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- What it takes to keep BART rolling
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For more than a year now, BART's board of directors has been discussing whether – and how – the system could stay open later. Right now the trains start their final runs at midnight, leaving many patrons scrambling to catch the last BART home, especially on the weekends. The board had been considering running later trains just one night a week. But last month they officially tabled that plan, voting to look at late night bus service instead.
In discussions about extending BART’s hours, one word comes up over and over again: maintenance. BART officials say closing the system for a few hours a night is crucial to keeping it working, especially as the cars age. We sent KALW's Casey Miner to find out what they actually do down there in the wee hours.
For more than a year now, BART's board of directors has been discussing whether – and how – the system could stay open later. Right now the trains start their final runs at midnight, leaving many patrons scrambling to catch the last BART home, especially on the weekends. The board had been considering running later trains just one night a week. But last month they officially tabled that plan, voting to look at late night bus service instead.
In discussions about extending BART’s hours, one word comes up over and over again: maintenance. BART officials say closing the system for a few hours a night is crucial to keeping it working, especially as the cars age. We sent KALW's Casey Miner to find out what they actually do down there in the wee hours.
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Broadcast History
KALW 91.7FM:
December 5, 2011
Transcript
CASEY MINER: You might think BART stations would be quiet at 2am. The platforms are empty, no trains rushing through. But they’re not quiet. In fact, the noise is deafening.
Huge machines run back and forth on long stretches of track, grinding down rails and carrying new ones. Crews deep in the tunnels take huge saws to pieces of metal and cranes drop other pieces on the ground.
DON EMMONS: Okay, got your flashlights?
Until recently, Don Emmons was BART’s assistant superintendent for ways and facilities. He actually just retired at the end of last month, but before that, he kept track of everything going on in the system, during the day, and after hours. He drove me around to a few stations on a recent early morning to show me what goes on after the gates close.
EMMONS: Yeah, so right now the trains are all heading out to their final destinations of rest.
After 37 years with...
Read the full transcript
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