Normal Yellow line resumes following derailment repairs; investigation update
Basic service information for BART riders is provided first and then a rolling update of what happened is provided for the media and public.
Tuesday, January 2 at 4:45am Update: BART will provide normal Yellow line service following overnight repairs and inspections between Lafayette and Orinda stations. The bus bridge has been cancelled.
Monday, January 1 at 10pm Update: The bus bridge will remain in effect through the end of service tonight (1/1/24). Crews will work to make repairs and inspect the tracks this evening and overnight. We hope for normal train service between Walnut Creek and Rockridge tomorrow (1/2/24).
Rolling Updates:
Wednesday, January 3, 2024 Major Update at 2pm:
BART provides update on Monday’s partial derailment on the Yellow line
While the investigation of the derailment continues, BART is providing an update on what occurred and next steps.
Condition of track equipment
That section of track where the derailment occurred, including the interlocking, was recently replaced and was in good operating order. BART’s train control system is being modernized as part of implementing Communications Based Train Control, a major rebuilding project underway.
Timeline of what happened
At 8:45am on Monday, January 1, 2024, the computer system that monitors and manages BART tracks experienced a localized loss in communication with a field device specific to an area near Orinda Station, including the track interlocking located between Orinda and Lafayette stations. When this occurs, the Operations Control Center does not receive a status indication of route alignments in the area and track positions cannot be controlled remotely. The computer and communication system fails in a safe mode and there are procedures in place to continue to provide train service while crews troubleshoot the loss of computer communication. The system had been operating at the start of revenue service and one train had already travelled eastbound through the area.
At 8:50am the Operations Control Center instructed the train operator of an approaching 8-car Antioch bound train to manually align the route at the interlocking. The route was to be straight through. The train operator left the cab to align the track route. PA announcements were made to riders on board about the delay. The train operator confirmed with the control center they had set the track for a straight through alignment. The control center instructed them to drive the train in manual mode through the area.
Once moving, the train operator reported to the control center the train was crossing over to the opposite track, which was not the correct alignment. In response the control center held all trains in the area and instructed the train operator to move from the Antioch end of the train to the SFO end of the train and to move the train in the SFO direction to clear the interlocking area of the track and correctly align the route for straight through movement. The train operator walked to the other end of the train and moved it in manual mode in the SFO direction. Two cars derailed under slow speed causing electrical arcing, smoke, and flames. Some riders immediately started to self-evacuate by using the emergency door release.
At 9:05am the train operator reported to the control center they believed the train had derailed. The train operator then began to sweep the train, walking through each car to tell people to evacuate. The operator reported the smoke and flames to the control center and advised that people had already started evacuating.
Orinda Police were first to arrive on scene and helped evacuate all riders safely and Orinda Fire Department extinguished the flames.
By 9:23am, the control center was told all riders on board, estimated to be about 100-150 people, had been safely evacuated from the train.
Next steps
The investigation into the derailment continues. BART has 60 calendar days from the date of the incident to provide a report to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Until the CPUC accepts and closes the report, the incident is considered "under investigation", until such time, the report is unavailable to the public.
4:45am Update: Normal Yellow line service will run today following overnight repairs and safety inspections. The headline for this story has been changed to reflect this update.
A BART spokesperson will be at Orinda Station at 6:00 am.
9:30pm Update:
The incident train is now moving towards the yard. Crews are working on repairs. We will be using our tamper vehicle to surface the track area, pounding down the rocks/ballast. The good news is there was no damage to track switches which would have required more extensive repairs.
The bus bridge will remain in effect through the end of service tonight. Crews will work to make repairs and inspect the tracks this evening and overnight. We hope for full normal service between Walnut Creek and Rockridge tomorrow.
7pm Update:
The crane has successfully re-railed both impacted cars. We will now couple the incident cars with others to tow them out of the way. Track crews have already begun making repairs to damaged sections of the track so we are hopeful to have, at minimum, single tracking train service through the area for morning service. It could be full normal service depending on progress made.
4:40pm Update:
The crane arrived on scene.
4pm Update:
The two lanes on Eastbound Highway 24 are now closed and crane is enroute for placement.
3:15pm Update:
BART is currently working with Caltrans to close two lanes of Eastbound Highway 24 within in the next hour for a large crane that will position the incident BART train back in place. We do not have an ETA on how long it will take but will provide frequent updates on the process.
2pm Update (Latest Write-Up on What Happened):
The partial derailment occurred at an interlocking located between the Orinda and Lafayette BART stations shortly after 9am. Just prior to the derailment, the train operator was instructed by the Operations Control Center to manually align the route at the interlocking because a signaling issue prevented the computer from doing it. This procedure is not uncommon and train operators are trained to manually align routes. The operator then manually moved the train when it derailed. The train was not under automatic train control. The complete details into what happened are under investigation.
The incident train was an 8-car Antioch bound train. Two cars derailed. There was smoke and flames. All riders were safely evacuated. There were no major injuries, though nine people were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. The Orinda Fire Department responded and extinguished the flames.
A large crane will be needed to get the incident train back in place on the tracks. This crane will be positioned on Highway 24 eastbound. Two highway lanes will be closed for this. The train will then be moved to a yard and track inspections and any repairs will need to take place.
The California Public Utilities Commission was notified and their staff were on scene.
The incident train was an 8-car Antioch bound train and it was the first train of the morning to travel in that direction. Two cars derailed. There was smoke and flames. The Orinda Fire Department responded and extinguished the flames. All riders were safely evacuated. There were no major injuries through nine people were transported to area hospitals for evaluation.
12:30pm Update (Bus Bridge Available)
A bus bridge provided by AC Transit and County Connection is now in place providing full bus service between Rockridge and Walnut Creek in both directions. Buses will make all station stops.
Yellow line riders should expect major delays all day. Trains are turning around at Rockridge and Walnut Creek where riders will need to board a bus. No other BART lines are impacted.
Noon update (injury update and correction):
Nine people were transported to medical facilities for evaluation following this incident. Based on the initial report from first responders there were no major injuries. BART Police will be interviewing all people who were transported for evaluation. A correction has been made below.
11:15am update: BART has powered off the rails between Rockridge and Walnut Creek stations. All passengers that were on board trains in that section of track have been off-boarded. BART is working with partner bus agencies to establish a bus bridge but it is not yet in place.
Only the Yellow line (between Walnut Creek and Rockridge is impacted). All other lines are running.
A BART media spokesperson is at Orinda Station.
BART Service Advisories are available via SMS text, email, at the top of bart.gov, on the BART app, and on X (Twitter) at @SFBARTalert, the main @SFBART account is also providing updates.
The Official BART App offers customized in-app notifications about BART service. Riders can personalize what type of information they get through the app based on when and where they ride BART and what information they care most about.
10:15am Update:
Shortly after 9am on Monday, January 1, 2024, an east bound Yellow line train partially derailed between Orinda and Lafayette stations just outside the Orinda station.
Passengers were safely evacuated from the train and were escorted to Orinda Station by BART personnel. Nine people were transported to medical facilities for evaluation*. Based on the initial reports from first responders there were no major injuries. BART Police will interview all people who were transported for evaluation to get an update.
Two cars were reported to be on fire with smoke and the Orinda Fire Department responded and extinguished the flames.
The Orinda and Lafayette BART stations were closed and we are advising Yellow line riders to seek alternative transportation at this time. There is no train service between Rockridge and Walnut Creek. There is currently no available bus bridge but staff is working to see if partner bus agencies are available.
BART has extra staff and BART Police at Orinda and Lafayette stations to help.
Other BART lines are not impacted.
9:28am Service Advisory posted:
There is a major delay on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions due to an equipment problem on a train between Orinda and Lafayette stations. Please seek alternate means of transportation.
9:21am Service Advisory posted:
There is a major delay on the Antioch Line in the Antioch and SFO directions due to an equipment problem on a train.
*An earlier update said there were no reported injuries, however BART has learned from first responders that nine people were transported to medical facilities for evaluation.