DB Engineering & Consulting (ECO) North America is providing technical modelling support for the Link21 rail infrastructure project in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This transformation of the region’s rail system aims to connect local and long-distance rail services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

A San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train

In September 2021, the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) awarded a 55 million USD planning and engineering contract to Arup for the Link21 project. As part of the contract, DB ECO has announced that it is providing technical modelling support for key components of the transformation.

At the core of the Link21 project is a second transbay passenger rail crossing between Oakland and San Francisco.

To support service and operations planning, DB ECO is developing project alternatives and business case analyses for this crossing.

The crossing between San Francisco and Oakland will potentially provide a second tunnel across the San Francisco Bay for BART and will be the first tunnel for main line regional and intercity rail under the bay.

The potential to connect regional trains under the bay would present significant opportunities for rail travel in the region.

To date, DB ECO has completed initial analyses to inform engineering works and future operating patterns for the new network.

It has also used VIRIATO software to develop a digital infrastructure and operations model that connects inputs from the engineering team with service concept designs from the planning team to provide outputs for the business case and cost analysis.

DB ECO’s analysis is also used to enhance operations at San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center station. This analysis will be utilised by the Link21 project, as the station will serve as a major connection point from San Francisco to Los Angeles and Sacramento.

source= https://railway-news.com/db-eco-supports-planning-for-san-franciscos-link21-transbay-crossing/