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3d ago

BART Systemwide Shutdown Leaves Bay Area Commuters Stranded

A train control network failure has halted all BART services with no timeline for restoration, forcing commuters to rely on alternative transit options and causing severe congestion.

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A BART train arrives at the Pleasant Hill BART station in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021.
A train pulls in to unload a few passengers in the suburb of Millbrae, at a station where the region's two major rail systems meet in San Francisco, U.S., March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Nellis/File Photo
A Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train arrives at Powell Street Bart Station on Market Street in San Francisco on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

Overview

  • BART announced a complete systemwide suspension at 4:24 a.m. due to a critical train control network issue, with no estimate for service restoration.
  • Technicians are working to troubleshoot the problem, but the cause of the failure remains undiagnosed as of Friday morning.
  • AC Transit and Muni are honoring BART tickets under mutual aid agreements, while San Francisco Bay Ferry deployed larger vessels to accommodate displaced commuters.
  • Traffic on the Bay Bridge is significantly worse than usual, exacerbated by increased vehicle use and a blocked lane caused by a disabled vehicle near Treasure Island.
  • BART's aging infrastructure has faced repeated technical challenges in recent years, underscoring the region's heavy reliance on the transit system for daily mobility.