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Fleet of the Future Rail Car Procurement

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In 2012, BART selected Bombardier Transit Corporation (now Alstom) to design and build the Fleet of the Future, a new generation of train cars tailored to BART’s unique system. The project involves a highly complex process of design, engineering, supply chain coordination, manufacturing, and testing.

BART’s rail system is unlike any other in the U.S., with train cars that are the lightest for their size, prioritizing energy efficiency. Because of these unique specifications, the cars had to be designed from the ground up, as standard off-the-shelf models were not compatible.

After extensive lab testing on propulsion, braking, motor, and HVAC systems, ten pilot cars were delivered and rigorously tested throughout 2017 on dedicated tracks and within BART’s operating system—largely outside of normal service hours. Following approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, these cars entered passenger service in January 2018.

The full program includes procurement of up to 1,129 new rail cars to replace BART’s aging fleet and expand system capacity. The project is being delivered through two contracts with the same manufacturer to ensure seamless production continuity. Totaling $3.5 billion, the program is scheduled for completion by 2026.

The first phase, which procured 775 rail cars, has already achieved $394 million in cost savings, demonstrating both operational and financial efficiencies.

Refer to BART website for more project information:

https://www.bart.gov/about/projects/cars

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