BART Delays Linger Following Smoking Train Wednesday

By Bay City News Service

BART trains traveling in the Pittsburg/Bay Point direction are experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes Thursday morning due to an equipment problem on a train Wednesday evening, BART officials said.

As of 6:30 a.m., there was a 15 to 30 minute delay, according to BART officials.

BART trains were single tracking through the Orinda station Thursday morning due to a mechanical problem that caused smoke to billow up from beneath a Pittsburg/Bay Point-bound train carrying passengers Wednesday evening, officials said.

The train stopped at the Orinda station when smoke was reported on the train shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday, BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost said.

Trost said firefighters arrived at the station at about 6:20 p.m. and that the smoke was found to be coming from beneath the train. Passengers were evacuated and the train went out of service, BART police Lt. Tyrone Forte said.

At about 3:50 a.m. BART officials announced that the train remained on the tracks at the Orinda station Thursday morning and that crews are working to cut through a 1,600-pound metal motor reactor, which must be removed from the tracks before the train can be moved.

The disabled train will then be moved to a yard for repairs. BART trains will be able to single track through the Orinda station and will be picking up passengers Thursday morning, Trost said.

According to Trost, the incident is not related to a reenactment held Wednesday of an accident that killed two workers on the tracks Saturday.

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