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Tangled Lines Disrupt Muni Metro Service, Hassle Commuters

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Three San Francisco Muni Metro lines were out of service Thursday afternoon after a train that was moving between the Castro and Church stations pulled down some overhead electrical lines.

The incident happened at 1:30 p.m. when the pole that sticks out of the top of the train, called the pantograph, became tangled in electrical wires.

"We have a major disruption to three of our subway lines: the K, L and M," said Muni trains operation director John Hailey. "It was caused by extensive overhead damage between the Church Station and Castro."

Passengers aboard the train were not hurt.

KCBS' Bob Butler Reports:

"The wires are wrapped around the pantograph," said Hailey. "So it's a painstaking process first to get the train out and then assess the damage and make repairs."

Bus shuttles have been put in place to get passengers around the mess. Crews expect the tunnel to be open again before the Friday morning commute.

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