OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco Bay area evening commuters are lining up early for ferries and free buses after hundreds of train workers went on strike, bringing the region’s heavily used rail system to a standstill.

Workers began the strike on Monday after negotiations broke down between Bay Area Rapid Transit and its two largest unions.

By late afternoon, traffic on area freeways was backing up in some areas.

Morning rush hour did not come to a standstill as feared, and some travelers who used carpool lanes and other options added relatively little time to their commutes.

Workers want a 5 percent raise annually over the next three years. BART has offered a 1 percent annual raise over four years.

BART also wants to raise the cost of health care premiums and have workers pay into pensions.