Caltrain GoPass for Commuting Graduate Students
Starting February 20, 2025, eligible commuting graduate students can obtain the Caltrain GoPass. The Grad GoPass is free for eligible students who do not live on Stanford’s main campus and live within the typical commuting range to Stanford’s main campus, allowing unlimited travel on Caltrain across all zones, seven days a week. Stanford purchases these passes primarily for your commute to Stanford; however, their use is not restricted. You can use them to travel freely to a Giants' game, to get to the airport, or skip the high cost of parking while spending the day in the city.
Since Stanford pays for passes for all eligible commuting graduate students regardless of whether or not you use them, it does not save the university or hospital any money if you do not request your transit pass. So, go ahead and request them – and use them as little or as often as you like. The Graduate GoPass Program is scheduled to last through August 2027 and is also subject to the availability of the reduced student rate from Caltrain.
Grad GoPass eligibility
- Must be an active, matriculated/degree-seeking graduate student
- Must not have a residence address in the following zip codes: 94304, 94305, or 94309
- Must have a residence address that is within the typical commuting range of the Stanford campus
- "Stu Local" or "SEVIS (US)" must represent the address you are residing and commuting from (use these instructions* to verify and update)
- The Graduate GoPass Program is scheduled to last through August 2027 and is also subject to the availability of the reduced student rate from Caltrain
*Address updates take 1-2 business days to be reflected in the system before you will be able to request a Grad GoPass.
Graduate students must have a Clipper card
To participate in the GoPass program, eligible graduate students must have an existing Clipper card and provide Stanford Transportation with their Clipper card number (or Service ID if using a virtual card) when requesting the pass. Stanford Transportation will not issue Clipper cards to eligible graduate students. Graduate students may purchase a Clipper card via Clipper’s site or at designated retailers, self-serve machines or staffed locations. Alternatively, graduate students can request a free virtual Clipper Card, accessible via the mobile wallet on their phone, for immediate card access.
Register your Clipper card
You are encouraged to register your Clipper card on the Clipper website. Although Stanford Transportation can deactivate your GoPass, we cannot protect cash value or other passes you may have loaded on the card. By registering your Clipper card in advance, you can contact Clipper to deactivate it to protect the additional products or cash value you may have on your card if it is lost or stolen.
How to request a Grad GoPass
- Beginning February 20, 2025, use our Graduate Student Caltrain GoPass Status and Requests Form to check your current status.
- If you’re eligible, you will be able to request a GoPass by providing your 10-digit Clipper card number (or service ID for virtual cardholders). Don’t have a Clipper card yet? Refer to Graduate students must have a clipper card section.
GoPass renews automatically
As long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements of the Stanford transit pass programs, your pass will remain active. The Caltrain GoPass is reactivated every four months (Jan 1, May 1, Sept 1) to avoid Clipper’s 180-day deactivation policy. You can confirm your eligibility and transit pass status anytime through the Graduate Student Caltrain GoPass Status and Requests Form.
If the Clipper card with your Grad GoPass is lost, stolen, or damaged
- Acquire a new Clipper card
- Register your new Clipper card
- Submit your new Clipper card number via the Graduate Student Caltrain GoPass Status and Requests Form to deactivate the pass on your old card and keep it active on your new card as long as you remain eligible.
If you don't intend to replace your Clipper card with your Grad GoPass, please report it as lost or stolen to Clipper to block the card. This protects you from fraudulent use of your pass. Otherwise, you may be held responsible for any misuse of your pass.
Consequences of transferring the GoPass
Fraudulent use and transfer of the Grad GoPass is a serious program violation. Transferring a transit pass constitutes fare evasion, violating California Penal Code 640. Unauthorized use of a Stanford-issued transit pass includes but is not limited to, allowing a non-eligible person to use the transit pass. Stanford affiliates who transfer their transit pass and individuals who accept the pass not issued to them will face the following consequences:
- First Violation: Deactivation of all Stanford-issued transit passes for 12 months and potential fines up to $400 under California Penal Code 640.
- Second Violation: Permanent deactivation of all Stanford-issued transit passes and potential fines up to $400 under California Penal Code 640. In addition, those affiliated with Stanford will immediately forfeit the privilege of receiving future passes and prizes through Stanford Transportation.
- Violations by University employees will be reported to Human Resources for possible disciplinary action.
Please refer to Caltrain's GoPass Clipper Use Acknowledgement page for more information.