SFA transit chaos: Massive BART breakdown leaves 184k daily commuters stranded
Train service resumes on BART following a computer malfunction that grounded its entire system, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
Shockwaves rocked the San Francisco Bay Area as thousands of morning commuters found themselves stranded at train stations. The region's heavily-used BART system, on Friday, May 9, 2025, suffered a major breakdown lasting over four hours – a public transit disaster without precedent in recent memory.
The forced shutdown of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system created a domino effect, sending commuters scrambling for alternatives during peak rush hours. The ensuing wave of disruptions triggered a traffic surge across the Bay Bridge, inflated ride-share costs, and placed undue stress on ferry companies struggling to manage a sudden influx of passengers.
BART trains, normally operational by 5 a.m., remained paralyzed until past 9 a.m. According to spokesperson Alicia Trost, an issue with the computerized train control system made it impossible for the system to power up correctly, forcing a systemwide closure.
In a statement issued later Friday afternoon, BART confirmed that the disruption was rooted in a "networking issue," making it impossible for the operations control center to determine the location of BART's trains.
Commuters were left flabbergasted by the unexpected station closures, some witnessing their local stations cordoned off with yellow caution tape. As alternatives were few and far between, many endured more expense and time-consuming travel arrangements. BART's heavy rail line, which links five of the Bay Area's most populous counties, reliably facilitates about 184,000 paid trips per weekday, according to average statistics from the past month.
When J.D. Chilton arrived at Bay Fair BART station for his 5 a.m. routine commute, he and several others waiting outside were taken aback to discover the station gates had been closed. Stranded and late for work in Daly City, he drove over the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge – an unfamiliar route for him.
"It was an absolute nightmare," Chilton, 43, recounted. Instead of arriving around 6 a.m. as usual, he got there approximately 8:30 a.m. Upon realizing that BART wasn't an option, a commuter reported an Uber ride from Oakland to San Francisco International Airport costing $85 at around 7:30 a.m. Another struggling commuter feared she might miss work altogether.
Officials alerted commuters of all trains being "suspended systemwide until further notice" around 4:30 a.m., roughly 30 minutes before scheduled train service. The transit agency ended up citing a "computer networking problem" and encourages riders to find alternative transportation methods[1]. BART's aid arrives in the forms of nearby bus lines, ferry services, and Amtrak trains[2].
BART's recurring obstacles stem from the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With federal and state emergency funding nearing its expiration, the system faces financial challenges[1]. Public transit remains vital to the Bay Area, and Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) urged policymakers to provide the necessary funds[1][4].
As always, public safety and cleanliness are paramount for BART. The system saw a 23% decrease in violent crime during the first three months of the year compared to 2024[1]. Despite these successes, BART's real challenge seems to be addressing deep-seated budget shortfalls.
Further Reading:
- Technology isn't responsible for West Altadena alert failures, company states.
- L.A. County Sheriff's computer dispatch system crashes again.
- Free rides on L.A. Metro through Sunday, but Amtrak and commuter trains shutdown.
[1] https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/05/09/sf-bart-commuters-stranded-as-disruption-on-first-three-lines-leaves-riders-scrambling-for-alternatives/[2] https://www.sfgate.com/transit/article/bart-outage-5956951.php[3] https://www.abc7news.com/bay-area/bart-train-system-shuts-down-across-bay-area/11088909/[4] https://twitter.com/Scott_Wiener/status/1656956448087143424
- The computerized train control system in California's San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) malfunctioned on Friday, May 9, 2025, causing a major breakdown that lasted over four hours.
- The breakdown left 184,000 daily commuters stranded, creating a domino effect as people scrambled for alternative transportation methods during peak rush hours.
- Traffic surged across the Bay Bridge, ferry companies struggled to manage a sudden influx of passengers, and ride-share costs inflated as a result.
- BART trains, which normally operate by 5 a.m., remained paralyzed until past 9 a.m. due to the malfunctioning computer network.
- In a statement, BART confirmed that the disruption was rooted in a "networking issue," making it impossible for the operations control center to determine the location of BART's trains.
- Commuters were left flabbergasted and many endured expensive and time-consuming travel arrangements as alternatives were few and far between.
- Officials alerted commuters of all trains being "suspended systemwide until further notice," suggesting nearby bus lines, ferry services, and Amtrak trains as alternative transportation methods.
- The transit agency faces financial challenges as federal and state emergency funding nears its expiration, with Sen. Scott Wiener urging policymakers to provide the necessary funds to ensure the vitality of public transit in the Bay Area.
