San Francisco’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) experienced a system-wide shutdown early Friday morning due to a “computer networking problem,” as reported by city officials. The outage halted operations at approximately 5:00 am local time, requiring commuters to find alternative travel methods. BART officials later announced that service resumed throughout the system around 9:30 am, although a spokesperson warned of “residual major delays” affecting the service restoration.
The temporary shutdown caused significant logistical challenges for riders. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, BART averaged about 175,000 weekday riders in March. With the system out of service, commuters had to switch to buses, ride shares, and other modes of transportation. Some alternatives were costly, with San Francisco ranking among the top 10 most expensive cities for ride sharing. The Chronicle cited an individual who waited for train services to resume instead of taking a $70 Lyft ride.
In response to stranded travelers, the San Francisco Municipal Railway provided extra buses and increased train services on certain lines. The San Francisco Bay Ferry also deployed larger boats to accommodate more passengers.
The specific cause of the outage remains unclear, though a BART spokesperson explained that the train control system failed to power up correctly, preventing safe train operations. According to the Chronicle, BART Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost indicated the issue arose after overnight maintenance, but she did not confirm it as the cause. She mentioned various potential reasons but ruled out a cyber attack.
Outages have become less frequent for BART in recent years, according to agency data, although delays continue to be a significant issue. The transport system has implemented cost-cutting measures, resulting in some unresolved issues and a hiring freeze. However, the city has invested in enhancing police presence and addressing fare evasion on the transit system.
