Automatic control for making and breaking trains bay area rapid transit system

The Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), as part of its overall service improvement program, is implementing a highly flexible turnback complex at its Daly City terminal station. When BART completes this facility and has put its new "C" cars (which can function as front, rear, or mid-train cars) into service, one of the operational functions in the turnback area will be the break-up and make-up of trains. In order to facilitate this make-up/ break-up process and to minimize the amount of train radio traffic, a control system is being designed that will assist in the automatic routing of trains and assigning of speed codes in the turnback area. This new system will utilize existing BART control concepts and equipment as well as upgraded and modified equipment.