OAKLAND, Calif. -- No BART trains will be running between the Fruitvale and Coliseum stations in Oakland this weekend as crews continue repair work that started last month on the tracks, according to BART.
The track closure will allow crews to repair a section of track that has worn-down wooden ties between the tracks. A switch, which allows the trains to be guided from one track to another, is also in very poor shape, BART officials said.
The area of the repairs is elevated and difficult to access, which requires the full shutdown. The track repair is urgent or the track section will be unusable, according to BART. Other planned weekend closures to finish the repairs are planned through August.
BART officials said the weekend closure will start early Saturday morning and last until 8 a.m. Monday, which is Memorial Day. Previous closures have lasted until 4 a.m. on a Monday when commuters start going to work.
Service on the Fremont-Daly City line will be shut down, which means passengers riding north from Fremont must use the Richmond train and transfer at Bay Fair station to a Dublin/Pleasanton-Daly City train, according to BART.
Then riders can take a free bus from the Coliseum station to the Fruitvale station to travel to San Francisco or other East Bay stations. BART officials are encouraging riders to listen to intercom announcements, BART employee announcements and temporary signs.
Riders will experience delays of 30 minutes and as much as 60 minutes to get beyond the Fruitvale station. Trains will be running at 20-minute intervals, rather than on regularly scheduled times, and bus travel will add to the overall travel time, according to BART.
Service between the Coliseum station and Oakland International Airport will be operating normally.
Riders are asked to check BART's website for the dates of upcoming weekend closures, which are subject to change because of the Golden State Warriors' playoff run.