Bay Fair station looked a little more like a movie set than a commute hub this week, as BART Police led a multi-agency emergency drill ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Yesterday, the department shared photos of the action, showing uniformed officers, firefighters and federal responders running through crowd-control, command and life-safety scenarios at the East Bay station, which serves thousands of riders every day. The exercises stretched across several days as agencies walked through how they would respond if things went sideways during tournament crowds.
Agencies Team Up On Crowd Safety And Radiation Drills
According to the BART Police Department on Facebook, the drills at Bay Fair brought together BART officers, Oakland Fire Department, Alameda County Fire, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Army, and members of the Lawrence Livermore Radiological Assistance Program. Fire life-safety teams coordinated three days of exercises, while BART training and transportation personnel worked under a unified command.
The post notes that BART's Capital Asset Protection team trained with personal radiation detectors during the drills and credits incident command photographers for the images. It also states that BART is planning a special limited-express service after midnight for evening World Cup matches so late-night crowds can clear out more quickly.
BART's Game Plan For World Cup Crowds
BART has published an online guide spelling out how to ride to matches, watch parties and fan zones. According to BART's FIFA guidance, riders can expect longer trains, extra staff and security, and added directional signs and lighting in the busiest stations to help visitors and occasional riders figure out where they are going.
Why Radiological Readiness Is On The Checklist
The presence of a Radiological Assistance Program team is part of a broader national-lab playbook for large events that includes radiological monitoring. As described by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, RAP teams have supported major games in the past. In BART PD's Facebook post, officers are shown practicing with personal radiation detectors so that detection protocols and equipment fit smoothly into joint responses with fire and law enforcement.
What Riders Will See On Match Days
For everyday riders, the drills are meant to translate into a smoother, if busier, ride. BART says match days will bring longer trains, more staff in stations, extra signage and more frequent announcements. The agency urges riders to plan ahead with the Trip Planner and to use Clipper cards to speed up fare-gate entry.
The guidance also highlights additional security and station wayfinding to help unfamiliar visitors locate exits and transfers. Officials describe the exercises as precautionary steps to keep crowds moving and to sharpen response times if something does happen. Anyone heading to games or fan events is advised to budget extra travel time and to follow staff instructions and posted signs.
