BART powers up first new substation in over 50 years
Civic Centre substation boosts energy capacity by 18 %, supporting service reliability and future train expansion through San Francisco.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, California, San Francisco: BART has energised a new traction power substation at Civic Centre Station, the first facility of its kind added to the system’s core since its original construction in the 1960s. Completed in late April, the project increases the available power for San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) service by nearly 18 %, directly enhancing train reliability and supporting future expansion.
The substation is part of BART’s Transbay Corridor Core Capacity Programme (TCCCP), which includes five new substations to support higher train frequencies, especially through the Transbay Tube. The Civic Centre site was prioritised due to its high train frequency and strategic downtown location.
Two 5-MW transformers now power the electrified third rail, converting energy from PG&E. The facility features advanced diagnostics, allowing real-time issue detection and faster response from BART’s Operations Control Centre.
Installing the substation below Market Street posed logistical challenges. Equipment weighing up to 17 t (37,000 lbs) was lowered through a 4.5-by-4.5 m (15-by-15-ft) hatch using a 32-m (106-ft) crane, with nighttime work completed during a three-hour system closure window.
The project required coordination with multiple agencies and strict adherence to modern codes, despite being built into a brownfield site, meaning a site was already developed decades earlier. The full process, including design, permitting, and commissioning, spanned several years.
Next in line is a new substation at Montgomery St. Station, already nearing construction completion.
Source: Railway Age
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