Highway-like driving speeds will now help BART trains reach stations faster on rainy days, thanks to some technological prodding.
With no forecasted rain expected this week in the SF Bay Area, clear skies and wintery temperatures will continue to grace our afternoons. However, we’re still in the thick of the wettest time of the year; February alone will see about 10 days of rain span across the region.
☔️BART no longer runs trains at reduced speed during the rain!
Crews updated the train car braking profile software and made slight changes to train speeds at specific locations with a longitudinal slope and where data showed cars were experiencing high rates of wheel flats.
— BART (@SFBART) January 7, 2026
And those boarding BART can expect faster commute times during those gloomy, damp days.
“BART no longer runs trains at reduced speed during the rain,” reads a post on X by the rapid transit agency. Historically, BART trains travel between 50 mph and 60 mph during reduced speed times — events usually reserved for inclement weather, construction projects, and congestion issues. But thanks to a “train car braking profile” update and speed recalibrations in locations where trains experience flat wheels, train speeds, especially those down logging slopes, will now reach at least 70 mph, even on rainy days.
“These two changes reduced wheel flats and allowed BART to run trains at normal speeds during the rain,” continues the post, later expanding about flat wheels — “wheel flat spots occur from a wheel to rail sliding motion, instead of spinning.”
Cooler temperatures will still trigger BART to reduce speeds in some circumstances, albeit temporarily, and along a few rail sections. Temperatures below 36 degrees Fahrenheit can cause frost and ice to grow on railings, which can cause safety concerns; but after surface temperatures rise and melt off any frozen water formations, the accelerated speeds will return.
And with BART about 35 times safer than driving per mile traveled — a figure that’s only increased during bad weather days — you can expect to get around the SF Bay Area quicker (and safer) on rainy days faster than ever before.
Feature image: Courtesy of BART
