Normal train service has resumed between Richmond and MacArthur Station

(Updated 9am, May 14, 2024)

On Friday, May 10, 2024, a damaged, 20-year-old fiber optic cable was located just north of MacArthur Station late at night before the end of service. The damaged cable was impacting all communication necessary to run train service on the entire line. It was also impacting all station-level communication including the public address systems, phones, and message boards at all stations from Richmond to Ashby. Crews determined the degraded cable was not stable enough for a quick repair.

 At 4:48am, the first BART Service Advisory was released alerting the public there would be no Red Line service and the Orange Line would not run between Richmond and MacArthur. Orange Line service was provided from MacArthur to Berryessa and Millbrae service was provided by a shuttle train between Millbrae and SFO. The Yellow, Blue, and Green lines were not impacted.

 Partner bus agencies and Capitol Corridor honored BART fares. Extra BART employees were deployed to stations to help guide riders to the various bus options. Given how many stations were impacted, AC Transit was unable to provide a bus bridge with direct service to MacArthur Station. However, Richmond Line stations have high quality transbay and local bus route options and BART riders were able to ride them at no cost. A list of each bus option was posted on the home page of bart.gov and shared on social media.

 Crews worked with BART’s fiber contractors to successfully splice BART’s 48-strand fiber optic cable to redundantly located fiber optic cable allowing for service to resume at 11:10am. This solution will remain in place long term.

As of 11:10am, we have restored normal train service between Richmond and MacArthur. We will follow up with more details about the cause of the disruption on Monday.

In an effort to improve communication during disruptions we are asking impacted riders to take this short survey before Monday, May 13th, at 5pm:
bart.gov/delays

We currently have no Red or Orange line service between Richmond and MacArthur due to a wayside equipment problem. Crews are on scene and are trouble shooting the problem. We hope to have this resolved shortly but expect this service disruption to last through the morning commute. The Yellow, Green and Blue lines are not impacted, and we do have normal service throughout the rest of the system.

Richmond riders should seek other means to get to MacArthur Station. Richmond through Ashby station riders should use the existing bus service at each station. For Millbrae riders, take the shuttle train between SFO and Millbrae and transfer to/from the Yellow line (Antioch-SFO). Orange line service is running MacArthur to Berryessa.

While we do have extra staff at each station to help with buses, there isn’t a direct bus bridge. We do have mutual aid from Capitol Corridor and various bus agencies that varies from Station to Station. 

Capitol Corridor will offer free rides to BART passengers only between Richmond and Oakland Coliseum until 3PM.

BUSES TO DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO 

Richmond Station

  • 72M to NL (AC Transit)
    • Transfer from 72M to NL at 20th/Broadway in Oakland 
    • Takes 1 hour and 25 minutes

El Cerrito del Norte

  • 72/72M to NL (AC Transit)
    • Transfer from 72M to NL at 20th/Broadway in Oakland 
    • Takes 1 hour and 7 minutes
  • L (AC Transit)
    • Takes 48 minutes
  • 72/72M/72R to G (AC Transit)
    • Transfer at San Pablo and Gilman 
    • 48 minutes
  • 72/72M to F (AC Transit)
    • Transfer at San Pablo and 40th
    • 53 minutes

El Cerrito Plaza

  • G (AC Transit)
    • 54 minutes
  • L (AC Transit)
    • Walk from station to San Pablo and Central
    • 42 minutes
  • 72/72M to NL (AC Transit)
    • Transfer from 72M to NL at 20th/Broadway in Oakland
    • Takes 55 minutes
  • 72/72M to F (AC Transit)
    • Transfer at San Pablo and 40th
    • 51 minutes

North Berkeley

  • J (AC Transit)
    • Walk to Sacramento and University
    • Takes 48 minutes
  • G (AC Transit)
    • Walk to San Pablo and Delaware
    • Takes 41 minutes

o Casual Carpool: https://sfcasualcarpool.com/ 

Downtown Berkeley

  • F (AC Transit)
  • Takes 41 minutes

Ashby

  • F (AC Transit)
  • Takes 37 minutes

LOCAL OPTIONS for travel between stations. 

Richmond Station – El Cerrito del Norte – El Cerrito Plaza

  • AC Transit 72/72M

North Berkeley – Downtown Berkeley

  • AC Transit 52

MacArthur – Ashby – Downtown Berkeley

  • AC Transit 6 
  • AC Transit 18

Downtown Berkeley – Rockridge

  • AC Transit 51B
  • AC Transit 79