BART systemwide outage: What commuters need to know
BART Shutdown Nightmare: Commuters Stranded as Westbound Trains Stay Down
A major disruption hit the San Francisco Bay Area Friday morning as the entire BART system ground to a halt, leaving thousands of commuters scrambling for alternatives. By mid-morning, limited service had returned in the East Bay, but trains heading west into San Francisco were still offline.
“As of 9:30 a.m., East Bay trains are running on a limited schedule,” said BART spokesperson Chris Filippi in an email to SFGATE. “West Oakland Station remains closed, and there is no service through the Transbay Tube or at stations in San Francisco or on the Peninsula. We do not have a projected time for when full transbay service will resume.”
Passengers are advised to check the BART website for the latest information on which lines are currently operational.
Systemwide Outage Leaves Commuters Stranded
The shutdown, which began early Friday, was caused by a computer equipment failure that occurred during a network upgrade. BART officials described the disruption as a major operational setback. “Crews are actively working to restore all systems, but there is still no estimated time for full service,” BART Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost told SFGATE.
With trains out of service, commuters sought alternate travel options. Traffic across the Bay Bridge from Oakland to San Francisco was slower than usual, with Caltrans estimating a 45-minute journey during the morning rush.
Other Transit Options Step Up
Ferry services across the Bay were largely unaffected. San Francisco Bay Ferry spokesperson Alexis Matsui said operations were normal, adding, “We are monitoring the situation and ready to increase capacity if needed. Currently, ferries are not full, so no changes have been required.”
Bus riders, however, encountered delays and cancellations. In Oakland, at least one AC Transit F bus bound for San Francisco skipped a stop near MacArthur BART Station despite waiting passengers. Similarly, popular East Bay casual carpool pick-up points saw very few riders during the outage.
The Wider Impact on Bay Area Transit
BART plays a vital role in the region, serving roughly 180,000 riders every weekday. The outage not only disrupted trains but also had ripple effects across the local transit network. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni) warned that drivers might face delays due to the BART shutdown, potentially affecting bus schedules citywide.
Photos from stations such as Civic Center in San Francisco and Fruitvale in Oakland showed commuters seeking guidance from BART employees as they waited for updates on service resumption.
While East Bay trains have partially returned, westbound trips into San Francisco remain suspended, forcing commuters to rely on ferries, buses, carpools, or personal vehicles until the system is fully operational again.