Subway Closures Start this Month for Testing New Muni Trains

A late night arrival of a new Muni LRV is attended with excitement.

Earlier this year, Muni's new light-rail vehicles (LRVs) started arriving and undergoing testing on city streets to go into revenue service by the end of this year. While testing has been ongoing for months, none of it has been in the subway system. That is about to change as underground services are set to close down on weeknights and weekends for a month so this crucial step of rigorous testing can take place.

The testing requires the Muni subway to close early on weeknights and over the weekends for four weeks. Testing will begin with the start of service on Saturday, July 22 (approximately 7 a.m.) and continue until the end of regular service on Sunday, Aug. 20 (approximately 1 a.m., Monday).

There will be no testing during Outside Lands, Aug. 11 to 13. Trains will operate on the surface portion of the lines with Muni bus shuttles running between Embarcadero Station and St. Francis Circle. The subway testing will be conducted between West Portal and Montgomery stations; Embarcadero Station will remain open for T Line customers.

Here is a rundown of the schedule:

Subway Closure for Testing of New Light-Rail Vehicles

Saturday, July 22 through Sunday, August 20 (except Aug. 11 - 13). For details, such as stop locations, please visit our alerts page.

During the new Muni train testing, bus shuttles will operate between Embarcadero and St. Francis and Sloat (or St. Francis Circle).

Weeknights (Mondays through Fridays):  Muni Metro service between Montgomery and West Portal stations will close at 9:30 p.m. The last train will depart between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Muni bus shuttles will operate between Embarcadero Station and Saint Francis Circle from 9 p.m. Shuttles on Market Street will stop at all Muni Shuttle Flag stops (with yellow half-moon flags).

Weekends (8 a.m. Saturday through Start of Monday Regular Service):  Muni Metro service between West Portal and Montgomery stations will be closed throughout the weekend. Muni bus shuttles will operate between Embarcadero Station and Saint Francis Circle throughout the weekend. Shuttles on Market Street will stop at all Muni Shuttle Flag stops (with yellow half-moon flags). On weekends only, additional bus shuttles will operate between Embarcadero and Church at Duboce.

Note: BART service will not be affected.

During subway shutdowns, surface train service will be in operation:

• J Church: Between Balboa Park Station and Church/Duboce. Note: Northbound J trains will continue as N Judah trains to Ocean Beach.
• K Ingleside: Between Saint Francis and Sloat (or St. Francis Circle) and Balboa Park
• L Taraval: Between SF Zoo and West Portal Ave. and Ulloa. Note: Eastbound L trains will continue as M Ocean View trains to San Jose and Geneva.
• M Ocean View: Between San Jose at Geneva and West Portal Ave. and Ulloa. Note: Eastbound M trains will continue as L Taraval trains towards the Zoo.
• N Judah: Between Ocean Beach and Church at Duboce. Note: Eastbound N trains will continue as J Church trains to Balboa Park Station.
• T Third: Between Embarcadero Station and Sunnydale

There are several Giants games scheduled during the testing period. On weekday evening games, Muni Metro trains will operate outbound (to and through the subway) from the ballpark for approximately 90 minutes after the games. Customers will only be able to exit the stations.

During the subway closures for testing, we will also conduct maintenance work in the subway tunnel.

For more project information about the new Muni LRVs, please visit the project page.