BART Wheels Go Off Track in Oakland Tunnel

Some passengers said they did not feel the derailment

Emergency crews had to evacuate passengers from a BART train that derailed between the 12th Street and Lake Merritt stations in Oakland Wednesday morning.
     
BART declared the incident minor.   It was reported at about 10:25 a.m. About 75 riders were  on the train, according to updated estimates from BART.

As of 1 p.m., the five-car train, which was headed to Richmond, remained stuck in a tunnel about 200 feet from the 12th Street station platform, BART spokesman Linton Johnson said.

Investigators were examining the train, trying to determine  what went wrong. Johnson said a set of wheels on the lead car went off the  rails.

BART spokesman Jim Allison said at noon that there was no estimate  yet for when the train would be removed from the tunnel.

Fire crews helped evacuate passengers from the tunnel. One  passenger reported some back pain, Allison said.

One man suffered a seizure and received treatment at the station.  Johnson did not have details on his condition but said he believes the man was a passenger on the derailed train.

The 12th Street station was shut down for about an hour.

The incident caused only minor service disruptions, Johnson said.  BART has numerous trackways and tunnels in the area, and there are many  options for routing trains, he said.

Allison said trains heading from Fremont to Richmond that normally  stop at 12th Street will go to the West Oakland station instead, then  continue north to Richmond. Passengers on that line should expect 10-minute  delays.

Bay City News

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