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> Just because it uses the same rail gauge as intercity freight

BART has a non-standard rail gauge size that precludes it from interoperability with other rail networks.

https://www.bart.gov/news/articles/2022/news20220708-2

I was going to say, it just happens to be one of the handful of systems in the entire continent that does not use standard gauge.

Other ones I'm aware of are Washington DC's metro, and Toronto's subway and streetcars.

Bart is india broad guage - a common enough standed that anyone making train parts will supply what you need. You can's share tracks with other trains but realisticaly you wouldn't do that anyway. If bart isn't running a train on some track it should be closed for maintenance not given to someone else.

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