San Francisco’s Train System Still Uses Floppy Disks—and Will for Years

In a world where technology is constantly evolving and advancing, it may come as a surprise to learn that San Francisco’s train system still relies on floppy disks for certain operations.

Despite the outdated nature of floppy disks, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system has been using them for several decades to control crucial functions such as train schedules and operations. This reliance on obsolete technology is not something that can be easily replaced, as the entire system was built around these floppy disks.

According to BART officials, updating the train system to a more modern form of technology would be incredibly costly and time-consuming. As a result, they have no immediate plans to transition away from floppy disks, meaning that they will continue to be an integral part of the system for years to come.

While the use of floppy disks may seem antiquated, it serves as a reminder that not all systems can easily adapt to new technology. In the case of San Francisco’s train system, it appears that floppy disks are here to stay—at least for the foreseeable future.