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New BART service to Oakland International Airport now open

How to use the service

 

bart to oak trains

It’s fast, it’s frequent, and it’s convenient.  BART’s new train to plane service, “BART to OAK,” which provides an easy connection to Oakland International Airport, opened for passenger service on Saturday, November 22, 2014.

Clean, Easy, and Quick Service 

Riders can now board one of four three-car automated people movers at either the Coliseum Station or the Oakland International Airport Station and take the eight-minute ride at 30 mph.  

“The ride and the experience alone are memorable,” said BART General Manager Grace Crunican.  “Riders get a 360 degree view from the windows surrounding the entire car as you travel over the traffic below.  It’s a cable propelled system with light-weight and quiet trains, so it’s like gliding through the air.”   

Trains arrive every 5 minutes during peak commute hours (8am-8pm) and drop off and pick up riders just steps away from both terminals at OAK.  BART riders have a quick and easy train to train transfer at the Coliseum station.  Riders can use a BART ticket or a Clipper Card. The complete schedule can be found below.

Sample one-way adult fares between the new Oakland International Airport Station and various stations throughout the system include: from Downtown Oakland stations: $7.85; from Downtown San Francisco stations: $10.05; from Downtown Berkeley station $8.50; from Walnut Creek station $9.70; from Fremont $9.85; from Dublin Pleasanton station: $9.80.  Fare listings can be found here: http://www.bart.gov/tickets/calculator

The project team has already won awards for the systems' innovative engineering and forward use of technology.  The project broke ground in 2010 and construction cost $484 million.  As of Saturday, November 22nd, AirBART buses will no longer be in operation.

Hundreds Turn out for Celebration

Nearly 700 people took a free ride during the public celebration held Friday, November 21, 2014.  It was a day for music, raffles, speeches and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, in addition to the free trips celebrating the debut of the automated, elevated service that provides a smooth eight-minute ride to the airport.

ribbon cutting

“The Bay Area is making history by becoming only the second major metro area in the nation where two or more of its airports are served by a direct train-to-plane connection,” Crunican said at the ceremony, noting Chicago as the other. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Where do I buy my ticket? 
Ticket vending machines are available at the Coliseum Station, and ticket vending machines are located on the new Platform 3.  A ticket is not necessary when leaving the Airport and riding to the Coliseum Station, however, once at the Coliseum Station, you must pay to get out and to continue onto your final BART destination.  Fare machines are available when you get off the train at the Coliseum Station Platform 3, before proceeding to the train to the airport, or after arriving at Coliseum Station from the airport.

Can I buy a ticket at the airport?
No.  Customers will ride the BART to OAK train to the Coliseum Station Platform 3 where ticket-vending machines are located.

What if my plane gets delayed; will the train wait?
In order to maintain the frequent train arrivals, the train will not wait for passengers approaching. Holding doors could disable the system.

Can I take my luggage on the system?
Yes.

Can I take my bike on the system?
Yes. For complete BART bike rules go to www.bart.gov/bikes.

Are wheelchairs accommodated?
Yes. The entire system is ADA compliant. There are elevators and escalators to access platforms at both stations. All facilities are built to accommodate physically and visually impaired patrons.

Learn more about the newly installed, original art at the Coliseum Station side of the station here, and the Oakland International Airport Station here.  

Follow the excitement of the grand opening on our Storify page

bart to oak schedule

Read the BART to OAK construction project fact sheet here.

Watch the video showing how to go from the Oakland International Airport to the Coliseum Station here.

Watch the video showing how to go from the Coliseum Station to the Oakland International Airport here.

Details about the service can be found here.