San Francisco's Subway: Muni Metro — Light Rail, Not Heavy Rail

Yes, San Francisco has a subway system—but it’s light rail (Muni Metro), not a heavy-rail metro like NYC’s or BART.

Muni Metro (SFMTA)

• Lines: 6 (J Church, K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, N Judah, T Third Street — plus S Shuttle).
• Subway Segment: Market Street Subway (Embarcadero → Castro, shared with BART) + Twin Peaks Tunnel (West Portal → Forest Hill → Eureka Valley) — ~5.5 miles underground.
• Surface Running: Most lines emerge to street-level tracks in neighborhoods (dedicated lanes or mixed traffic).
• Fleet: Breda LRV2/3 (151 cars), new Siemens S200 (260 on order).
• Fare: $3 (Clipper/MuniMobile); free transfers 120 min.

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) — The Real Heavy Rail

• Regional system (SF, East Bay, Peninsula, SFO/OAK airports).
• Grade-separated, 3rd rail, 80 mph, 131 miles, 50 stations.
• Shared Market St. Subway with Muni (Embarcadero → Civic Center).

Cable Cars & Streetcars — The Icons

• Cable Cars (3 lines): Only moving National Historic Landmark. Tourist essential.
• F Market & Wharves: Historic PCC streetcars (Market St → Fisherman’s Wharf).
• E Embarcadero: Historic streetcars (Caltrain → Fisherman’s Wharf).

Bottom Line

SF’s "subway" is a light-rail tunnel core with surface branches. For cross-town speed, BART is the backbone. For neighborhood access, Muni Metro + buses. For the postcard, Cable Cars. The system is fragmented, underfunded, and beloved — like the city itself.