bart_generic1.jpg10:30 AM: According to a report from Bay City News, BART removed the loose cover board at about 10 this morning, and service is starting to get back to normal.

Emphasis on “starting to” — as of 10:30, riders are still reporting packed trains and significant delays. You have been warned!

9:57 AM: Major delays are being reported on all BART lines since 9:30 this morning.

The issue? In the West Oakland area, a “loose cover board,” which typically covers the electrified third rail, which is blocking tracks, a BART spokesperson said.

In consequence, trains are being “single tracked” (sharing one track for trains going both ways), causing delays, BART says, of 20 minutes or more. Since West Oakland’s a pivotal area for most BART lines, all trains on all lines are suffering.

At publication time, BART didn’t have an estimate on when this issue will be resolved.

the author

Eve Batey is the editor and publisher of the San Francisco Appeal. She used to be the San Francisco Chronicle's Deputy Managing Editor for Online, and started at the Chronicle as their blogging and interactive editor. Before that, she was a co-founding writer and the lead editor of SFist. She's been in the city since 1997, presently living in the Outer Sunset with her husband, cat, and dog. You can reach Eve at eve@sfappeal.com.

Please make sure your comment adheres to our comment policy. If it doesn't, it may be deleted. Repeat violations may cause us to revoke your commenting privileges. No one wants that!