BART service restored after daylong computer problem

HAYWARD, Calif. - BART shut down a large section of its Berryessa-North San Jose bound line due to a computer network issue on Thursday, leaving hundreds of frustrated passengers seeking ways to get to their destinations. 
The problem was reported shortly after 10 a.m., at first affecting seven stations from Hayward to the Berryessa-North San Jose stop.

Service from Berryessa to Warm Springs resumed around noon and was fully restored by 6:30 p.m.

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During the disruption, the transit agency urged commuters to "seek alternate means of transportation until further notice."

AC Transit and VTA provided bus service to help commuters get to their locations.

Officials said the service was halted due to an outage in a critical safety program known as a train block control system.

"We rely on that to ensure a safe distance between our trains. So when the system is not operating properly – our fixed block train control system – then it’s not safe for us to run trains," BART spokesperson Chris Filippi explained. "So we’re stopping service out of an abundance of caution to ensure the train block control system is operating properly."