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3mo ago

BART Restores Service After San Leandro Station Fire Disrupts Commutes

Temporary repairs and reduced speeds remain as officials investigate the cause of the electrical fire that halted multiple lines and stranded thousands.

Commuters exit a BART train at Embarcadero station in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. BART ridership data shows that Tuesday is the busiest average day of the week for the transit system while Mondays are by far the lightest.
A fire near the San Leandro BART station forced the transit agency to shut down service between several East Bay stops. 
A BART train waits for passengers in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 15, 2022. Service was halted on the Berryessa line due to a station closure on May 20, 2025.
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Overview

  • An early morning electrical fire on May 20 at the San Leandro BART station damaged high-voltage cables, suspending service on the Blue, Green, and Orange lines south of Lake Merritt.
  • All 50 BART stations reopened by May 21 with trains running, though some segments operate at reduced speeds while temporary repairs hold.
  • AC Transit and VTA bus bridges provided alternative transportation during the disruptions, helping mitigate the impact on commuters.
  • The fire marks BART's second major service disruption in two weeks, following a systemwide computer network failure on May 9.
  • Investigations into the fire’s cause and the broader vulnerabilities of BART's aging infrastructure are ongoing, highlighting the need for modernization and resilience.