Users' questions

Are the San Francisco cable cars running today?

Are the San Francisco cable cars running today?

Cable car service was halted back in March of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, only the Powell-Hyde line is back open. The line runs between the Union Square neighborhood and Fisherman’s Wharf.

What are cable cars pulled by now?

There, powerful electric motors (originally a stationary steam-powered engine) drive giant winding wheels that pull cables through a trench beneath the street, centered under the cable car tracks (that’s what’s in that slot between the tracks). The four motors and cables driving the cable car system. SF Muni photo.

How do you pay for a cable car in San Francisco?

Payment options

  1. Cash: they say exact change only on the official site, but they actually do make change for smaller bills ($20 bills and below).
  2. Paper tickets: purchase these one-way tickets at the ticket booths located near the cable car turnarounds at each end of the route.

Where was the first cable car in San Francisco?

The side grip allowed cable cars to cross at intersections. In 1878, Leland Stanford opened his California Street Cable Railroad (Cal Cable). This company’s first line was on California Street and is the oldest cable car line still in operation. In 1880, the Geary Street, Park & Ocean Railway began operation.

How to get cable car tickets in San Francisco?

Clipper® Card: Clipper is the all-in-one transit card for the Bay Area. Use your Clipper card on all major Bay Area transit systems, including Muni. Cash: Exact change is required. Please visit our Fares page for all cable car ticket details. Our city’s busy streets and steep hills can make for an exciting ride.

Where is the cable car barn in San Francisco?

As of 2018, the cable car barn was staffed with 17 mechanics, six custodians, three carpenters, two painters, two supervisors and one superintendent. The car barn is situated directly above the power house and the Cable Car Museum. The museum’s entrance is at Washington and Mason.

How often are cable cars used in San Francisco?

While the cable cars are used to a certain extent by commuters, the vast majority of their seven million annual passengers are tourists, and as a result, the wait to get on can often reach two hours or more.