Free Streetcar Rides In Watsonville; Tickets Launch Soon

WATSONVILLE, CA — All aboard! The public is invited to a free 45-minute streetcar demonstration Oct. 16 to 17 along a portion of the 22-mile Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line in Watsonville.

The event, offered by Roaring Camp Railroads, allows the public a peek inside the all-electric, quiet, clean-energy Coast Futura streetcar during a four-mile trip from the West Beach/Walker Street intersection to Harkins Slough and back. Tickets will be available online Oct. 1.

Another series of rides are planned Oct. 21 to 24 in Santa Cruz, from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to Capitola and back.

The streetcars will be affordable and are zero-emission, according to a statement from Coast Futura. They were made by California company TIG/m.

"The demonstration will also provide a proof-of-concept about what car-free commuting would look like, an important step in discussions about transportation equity for hardworking commuters who are getting to work via a car," Coast Futura said.

Demonstrations were authorized by the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission. They were initially slated for spring 2020 but were postponed during the pandemic.