Bombardier opens California facility to assemble BART vehicles

Bombardier Transportation is opening a rail car assembly site in Pittsburg, Calif., that will serve as the assembly location for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District’s (BART) new fleet. BART’s “Fleet of the Future” will be the first rail equipment off the Pittsburg assembly line.

“We are pleased that the new rail cars for Bay Area passengers will now be produced in the Bay Area by Bay Area citizens,” said Elliot G. Sander, president, Americas Division, Bombardier Transportation. “The Pittsburg site will also enable Bombardier to pursue additional business opportunities in the growing rail transit equipment market on the West Coast and to serve this market with increased effectiveness. We’d like to thank the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development for its support, which includes the award of a California Competes Tax Credit,” he added.

Work associated with Bombardier’s 775-car contract with BART is currently occurring in upstate New York, but it will be transferred to the Pittsburg site over the coming months. Bombardier explains the move will serve several purposes including retaining and creating local jobs in Pittsburg and freeing up space at the New York site for new and upcoming East Coast orders.

“The partnership being born between the city of Pittsburg and Bombardier is an important one and one that will benefit Pittsburg, its workforce and the local economy,” said US Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11). “Pittsburg’s history of coal mining and industrial development have shaped the City to what it is today. Workers here have provided value and helped industry succeed. The new jobs coming because of this partnership with Bombardier will follow in that legacy.

BART notes that what used to be a 3,600-mile journey home to the Bay Area, will now be a quick 50 miles for its new fleet. Additionally, BART says the new facility will employ local workers, contribute tax dollars to the local economy and, thanks to its proximity to BART’s Hayward Test Track, greatly reduce the vehicle emissions needed to transport the cars to BART property.

BART unveiled the results of a customer survey regarding the new fleet with most features receiving at least 85 percent "Excellent" or "Good" grades. BART lists some of the fleet’s most well-received features were the ease of on-board and off-boarding the train; lighting; audio announcements; floor-to-ceiling poles; comfortable air temperature; and digital displays.

“The Fleet of the Future cars have received rave reviews from our riders and we are thrilled to welcome Bombardier to the Bay Area,” said BART General Manager Grace Crunican.

Bombardier currently has nearly 500 employees throughout the state of California and the company says the new site further strengthens its U.S. presence and commitment to the U.S. market, and will help it continue to meet Buy America requirements.