A2 Cars

Background

The distinctive shape of the A car lives on today as the A2 car. These A2 cars feature the iconic sloped fiberglass cab and space age styling of the original A cars, but with modernized equipment and interiors. For more details on the design of the BART car, see the Design page. For more details on the rebuilding program, see the rebuilding program page. All A cars were converted into either B2 cars or A2 cars.

All 59 A2 cars were previously A cars. For the A car number, subtract 1000 from the current A2 car number.

These cars are only used as lead or trailing units in revenue service.

In common parlance, A2 cars are known as A cars. This is generally ok, since the rebuilding program finished over 20 years ago, however it has lead to some confusion regarding the original A cars that ran in years past (#101-276) and the current (#1164-1276) A2 cars.

1225 at South Hayward Station

Full fleet numbers are as follows:
1164, 1195, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1208, 1210, 1212, 1218, 1219, 1220, 1223, 1225, 1226, 1227, 1228, 1229, 1230, 1231, 1232, 1233, 1234, 1235, 1236, 1238, 1239, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1244, 1245, 1247, 1248, 1249, 1250, 1251, 1252, 1253, 1254, 1255, 1256, 1257, 1258, 1259, 1260, 1261, 1262, 1263, 1264, 1265, 1266, 1267, 1269, 1270, 1272, 1274, 1275, 1276

(Gaps between fleet numbers indicate those missing cars became B2 cars (Fleet No. 1801-1913). See the A to B conversion page to learn more about this conversion process.)

As of 2021, they can be found with regularity on the Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green line. They are not as frequently seen on the Blue line.

A2 car 1208 was the first to be scrapped. A2 car 1267 collided with a D car in 2021, and was scrapped following the incident. Car 1204 derailed in June 2022, and 1205 hit a crashed pickup in May 2023, leaving 55 A2 cars in service.

As of June 2023, 55 of the original 59 car fleet are left in service.

General Details

Original Builder: Rohr Industries, Inc.
Original Build Location: Chula Vista, CA Rohr Plant, Building 61
Original Years of Construction: 1973 (1164-1250), 1975 (1251-1276)
Rebuilder: Adtranz/Bombardier
Rebuild Location: Pittsburg, CA
Rebuild Years: 1997-2002
Rebuild cost: Aprox $1.0 million/car
Quantity: 59
Length: 75 feet
Weight (Empty): 61,500 - 63,100 lb
Seats: 60, 53 (1218 only)
Propulsion: Adtranz AC IGBT-VVVF drive with 4 X 140 HP ADtranz 1507C motors
Brakes: Knorr dynamic/regenerative to 3 mph, Hydraulic friction braking below 3 mph.
Auxiliary Power Supply Equipment (APSE): Bombardier
HVAC: Wabtech, 15 ton
Truck: LFM-Rockwell cast steel, model HPD-3
Electronic Horn: Federal Signal
Air Horn: Grover
Coupler: Wabco N3 (Mechanical only, typically stowed - for Y end. X end has mechanical and electrical connections)