7:16 PM: Praise be! Poor Judson True informs us that “safety tests and inspections were completed successfully” and that “Muni Metro service has been restored through the Twin Peaks Tunnel between Castro and West Portal stations.”
He also says that shuttle bses are going to keep picking up the slack until the entire Metro system recovers.
In perhaps the most poignant part of the announcement, True says “The SFMTA apologizes to Muni customers.” Holy shit, an apology from Muni. Somebody write this down.
6:11 PM: Here’s the latest from MTA spokesperson Judson True: he says that the derailed L Taraval has finally been moved out of the tunnel, and “test runs and track inspections have begun.”
He still has no word on when Muni Metro will be back in service in the area, so it’s still shuttle bus fun for now.
And how did this happen in the first place? We still don’t know that, either, but an investigation “is ongoing.”
We should also note that if Twitter is any indication, tonight’s commute for those reliant on the disabled lines was just dreadful. Is that accurate to say?
2:45 PM: MTA spokesperson Judson True says that “Light rail service in the Twin Peaks Tunnel is expected to resume early this evening, though not in time for the start of the afternoon commute.”
The state of repairs: Muni staff is working to “re-rail the train and then a test train will run on the track before service can resume. The track has been inspected and determined to be safe for service. The ATCS loop has been repaired.”
While True notes that shuttle buses will be continue to run, we’ll remind you of these Muni Metro Alternatives you might want to consider
2:15 PM: 511 reminds us that “Metro service is disrupted between Castro and West Portal stations due to an earlier incident in the Twin Peaks tunnel. The K/T, L and M lines are directly affected by this incident. Bus shuttles are providing service between Van Ness and West Portal stations until further notice.”
They also direct you to this page of Muni Metro Alternatives
11:50 AM: An update from MTA spokesperson Judson True tells us that Muni’s still not sure why the derailment happened, that they don’t know when the Twin Peaks tunnel will reopen, and that all Muni traffic is slow between Castro and Embarcadero stations. Here’s the release he sent out:
As of 11:45 a.m., the SFMTA has determined that the middle truck of the second car on the outbound L Taraval train came off of the rail by approximately one foot. A truck is a set of two axles and four wheels; there are three trucks on each LRV.
The K/T, L and M Lines continue to be directly affected by this incident. These lines are not operating in either direction in the Twin Peaks Tunnel between Castro and West Portal stations.
More than 20 bus shuttles are serving Muni customers between Van Ness and West Portal stations (making all Muni Metro stops in between).
There is slow traffic in the Muni Metro subway between Embarcadero and Castro stations.
There is no estimate as to when regular Muni Metro service through the Twin Peaks Tunnel will resume. An update will be provided before this afternoon’s commute.
The derailment has damaged a communications loop that is part of Muni Metro’s Advanced Train Control System (ATCS). This loop will need to be repaired before automatic service can resume through the tunnel. There is no estimate as to how long this repair will take. SFMTA staff is working to re-rail the train and inspect the track.
The cause of the derailment is under investigation by the SFMTA.
“We will investigate this incident thoroughly to ensure the safe operation of the system,” said SFMTA Executive Director/CEO Nathaniel P. Ford, Sr., who was in the field this morning and is leading the Agency’s response to the derailment. “We apologize for the inconvenience to our customers.”
11:06 AM (BCN): A San Francisco Municipal Railway train derailed inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel this morning, disrupting the commute for hundreds of riders.
Muni spokesman Judson True said the second car of an outbound, two-car L-Taraval train derailed in the Twin Peaks Tunnel, between the Castro and Forest Hill stations, at about 7:35 a.m.
No injuries were reported, and riders on the train that derailed were taken out of the tunnel on another light rail vehicle, True said.
Service is expected to be impacted for most of the day.
True said the train car went about a foot off the tracks and appears to have damaged a trackside communication cable. The derailed train remained in the tunnel as of 10 a.m. while crews investigated the accident.
San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency executive director Nathaniel Ford was inside the tunnel mid-morning morning being briefed on the incident, True said.
The train will have to be removed and the trackside cable repaired before service on the line can resume through the tunnel. True said crews hope to have regular service restored in time for the evening commute.
Trains are running between downtown and the Castro Station, and between the West Portal station and the ends of the K, L and M lines. Bus shuttles have been set up to carry riders between the Castro and West Portal stations until regular service resumes.
Donna Borges said she was on a train headed inbound, and that people on the train were not told about the derailment until they arrived at the West Portal station and were asked to exit the train and take a bus.
“They’re doing the shuttles, but of course there’s 50,000 people there,” she said. “They’re doing the best they can though.”
Shortly before 9 a.m., dozens of commuters remained stranded at West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street, outside the West Portal Muni station, waiting for a bus to collect them.
There appeared to be far more riders than the buses could accommodate and commuters seemed frazzled, employees at nearby businesses said.
“It’s crazy,” said Cesar Morales, general manager at the West Portal Squat & Gobble restaurant. “It looks like a big concert here.”
Yayza Oli, an employee at the St. Francis Market, said people appeared confused. “They’re just running around,” she said.
Despite the crowded shuttles, most commuters decided to stay on the buses rather than get back onto a train at the Castro station.
Wilbert Bradford, who was heading to class at Heald College, said it was “not annoying, just challenging” to have to take the shuttle, but it was the quickest option he had.
“I figured it was probably going to take another five or 10 minutes to catch a train and I’m already behind in my schedule,” he said.
True said the agency “is doing everything we can” to restore service.
“I appreciate people’s patience. I know it’s frustrating to have any delays with your commute,” he said.
True said a J-Church train and an automobile collided. One person in the car was injured. The injuries were not life-threatening, he said. The tracks were cleared in that case at about 8 a.m.
10:00 AM: We’re getting reports that the buses handling K, L, and M riders between West Portal and Castro stations are “packed but manageable,” and KRON4 is reporting that buses “seem to be catching up.”
The Twin Peaks tunnel remains closed in both directions, and Muni still isn’t saying when it might reopen.
9:23 AM: According to a tipster, Muni riders are being told that the K, L, M aren’t running past Van Ness station, that there are far fewer shuttle buses than are necessary, and the the F Market is packed. Another describes the shuttle buses sent to pick up all the K, L, M riders as “far from sufficient,” asking “how can Muni still be surprised by things like this, at this point?” From another reader:
Got turned away at Church Station — all trains between West Portal and Van Ness are suspended, according to the Muni agent turning everyone away.
No shuttle buses at Church/Market, although F lines are ridiculous.
9:15 AM (BCN): Dozens of commuters were left stranded in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood this morning when a San Francisco Municipal Railway train derailed inside the Twin Peaks Tunnel.
Muni spokesman Judson True said the second car of an outbound, two-car L-Taraval train derailed in the Twin Peaks Tunnel, between the Castro and Forest Hill stations, at about 7:35 a.m.
No injuries were reported, and riders on the train that derailed were taken out of the tunnel on another light rail vehicle, True said.
True said bus shuttles were set up to carry riders between the Castro and West Portal stations.
However, as of about 8:50 a.m. a large crowd had gathered at West Portal Avenue and Ulloa Street, outside the West Portal Muni station, waiting for a bus to collect them.
There appeared to be far more riders than the buses could initially accommodate and commuters seemed frazzled, employees at nearby businesses said.
“It’s crazy,” said Cesar Morales, general manager at the West Portal Squat & Gobble restaurant. “It looks like a big concert here.”
Yayza Oli, an employee at the St. Francis Market, said people were milling around the street and appeared confused.
“They’re just running around,” she said.
At one point, a Muni employee announced that a bus was arriving across the street, prompting the crowd to run in that direction, she said.
Oli said she was also working on July 18, when an L-Taraval train rear-ended aK-Ingleside train at the West Portal station, injuring dozens.
“Now it’s almost every day,” she said of Muni problems.
True was not immediately available for comment but Muni planned to release more information at a media briefing this morning.
A separate accident involving a Muni light rail vehicle was reported at about 6:45 a.m. at Church and Jersey streets.
True said a J-Church train and an automobile collided. One person in the car was injured. The injuries were not life-threatening, he said.
The tracks were cleared in that case at about 8 a.m.
8:40 AM: Reports are rolling in that due to the derailment, all K, L, and M trains are offline for now, that buses are “packed and miserable,” and that “West Portal is like a zombie movie, with people just wandering around.”
Muni has just announced that they’re having a media briefing at 9 AM at the Castro station, but since this reporter would be reliant on Muni to get to said briefing, there’s no way we could get there in time (IRONY!).
Strangely, 511 (the organization to which we’re all directed to get “up to the minute” transit information) seems completely unaware of the issue, having just announced the (now resolved) J/car crash at 8:35. Another triumph in transit communication!
8:20 AM: Sure, the J’s back in service, but MTA spokesperson Judson True is now reporting that at 7:35 this morning, the second car of an L Taraval derailed in the Twin Peaks tunnel between Castro and Forest Hill stations.
True says that “all customers who were on the light rail vehicle that derailed have exited the Twin Peaks Tunnel on a Muni LRV. No injuries were reported.”
Buses are running between Castro and West Portal stations in lieu of Muni Metro.
