BART Advanced Automated Train Control (AATC)

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Description[edit]

  • Planned to replace long-troubled BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit, San Francisco) track circuit based designs in a “standalone” manner. Several “kludges” for train separation would be replaced.
  • Derived from military vehicle location and comms system by Hughes Aircraft later acquired by Raytheon.
  • RFRadio Frequency comms provided location by triangulation plus high speed data comms with trains.
  • Turned over to Harmon when Raytheon realized they couldn’t commercialize.
  • Many technical issues with translating from surface to subway application.
  • Development halted by GE after takeover of Harmon and subsequent customer issues.


  • SYSTEM: Advanced Automatic Train Control (BART)
  • SUPPLIER(s): Raytheon then Harmon then GE
  • STRUCTURE: ISO 7 layer
  • MESSAGING STD: Military EPLRS
  • MAX BIT RATE: Very high - 128 KBPS
  • FREQ BAND: UHFUltra High Frequency (300-3000 MHz) – military 420 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz proposed
  • RADIO MFGR: Raytheon (for demonstrations)
  • COMMS RANGE: Short range multiple TXTransmit/RXReceive for location and data transmission
  • COMMS BETWEEN: Among multiple waysides and to trains at all times
  • STATUS: Contract cancelled / project abandoned by GE after Harmon acquisition.