACE train ride from Tracy to San Jose?
On the published weekday timetable, each westbound train is scheduled to leave Tracy and reach San Jose Diridon in 1 hour 41 minutes. That is the difference between the listed times, so confirm it on acerail.com, because schedules change.
Does ACE run on weekends?
No regular weekend service. ACE says it operates Monday through Friday, except on major holidays. It also runs special event trains, such as service for Levi's Stadium events, on a separate special train schedule.
Is parking free at the Tracy and Livermore ACE stations?
ACE lists free parking for ACE passengers only at the Tracy station, and free parking in the parking garage at the Livermore station. Pleasanton parking is free but shared with the Alameda County Fairgrounds and may be limited during events. Confirm current details on the ACE stations page.
How much does ACE cost from Tracy, Livermore or Pleasanton to San Jose?
The ACE tickets page lists a one-way fare to San Jose of $13 from Tracy and $11 from Livermore or Pleasanton, and monthly passes of $330 from Tracy and $254 from Livermore or Pleasanton. Those fares reflect the increase that took effect July 1, 2026; ACE plans another 10% increase on July 1, 2027, so check the current fare table before you budget.
Will Valley Link replace the ACE train?
Not according to the Valley Link project page. Phase 1A is described as running from the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station to the Vasco Road ACE station in Livermore, with a platform that allows transfers to ACE. The Tracy-side extension to Mountain House is listed as Phase 1B with funding to be determined.
Sources
- ACE (Altamont Corridor Express), Weekday schedule and holiday schedule, read October 7, 2026
- ACE, Stations: addresses, parking and transit connections
- ACE, Tickets and fares: one-way, round-trip, 10-trip, 20-trip and monthly fares
- ACE, Frequently asked questions: weekday operation, train numbers, ticket types
- ACE, Fare Increase Policy notice (April 14, 2026)
- 511.org, Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) agency page
- Tri-Valley San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority, Valley Link project: Phase 1A and Phase 1B
Want Help Comparing Commute-Friendly Neighborhoods?
If you are weighing Tracy, Livermore or Pleasanton around an ACE commute, I can walk you through how the stations, monthly costs and neighborhoods compare. Get in touch and tell me your work location and schedule.
Manish Anand | Tri-Valley, East Bay & Tracy Area Real Estate
homeswithmanish.com