Bay Area Rapid Transit

Prototype Information

Since its opening in 1972, Bay Area Rapid Transit trains have moved commuters and riders around the San Francisco Bay Area using these iconic cars. These pioneering cars were designed specifically to reduce association with aging transit equipment used in other cities. Instead of using traditional railcar manufacturers, BART signed a contract with Rohr Industries to create their first transit vehicles and contracted industrial design firm Sundberg Ferar to develop the trains’ futuristic look.

Besides being recognized for its status as a ground-breaking achievements of civil engineering, BART is also known for its roster of very distinctive rolling stock. The original cab and center cars (A Cars and B cars) built by Rohr Industries between 1968 and 1975 were mechanically identical, with the exception of the cab overhanging one end of the A cars. Despite being the face of the system, the streamlined fiberglass cab became an operational issue as they limited flexibility in building trainsets. To resolve this, the first of the “C Cars” were delivered in 1987 by Alsthom, featuring a more traditional flat cab, allowing them to be used both on the ends as well as in the middle of the consist. Additional C Cars were built by Morrison-Knudsen between 1994 and 1996.