Yesterday’s Muni commute got a little too real for subway riders after reports of people inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel triggered a safety sweep and slowed service between Forest Hill and Church stations.
Trains were ordered to crawl through the affected stretch, which left some riders bailing to surface buses while others waited it out on platforms. Transit crews and law enforcement walked the trackway to make sure it was clear before regular train speeds were restored.
SFMTA alerted riders on X, posting, “ATTN: Report of intruders in the subway. IB/OB #subwaysvc will be slow moving btwn Forest Hill and Church as we conduct a safety check,” and warned of sluggish service while the investigation played out, according to SFMTA. The agency did not immediately share any additional details about who entered the tunnel or whether anyone was detained.
ATTN: Report of intruders in the subway. IB/OB #subwaysvc will be slow moving btwn Forest Hill and Church as we conduct a safety check.
— SFMTA (@SFMTA_Muni) February 6, 2026
Where trains were slowed
The slowdown hit inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel, the long underground bore that carries the K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View and S Shuttle lines through the hills, per Wikipedia. Church and Forest Hill stations anchor each end of that run, so even a short safety check in the tunnel can knock timing off across multiple surface routes as riders scramble for alternate options.
Why Muni slows for intruders
Muni slows or holds trains any time someone is reported on or near the tracks to protect riders and crews and to give transit police and maintenance teams room to clear the right-of-way, according to SFMTA. Similar safety checks have followed earlier incidents, including a reported intruder near Castro that halted subway service and coyotes spotted roaming through the Central Subway tunnels, which led to slow-moving trains and shuttle buses while crews checked the line, as reported by SFist and ABC7.
Rider tips
If your route uses the Twin Peaks Tunnel, build in extra time when slowdowns are reported and consider hopping on surface buses or alternate lines if that is an option for you. For emergencies, call 911. For transit help and non-emergency questions, dial 311 or check Muni’s alert feed and status pages for live updates. This story will be updated if SFMTA releases more information.
