BART's 'Valentraine' Speed Dating Train Draws Over 200 Singles

The one-hour trip from 16th Street Mission to Millbrae and back blended timed conversations and looser mingling.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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More than 200 Bay Area singles squeezed onto a reserved BART train on Valentine's Day for the agency's second annual 'Valentraine' speed-dating event. The one-hour trip left from 16th Street Mission, ran nonstop to Millbrae and back, and blended timed, musical-chair-style conversations with looser mingling on the return. Riders ranged from transit enthusiasts to people openly hunting for a spouse, and many compared the experience to app-based dating.

Why it matters

BART frames Valentraine and similar events as part of a broader push to get people back on trains and to rebrand the system as safe, social and community-focused, especially after pandemic-era ridership declines.

The details

The $5 ticketed event boarded at the 16th Street Mission Station and ran from a 5 p.m. check-in to a 7 p.m. return, with four cars set aside and about 50 people per car. On the outbound leg, the train ran on strict speed-dating rules: four-minute conversations, a bell to signal each rotation, then everyone switched seats. The ride back loosened up into free mingling, and organizers encouraged riders to swap contact info if a four-minute chat actually sparked something.

  • The Valentraine event took place on February 14, 2026.
  • The train ran from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The players

BART

The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, which operates the regional public transportation system.

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What’s next

BART plans to continue hosting the Valentraine speed dating event annually as part of its efforts to increase ridership and promote the system as a social hub.

The takeaway

BART's Valentraine event demonstrates how public transit agencies are exploring creative ways to attract riders, build community, and destigmatize taking public transportation, especially among younger urban dwellers who may be more accustomed to app-based dating and socializing.