BART A and B car Midlife Rebuilding (Refurbishment) (1997-2002)

Metro Magazine, July/August 1997 (Pacific Bus Museum Collection)

During the turn of the century, as part of a systemwide rehabilitation program, all remaining 439 Rohr A and B cars were rebuilt (rehabbed) into A2 and B2 cars.

This rebuilding included the conversion from DC to AC propulsion, new Auxilary Power Supply Equipment, rebuilt trucks and suspension, new air compressor, new brake system/hydraulic piping, new battery, new doors, 50% new glass, new carpet, ADA improvements, cleaned and repaired car body, and new cabs.

Many intercar closure doors, many cab doors, glass, trucks, and of course the carbodies were reused for the fleet.

This rebuild, roughly 25-28 years in for the cars, allowed for another quarter century of service from the originally Rohr built fleet.

Rebuilt A cars, (fleet numbers 101-276) were either rebuilt with a cab (and renamed A2 cars, fleet numbers 1164-1276), or rebuilt without a cab (converted into B2 cars, fleet numbers 1838-1913). B cars (fleet numbers 501-774, 801-837) were rebuilt into B2 cars (fleet numbers 1501-1774, 1801-1837).

With the completion of the rebuilding program, it has become common parlance to refer to A2 cars as A cars, and B2 cars as B cars. In all but historical context (the focus of this site), the terms A and A2 / B and B2 are interchangeable.

Click on the photos below for full detail and credits.

Depending on the year rebuilt, each A2 and B2 car has this plate mounted on the X end, facing stage left.

Flowchart of car histories

Last updated: 1/28/23