Archive · 13 Nov 2025
San Francisco Train Jolts Violently After Driver Appears Asleep
Imagine a train driver was so tired that they almost fell asleep while driving a train full of people.
Suddenly, the train jerked and sped up really fast while going through a tunnel.
This made the passengers move around a lot, and some even fell down.
The driver told everyone to relax and that they didn't crash, while also saying sorry.
No one got hurt, and the train didn't derail.
The transportation agency is looking into why this happened because of the driver's tiredness.
They are also reminding drivers to get enough rest and are thinking about adding technology to help control train speeds.
A video shows a San Francisco light-rail operator appearing to fall asleep at the controls.
The train surged unexpectedly through a tunnel at nearly 50 mph, causing passengers to be jostled and fall.
The incident occurred on September 24 around 8:37 AM in the Sunset Tunnel, San Francisco.
No injuries or derailment were reported, and the operator apologized to passengers.
The SFMTA is investigating the incident, attributing it to operator fatigue, and is reinforcing fatigue awareness training.
- Who
- A San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) light-rail operator
- What
- Appeared to fall asleep at the controls, causing the train to violently lurch, speed past its stop, and startle passengers.
- When
- September 24, around 8:37 AM
- Where
- Sunset Tunnel, San Francisco
- Why
- Operator fatigue
SFMTA's Stance
Passenger Experience
Safety Prioritization
SFMTA's Stance
The SFMTA emphasizes that safety is their top priority and that they are taking swift action, including reinforcing training and exploring technological solutions.
Passenger Experience
Passengers experienced a frightening incident where they were violently jostled, leading to panic and the belief that a crash might have occurred.
Incident Cause
SFMTA's Stance
The SFMTA has identified operator fatigue as the confirmed cause of the incident.
Passenger Experience
While the SFMTA states fatigue, the immediate passenger perception upon violent lurching would be of a potential crash, a fear directly addressed by the driver's apology.
- Date
- September 24
- Time
- 8:37 AM
- Location
- Sunset Tunnel, San Francisco
- Train Operator Status
- Placed on non-driving status pending review
- Injuries Reported
- None
- Cause
- Operator fatigue
- Train Speed
- Nearly 50 mph (80 kmph)