On Monday, two BART cars derailed and caught fire on a train traveling between Central Orinda and St. Stephens.

The incident was reported just after 9:00 am and prompted an emergency response with at least three people injured. BART has issued a service alert and has stated both the Orinda and Lafayette stations are closed.

Via BART Alerts:

Service Alert: 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. There is no train service between Rockridge and Walnut Creek. Please seek alternate means of transportation.

Service Alert: There is a station closure at Lafayette and Orinda stations

9:28 am: 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.
9:53 am: Shortly after 9am an east bound Yellow line train partially derailed between Orinda and Lafayette stations. No injuries. Passengers have been safely evacuated and escorted to Orinda Station by staff. 2 cars were reported to be on fire, the Orinda FD has extinguished the flames.
9:56 am: Both Orinda and Lafayette stations are currently closed. Extra staff and BART Police are on site to help.

BART Press Release

Partial train derailment near Orinda Station on January 1

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. There are no reported injuries.

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.

BART has extra staff and BART Police at Orinda and Lafayette stations to help. T

here is currently no available bus bridge but staff is working to see if partner bus agencies are available.

BART Timelines:

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.
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.
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. A number of people were transported to medical facilities for evaluation*. Based on those initial reports there were no major injuries. We are speaking with all first responders to get an accurate count of the number of people who were being evaluated.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.
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.
Noon update:A number of people were transported to medical facilities for evaluation following this incident. Based on those initial report from first responders there were no major injuries. We are speaking with all first responders to get an accurate count of the number of people who were being evaluated. A correction has been made below.

BART Riders to See 5.5% BART Fare Increase on Jan 1

Bay Area Rapid Transit reminds riders that a 5.5% fare increase will begin on January 1 and a low-income fare discount to increase to 50%.

The Clipper START means-based fare discount for BART will increase from 20% to 50%, meaning low-income riders will pay half the regular fare. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission pilot program offers discounts for Bay Area residents aged 19-64 earning under 200% of the federal poverty level. Clipper START is accepted by more than 20 regional transit operators in addition to BART.

Fares will increase by 5.5% beginning January 1, raising the average fare by 23 cents to $4.43. A 12-mile trip from Downtown Berkeley to Embarcadero, for example, will increase by 25 cents to $4.75. For a 45-mile trip from Antioch to Montgomery Street, the fare will increase by 40 cents to $8.60. — full story