Thales subway signalling system to offer superior connectivity to the residents of San Francisco & Chinatown

• The Central Subway line connecting Sunnydale to Chinatown on the Muni 3rd Street line entered revenue service on January 7, 2023.
• This new subway connects people to popular destinations such as Chinatown, Union Square, Yerba Buena Gardens, the Moscone Convention Centre, the Metreon and SFMOMA.
• Thales SelTrac™ signaling system equipped on the line provides maximum performance in headways, passenger throughput, and energy conservation.

In 2014, Thales, a global leader in innovative transportation solutions, received a contract from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) for the design and construction of advanced train control technology for the new Central Subway project. The new Central Subway line entered revenue service on January 7, 2023.

This line extends 1.7-miles in length, connecting Sunnydale to Chinatown via 4 new stations from Chinatown-Rose Pak at Stockton and Clay streets, Union Square/Market Street Station at Geary and Stockton streets, Yerba Buena/Moscone Station at 4th and Folsom and the new 4th & Brannan stop at 4th and Brannan streets.

Today, transit users can commute between Union station and Chinatown in a safe and time-efficient manner. The SelTrac™ train control solution installed on the line compliments low life-cycle costs, increases revenue by moving more people more quickly and supports the city to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Central Subway line connects to the Market Street line, intersecting at Powell Station. Market Street runs from Embarcadero station to Van Ess station and is equipped with SelTrac™, the legacy system that entered revenue service in 1998.

“Through our strong collaboration with San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), we are proud to be a part of the MUNI network expansion. The new Central Subway line will offer superior connectivity to the residents of San Francisco and make Chinatown more accessible for all.” - Alcino DE SOUSA, Vice President and Managing Director, Urban Rail Signalling, Thales.

SFMTA is the seventh largest public transit agency in the United States, providing transit services to more than 200 million riders annually. The Central Subway Project is the second phase of the SFMTA Third Street Light Rail Transit Project.