SFO–Millbrae line
The SFO–Millbrae line (also known as the SFO–Millbrae shuttle) is a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) line in the San Francisco Bay Area that runs between Millbrae station and San Francisco International Airport station. The line is a shuttle service with no intermediate stops; it shares tracks with two of the five other mainline BART services. Service began on February 11, 2019; a previous version of the shuttle operated from June 2003 to February 2004. The line is colored purple on maps, and BART has begun to call it the Purple Line.[1]
SFO–Millbrae line | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SFO–Millbrae line train at SFO station in February 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Locale | San Francisco Peninsula | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Termini | San Francisco International Airport station Millbrae station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Service | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Rapid transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
System | Bay Area Rapid Transit | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator(s) | San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
History | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | June 22, 2003 February 11, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Closed | February 9, 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Line length | 1.7 miles (2.7 km) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Track gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrification | Third rail, 1000 V DC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Service history
When the BART-SFO Extension opened on June 22, 2003, the Pittsburg/Bay Point line (Yellow Line) was extended to Millbrae station, while the Dublin/Pleasanton line (Blue Line) was extended to San Francisco International Airport station. Service between the SFO and Millbrae terminals was provided by this line, which operated every 20 minutes.[2] The line was discontinued in February 2004 during the first of several service changes on the extension.[3]
For the next several years, direct service between SFO and Millbrae was provided by other BART lines. Between February 2004 and September 2005 the Richmond line (Red Line) connected the stations on weekdays and Pittsburg/Bay Point line (Yellow Line) connected the stations on nights and weekends. Between September 2005 and January 2008 the Dublin/Pleasanton line (Blue Line) provided the connection at all times.[3][4]
On January 1, 2008, direct service between Millbrae and the airport was discontinued and passengers connecting between SFO and Millbrae needed to transfer at San Bruno station.[5] Direct service between the stations was restored on September 14, 2009 during nights and weekends as an extension of the Pittsburg/Bay Point line.[6]
On June 24, 2018, SamTrans began operating route SFO, a dedicated bus service between the two stations. Unlike BART service, the bus route operates on irregular headways timed to meet certain Caltrain trains at Millbrae.[7]
On February 11, 2019, BART resumed direct SFO–Millbrae service at all times. On weekdays until 9 pm and on Sundays, a dedicated shuttle train operates between the two stations, with timed transfers to Antioch line (Yellow Line) trains at SFO. The Antioch line continued to run between SFO and Millbrae on weeknights and Saturdays.[1] The current operating pattern started on February 10, 2020, with BART listing the SFO–Millbrae line as operating at all times, with the Antioch line terminating at SFO at all times.[8] The service is operated with a dedicated shuttle train on weekdays and Saturdays, with timed transfers to Antioch line (Yellow Line) trains at SFO. On weeknights and Sundays, the two services are interlined, with no transfer required at SFO.[9]
Stations
Station | Jurisdiction | County | Opened | Other BART lines |
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San Francisco International Airport | SFO | San Mateo | June 22, 2003 | Antioch–SFO/Millbrae |
Millbrae | Millbrae | Richmond–Millbrae |
References
- "February 11 schedule change impacts weekdays and Sundays" (Press release). San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. January 15, 2019.
- Cabanatuan, Michael (April 18, 2003). "BART to link to SFO June 22 / After many delays, latest date is firm, transit officials say". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Cabanatuan, Michael (February 7, 2004). "BART changing schedule so more go to SFO / Peninsula ridership below expectations, needs a boost". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Murphy, Dave (August 11, 2005). "PENINSULA / BART to airport to be cut / Weekend trains to be kept on Peninsula". San Francisco Chronicle.
- Gordon, Rachel (December 9, 2007). "BART to raise fares, increase train frequency starting Jan. 1". San Francisco Chronicle.
- "Off-peak service reductions began Monday, September 14th" (Press release). San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. September 15, 2009.
- "SamTrans Launches ECR Rapid, Route SFO" (Press release). San Mateo County Transit District. June 19, 2018.
- "Weekday Schedule as of February 10, 2020" (PDF). San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District.
- "BART schedule change begins February 10, 2020" (Press release). San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District. January 31, 2020.