>>886345Ideally that would be the case. What I'm suggesting would take decades in the unlikely even it were to happen. Ideally you'd somehow get BART using larger more "commuter train" sized cars (ala Metro-North) as a compromise. Such a solution would fit the agency's original plan as "one unified bay area commuter rail system". But again, it would require triple tracking all existing track to standard gauge, redoing every station platform, possibly widening the original transbay tube (if such a thing is even possible) and installing third rail along Caltrain's corridor (which would, at least, require complete grade separation).
Again I'm not suggesting that this is likely or even possible, but it would probably be (from a technical angle) feasible. My biggest gripe with BART is that right next to most of their tracks in the east bay is regular track (though at a different grade). I realize why this was done, and the benefits of doing so, but regardless the end result is that the ROW is split between two different and incompatible systems. Ideally (and again, I'm aware that this is fantasy) the state would pony up money to fix past mistakes. This way, you could get a single bay area commuter transit system with Amtrak for express/intercity service.
Again, it's worth restating that BART and CA has no plans to do any of this. The former is focusing on getting their new cars and the latter is focusing on modernizing Caltrain, ACE and doing HSR.
