Update Limited BART Service Returns After Rush Hour Meltdown Due to Computer Issue

BART suspended service across its entire system early Friday morning due to a malfunction in its computerized train control system. The agency issued an alert at 4:29 am, advising commuters to seek alternative transportation, which led to heavy traffic on routes leading to the Bay Bridge. BART Chief Communications Officer Alicia Trost stated that the control center's inability to operate safely necessitated the service shutdown until the issue was resolved. This incident recalls a similar disruption in January 2023, caused by unexpected track maintenance. Following the outage, BART began restoring service in the East Bay by 9 am, with all stations reopening by 9:20 am.

Trost emphasized that the disruption occurred on a low-ridership day, which lessened the impact. The last major failure of the train control system in 2019 took several hours to resolve, raising concerns about operational reliability. As of now, BART continues to work on ensuring full service restoration.