BART Train Derails, Catches Fire between Orinda-Lafayette; Minimal Track Damage
- A BART train derailment occurred near the Orinda station in California, which led to a fire and sent nine people to the hospital. The cause of the derailment is currently being investigated.
- A crane was brought in to lift the derailed train and put it back on the tracks. Two lanes of the eastbound Highway 24 were closed to accommodate this operation. BART spokesperson Jim Allison mentioned that there is a chance for normal service to return the next morning.
- A bus bridge was provided to cover the affected route, as it is still unclear when the eastbound lanes and BART tracks will officially reopen. The derailed train will be moved to a yard for inspection and the damage to the track is reportedly not extensive.
Progress on BART Derailment near Orinda Station, California
BART is making headway in getting a derailed train back on track. A train comprising eight cars partially derailed and caught fire near the Orinda station on Monday morning, resulting in nine hospitalizations.
To re-rail the BART train, a heavy-duty crane was deployed on Monday night. The event led to the temporary closure of two lanes of the eastbound Highway 24. BART assures that the damage to the track is not extensive.
“There’s a high possibility we could resume regular service by morning. If not, we’ll be single tracking using one of the two tracks, which may lead to a delay of 10-20 minutes,” stated BART spokesperson Jim Allison.
Two eastbound lanes of state Highway 24 in Orinda were shut down Monday evening to facilitate crane operation for clearing the partially derailed BART train that caught fire on New Year’s morning.
The exact time of reopening the two eastbound lanes and the BART tracks remains uncertain as crews work overnight to restore normalcy.
As of 7:10 p.m., two BART train cars that derailed in Orinda were successfully re-railed by a crane as per BART updates. The cars will be reattached to the ones that did not derail, and the train will be moved away from its current location near the Orinda station.
BART repair works have commenced, and they anticipate at least a one-way traffic for Tuesday morning, depending on the speed of repairs.
Passengers are advised to have a contingency plan in place. For the affected route, BART has arranged a bus bridge. Travelers from SFO will have to deboard at Rockridge and hop on a bus to the Walnut Creek station.
For more details, check out this news about a recent Amtrak train derailment incident.
What Happened?
Nine passengers were transported for medical assessment after the train car derailed and caught fire near Orinda.
A computer malfunction led to the train’s derailment as it stopped the train from automatically changing routes. This situation resulted in the train operator manually switching the train’s route before the derailment. BART and the California Public Utilities Commission are currently investigating the cause.
Witnesses Describe Incident
Passengers described the nerve-wracking experience of the train stopping because of a mechanical issue, followed by the smell of smoke and sight of flames.
Here is an incident of streetcar derailment in San Francisco you might find relevant.
Several passengers who were returning to the East Bay from San Francisco after celebrating New Year described the incident as scary and dramatic.
For live updates on the incident, click here.
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