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Bay Area Transit Disrupted by Vehicle Incident on Tracks

Bay Area Transit Disrupted by Vehicle Incident on Tracks

A significant disruption to Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) services occurred early Thursday morning, affecting travel between Antioch and North Concord stations. The cause was an unauthorized vehicle that entered the restricted track area near the Pittsburg/Bay Point station. Emergency measures were promptly initiated, including rerouting passengers via alternative transit options such as buses. This incident has led to extensive damage to the rail infrastructure, necessitating repairs before normal operations can resume.

In the early hours of Thursday, around 3:45 AM, a vehicle breached barriers and ventured onto BART's tracks approximately 100 feet south of the Pittsburg/Bay Point station. Upon arrival, first responders confirmed that the individual inside the vehicle had unfortunately passed away. The presence of the vehicle caused substantial damage to the third rail and track infrastructure, obstructing both tracks. Consequently, BART officials announced that morning service would commence without any trains running from Antioch to North Concord.

To mitigate the impact on commuters, various adjustments were made to the transportation network. Passengers wishing to board BART trains were advised to proceed to North Concord station. The Pittsburg/Bay Point station was temporarily closed, while Antioch Station offered limited service via DMU trains to Pittsburg Center for local riders. Additionally, Tri Delta Transit provided one bus route from Antioch to Pittsburg Center and Pittsburg Bay/Point, complemented by two County Connection buses operating between Pittsburg/Bay Point and North Concord. Efforts are ongoing to collaborate with partner bus agencies to enhance connectivity for East Contra Costa residents traveling to North Concord.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) assumed leadership in investigating the vehicle incident, while BART crews remained on standby to undertake necessary track repairs once the vehicle was removed. This collaborative approach aims to restore full operational capacity as swiftly as possible.

Despite the challenges posed by this unexpected event, BART and its partners have implemented contingency plans to ensure that essential travel needs are met during this period of disruption. Continuous updates will be provided to keep the public informed about progress toward resuming regular service.

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