BART Brings Back 10-Car Trains as Ridership Rebounds

USA: BART is running longer peak-period trains across several lines as weekday ridership recovers, with selected Red and Yellow Line services now operating with 10-car formations.

BART reduced train lengths almost three years ago, shifting from 10-car trains to six- or eight-car formations in part to support more frequent service. With ridership now above 200,000 average weekday trips and crowding returning on some trains, the operator has moved back toward longer consists during the busiest periods.

Longer trains target the busiest periods

According to BART’s August 2026 service update, peak-period Red Line trains are being operated as 10-car trains, replacing a mix of eight- and six-car formations. On the Yellow Line, eight of the busiest morning trains and six of the busiest afternoon trains are also being increased to 10 cars from nine.

The Green Line is gaining two additional eight-car morning trains toward San Francisco, while the Blue Line adds one extra eight-car afternoon train toward the East Bay. Some shorter trains remain outside peak periods, and the Orange Line largely stays at six cars.

BART began introducing the longer formations on July 20, and the changes will carry into the new system schedule taking effect on August 10.

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Capacity changes come as ridership rises

The move follows a sustained recovery in ridership. BART reported that June 2026 ridership was 18.6% higher than a year earlier, while FY2026 ended with 59.5 million exits, up 13% from the previous fiscal year. March had already become the first month since the pandemic in which average weekday ridership exceeded 200,000 trips.

That growth has brought renewed crowding pressure, particularly at peak times. BART has not published a system-wide figure for the extra passenger capacity created by the longer trains, so the practical effect is best measured by the additional cars assigned to the busiest services rather than by an unsupported network-wide percentage.

The longer trains will coincide with BART’s August 10 timetable change, which is intended to produce more even headways, improve transfers and reduce train congestion. Riders are being advised to check revised departure times before the new schedule takes effect.