Dubbed eBart, the new line will utilise standard-gauge rather than 1676mm-gauge infrastructure used by conventional Bart lines and is due to enter service in 2015. Bart officials say the $US 462m project is around 60% cheaper than conventional electric Bart services, with the new service linking the existing terminus at Pittsburg Bay Point with a new station on Hillcrest Avenue in Antioch, using an alignment in the centre of California state highway 4.

The GTW trains are based on 37 trains that Stadler has already delivered to the United States, including 20 to New Jersey Transit, 11 to Denton County Transportation Authority in northwest Dallas, and six for Austin's Capital Metro. The vehicles will be manufactured at Stadler's factory in Bussnang, Switzerland.

For more on Bart's ambitious expansion plans, see the January 2012 issue of IRJ p22, or click here.