In a surprising turn of events, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) track shutdown initially slated for this weekend between Union City and Fremont stations has been called off. The planned closure has been pushed to September 23-24, according to CBS News.
The ongoing track work focuses on the removal of potentially hazardous trees ahead of this year's winter storms. The decision to cancel the weekend track closure comes at a time when BART unveils new schedule changes that promise better service for its riders.
Starting Monday, BART will introduce new schedules that will end all 30-minute frequencies on nights and weekends. Daily service on BART's Yellow Line from Antioch to San Francisco is set to see an improvement, with trains expected to arrive at 10-minute intervals before 9 p.m. on weekdays. This comes as a welcome change for users of the transit system, who have been bracing for the impending track closure.
As BART's official tweet reveals, the Blue Line to and from Dublin will maintain 20-minute frequencies at all hours, while increasing nights and weekends with an added five minutes between trains during weekday daytime hours. Additionally, riders coming from the Richmond and Berryessa/North San Jose direction will see frequencies of around 10 minutes during daytime hours on weekdays.
🟩🟧 This weekend, 9/9-9/10, BART will be closing the trackway between Union City and Fremont. Free buses will replace train service.
— BART (@SFBART) September 5, 2023
Crews will be working during the closure to remove hazardous trees near the trackway and make trackway improvements. https://t.co/iLrpfDK7om pic.twitter.com/dMUFp4I4fF
The new schedule also provides an increase in options for passengers looking to transfer onto the Orange Line running between Richmond and Berryessa. Moreover, San Francisco International Airport will see up to nine trains per hour on nights and weekends, with trains arriving and departing approximately every 20 minutes.
