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The Muni Metro is a streetcar-like network which runs underground in the city centre with 8 underground stations. Along Market Street, the tunnel is shared by the Muni Metro (upper level) and BART (lower level). The western section of the tunnel between a point west of Castro station and West Portal, the so-called Twin Peaks Tunnel (3.5 km), was opened on 3 Feb 1918 with one underground station at Forest Hill.

The central tunnel is used by all Muni Metro lines (lines K and T are operated jointly), with lines J and N leaving through a portal west of Van Ness station. At the eastern end, lines J, M and L reverse in the underground sidings beyond Embarcadero station, while lines N and T surface before reaching the Folsom stop.

While the western branches have a very basic streetcar alignment, with stops identified by a simple yellow paint on some nearby pole, the new branch from Embarcadero to Sunnydale runs on its own right-of-way with high-level platforms and can thus be classified as a proper light rail line. Along the tunnel stretch, Muni Metro vehicles are operated in ATO mode. Along the western branches, only two stops have full high-level platforms; at several others there are ramps which allow disabled passengers to board at the front door.

The Muni Metro T line, which opened in April 2007, was extended underground north from King Street along Fourth Street, entering a new Central Subway near Bryant Street. It crosses beneath Market Street and continues under Stockton Street. Underground stations are located at Moscone Center, Union Square/Market Street (interchange with BART and Muni Metro at Powell Street station) and Clay Street in Chinatown. A weekend-only service was launched on 19 Nov 2022 between Chinatown-Rose Pak and 4th & Brannan, while regular through service started on 07 Jan 2023.

Feb 1980: Market Street Subway (Van Ness - Embarcadero)
June 1980: Market Street Subway (Van Ness - West Portal)
1998: Embarcadero - Caltrain Station
07 April 2007: 4th & King (Caltrain Station) - Sunnydale (T line, 8.2 km)
19 Nov 2022: Chinatown-Rose Pak - 4th & Brannan (weekend-only service)
07 Jan 2023: 4th & King - Chinatown/Rose Pak (regular through service - T line, 2.5 km)

Station by Station Gallery

Station by Station Gallery

MUNI Metro at New York Subway Resources incl. many photos

Market Street Railway (F-line)

Jon Bell's San Francisco Page incl. photos

Muni Metro Station by Station Gallery

Transbay Transit Center (Project Website)

California High Speed Rail (Project Website)

San Francisco County Transportation Authority

SUBWAYS & LIGHT RAIL
in the U.S.A.
-- The Book! --
Vol. 2: The West

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