BART Derailment Investigation Could Take Months

BAY CITY NEWS—BART officials are working with the California Public Utilities Commission to determine what caused two train cars to derail outside the Concord station on Sunday morning, but the investigation is expected to take weeks or even months, a BART spokesman said today.

The eighth and ninth cars of the 10-car train derailed and then jack-knifed at about 9:20 a.m. as the San Francisco International Airport-bound train was leaving the Concord station, BART spokesman James Allison said.

The train was traveling slowly when the cars derailed and all cars remained upright, BART reported.

BART police officers and firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded quickly and removed the 65 passengers from
the train.

Three people reported minor back injuries, according to BART.

BART and CPUC officials began their investigation into the derailment shortly after it happened. Allison today declined to speculate about the cause.

Crews worked through the night to remove the damaged train cars and repair a section of BART officials are working with the California Public Utilities Commission to determine what caused two train cars to derail outside the Concord station on Sunday morning, but the investigation is expected to take weeks or even months, a BART spokesman said today.

The eighth and ninth cars of the 10-car train derailed and then jack-knifed at about 9:20 a.m. as the San Francisco International Airport-bound train was leaving the Concord station, BART spokesman James Allison said.

The train was traveling slowly when the cars derailed and all cars remained upright, BART reported.

BART police officers and firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded quickly and removed the 65 passengers from
the train.

Three people reported minor back injuries, according to BART.

BART and CPUC officials began their investigation into the derailment shortly after it happened. Allison today declined to speculate about the cause.

Crews worked through the night to remove the damaged train cars and repair a section of damaged track, Allison said.

 BART resumed its regular service at about 4 a.m., and trains were running at normal speeds through the area today.

Allison said that although the cause of the derailment hasn't been determined, officials believe the tracks are "absolutely" safe today.

There were several minor delays earlier today caused by a power problem and two minor police-related incidents. Those delays were unrelated to Sunday's derailment, Allison said.