Our Breda light rail vehicles have carried San Francisco through years of change and connection.
It’s time to say farewell to an icon of San Francisco transit.
Join us next week for a final ride aboard the Breda light rail vehicles. These trains have been a staple of Muni service for three decades, carrying passengers on more than 10 million trips.
They have taken countless riders to work and school. They made grocery shopping and medical appointments easier for people who cannot or choose not to drive. City residents and visitors alike have depended on them to get to the beach, museums, the theatre and many other destinations.
Now the Breda trains are rolling into retirement. And you’re invited to send them off in style.
- Farewell Ride: Wednesday, Nov. 12 on the J Church line from 11:45 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- Farewell Happy Hour: 4 p.m.– 8 p.m. at Churchill, 198 Church Street
- Live Tracker: Hop on throughout the day — a real-time map is coming soon
Thirty years and millions of memories
We introduced Breda trains at the height of the 1990s dot-com boom. The first Breda went into service in 1996. Over the next eight years, 151 of these vehicles joined the Muni fleet. They replaced our aging Boeing trains and became the backbone of our light rail system.
The Bredas helped expand Muni Metro service from Ocean Beach to Dogpatch. And they powered major milestones in the city’s development.
- The Bredas were there when Pac Bell Park (now Oracle Park) opened, and they made it easier for Giants fans to get to games.
- They were the first trains to run on the T Third line.
The Bredas were designed to meet commuter demand in an evolving city. And they were an integral part of a transit investment that helped promote housing construction and create lively new neighborhoods in the South of Market area. They have been a rolling symbol of how San Francisco innovates.
Three generations of Muni's light rail vehicles built by Boeing, Breda and Siemens.
Moving forward to keep the city moving
We began phasing out the Breda trains in 2021 to make room for the next generation of light rail vehicles. We introduced the state-of-the art Siemens LRV4 trains a few years earlier. They are faster and feature improved wheelchair access to create a better ride for all.
These new trains deliver real results for us and our riders.
- They are three to four times more reliable than Bredas and experience fewer service delays.
- They have onboard predictive diagnostics to help prevent issues before they affect service.
- Their modern crash safety system includes energy absorption in case of collisions.
- They have ergonomic seating, better visibility and intuitive controls for our operators.
Our investment in reliability and a better customer experience is on track with our new Siemens fleet. Each new vehicle helps modernize our system and improve Muni’s overall performance. You can learn more at our light rail upgrade project webpage (SFMTA.com/NewTrains).
For decades the Bredas served a city in motion — supporting San Francisco every mile of the way.
A farewell to remember
Whether you’re a daily rider or a transit history buff, this is your chance to take a Breda for one more spin.
Remember to hop on board for the last day of service on Wednesday, Nov. 12. A Breda train will run on the J church line from 11:45 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- Scheduled Departures Westbound from Embarcadero Station
- 11:45 a.m. · 1:26 p.m. · 3:11 p.m. · 4:56 p.m. · 6:40 p.m. · 8:21 p.m.
- Scheduled Departures Eastbound from Balboa Park Station
- 12:45 p.m. · 2:31 p.m. · 4:15 p.m. · 5:59 p.m. 7:44 p.m.
- Use the live tracker (coming soon!) to confirm arrival and departure times along the line and coordinate your ride.
And you can raise a glass at the Breda Farewell Happy Hour at Churchill from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, one Breda car — #1534 — will be preserved for future generations at the Western Railway Museum in Solano County.
You can read more about San Francisco’s rail history in our Muni Light Rail Through the Years blog post. And to learn more about the Western Railway Museum’s Breda exhibit, visit their website.
Let’s give these trains the send-off they deserve and celebrate their place in the city’s history.