Yes, it smells like new car. #FleetOfTheFuture pic.twitter.com/dOB580FUw8
— SFBART (@SFBART) April 6, 2016
BART's "fleet of the future" is coming, but with full deployment of the new train cars not expected until at least 2019, riders on the increasingly crowded old trains often feel like they're stuck in a very grimy past. But tomorrow allows you the briefest of chances to break free of that reality — if only for a moment. BART officials announced that they are opening up one of the new cars for curious commuters to check out from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre Station.
That's right, tomorrow afternoon you can plop your butt down on the future of Bay Area transit.
It will be free to get into the station to view the train, and, what's more, BART is handing out tchotchkes. "The first 200 visitors each day will receive a commemorative toy train," officials promise. "The toys were donated to BART."
Can't make it tomorrow? Not a problem! There are three more opportunities to run your hands over the seats before they become soiled with use: Sunday, October 16 at the MacArthur Station from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, October 29 at the Dublin/Pleasanton Station from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the same times on Sunday, October 30 at the El Cerrito del Norte Station.
The below video of the first new test car arriving should get you pumped up for your trip tomorrow morning, on one of BART's "fleet of the present" train cars, to Pleasant Hill.
Related: Photos: First Look Inside That New BART Car, Bike Racks And All