Separate incidents with Muni’s overhead wire system caused hours-long delays and setbacks for thousands of transit passengers starting this afternoon and extending into the evening commute, transit officials said.
Normal train service is not expected to return on three major lines until the Friday morning commute.
The service disruptions on the K-Ingleside, M-Ocean View and L-Taraval lines between the West Portal and Van Ness stations began at 1:37 p.m. when a problem with a pantograph, the electrical arm that connects Muni vehicles to their overhead power source, forced the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to shut down Metro service between the two stations.
The problem occurred at the Church Street station, SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose said. Buses were deployed and are expected to remain in place between Van Ness and West Portal stations overnight while the SFMTA works on fixing the problem. Officials expect train service to resume for the morning commute.
The N-Judah and J-Church lines are operating normally.
Also, just before 2 p.m., a truck ripped down overhead wires at Church and Market streets, causing delays for aboveground service.
The F-Market streetcar line was forced to switch back at the scene, and Muni buses were diverted around the accident site, Rose said.
