The San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA), the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission (SJRRC) and the city of Oakley, Calif., broke ground on the new at-grade regional rail station that is set to bring Gold Runner service into Contra Costa County.

The future Oakley Station will bring Gold Runner  intercity passenger rail service to one of Contra Costa County's fastest-growing areas, create a new transportation connection for Oakley, Brentwood and surrounding East Contra Costa County communities.

"Breaking ground on the Oakley Station is the next step toward bringing Gold Runner service to a high-growth area in the East Bay and is a long-term investment in intercity rail that will serve the community for years to come," said SJRRC and SJJPA CEO Chris Orlando. "We've worked closely with the city of Oakley for nearly a decade to plan this station, and their partnership and local investment are a big reason we're taking this next step. Once complete, the station will give East County residents a modern, accessible and convenient way to travel by rail, whether they're headed to Oakland, Santa Rosa, Eureka, Sacramento, the San Joaquin Valley or Southern California."

Developed through a partnership between the SJJPA and the city of Oakley, the station is set to provide Gold Runner rail and Thruway Bus service to communities throughout Northern California, the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California.

“The city council and staff are thankful for our project partners, who are bringing a much-needed commuter transit option for the residents of Oakley,” said Oakley Mayor Hugh Henderson. “We are also excited about the station and rail service providing another opportunity for economic growth as passengers from outside the region will be able to comfortably travel to attend Oakley events, and eat, drink and shop right in the downtown, as well as access bus and rideshare services to travel throughout the city.”

The project includes construction of a new at-grade station with a 720-foot-long, 13-foot-wide cast-in-place concrete side-loading passenger platform to safely and efficiently serve current and future rail operations. The station will feature ADA-compliant accessibility improvements, including tactile warning panels, a full-length underdrain system and metal safety guardrails.

The group says that architectural elements such as canopy shelters, lighting, signage and wayfinding have been designed to complement the surrounding neighborhood while enhancing the passenger experience. The platform meets BNSF and Amtrak clearance standards and is sized to accommodate the Gold Runner’s current longest seven-car Venture trainset with a locomotive, while providing capacity for future expansion to an eight-car consist.

Major construction activities are anticipated to begin in early 2027, with trains serving the station by spring 2028.