On New Year’s Day, a routine morning turned chaotic in the San Francisco Bay Area when a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train derailed and burst into flames. The incident, occurring shortly after the train departed from Orinda towards Lafayette around 9 a.m., resulted in minor injuries to several passengers and major disruptions in train services.
Jim Allison, a spokesperson for BART, reported that the first two cars of the train veered off the tracks, prompting an urgent evacuation of all passengers. Fire crews were swiftly dispatched to the scene, successfully extinguishing the flames engulfing two of the train cars.
The incident led to several passengers being transported to local hospitals with minor injuries, although the exact number of those affected was not immediately clear. Those unharmed were able to return to Orinda Station on foot.
Enrique Gonzalez, a passenger aboard the ill-fated train, recounted to the San Francisco Chronicle the moments of panic. He described hearing loud pops and witnessing smoke rising between the cars, followed by visible flames.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the derailment occurred at a rail interlocking – a critical juncture where trains switch tracks. The exact cause of the derailment, which took place approximately 8 miles northeast of Oakland, remains under investigation.
The aftermath of the derailment saw a significant suspension of services. BART officials announced the closure of a 12-mile stretch between Rockridge and Walnut Creek in both directions, anticipating disruptions in the transit system which, despite the holiday, was expected to impact thousands.
Allison expressed regret over the unfortunate timing of the incident, acknowledging the inconvenience caused to passengers on a holiday. The Orinda Station was also expected to remain closed for the remainder of the day as crews worked diligently to remove the damaged cars and assess the condition of the tracks.