BART riders faced major disruptions today after service was halted between South Hayward and Berryessa/North San Jose stations, sparking inconvenience across the network. According to a news release from BART, the stoppage was prompted by suspected vandalism that damaged wayside equipment. The transit agency has advised passengers within the affected area to find alternative transportation methods as their crews work to address the issue.
Commuters trying to navigate the service gap have some assistance, however. In a social media update, BART stated that additional staff are being dispatched to support riders at stations where train service is currently not running. While BART crews handle the repairs, no ETA on normal service resumption has been provided; however, several parallel bus lines have been offered as a temporary fix. Following the incident, BART has also been collaborating with bus agencies to potentially provide a direct bus route, commonly referred to as a bus bridge, to connect riders from Hayward to other parts of the BART network.
The Green Line continues to operate from Daly City to Bay Fair, and the Orange Line maintains service from Richmond to Hayward. Updates on the specifics of the disruption were shared via a BART X post, which cited an “equipment problem” as the origin of today’s travel woes. BART also highlighted the mutual aid agreement in place, which allows impacted riders to get a free ride on AC Transit services that run parallel to the affected BART stations, easing the burden on those who rely on public transit for their commutes…