Jump to content

The Real

Veteran Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    2,044

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    10

 Content Type 

Posts posted by The Real

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    On 3/22/2018 at 4:13 PM, Blitz said:

    You sure you running the right pressure in your tires? Overfilled tires ride harder that properly filled tires.

    Sure am, running the recommended pressure of between 105-110 psi for the tires on my bus. I do everything to the recommended spec on my personal bus. I plays no games with mines.

    Goodyear commercial tires tend to be of a harder compound than the rest. Firestone commercials tend to ride the softest, especially the FS-Series tires, they ride like you're on a cloud, expensive as all f**k but I will eventually outfit my bus with nothing by Firestones.

    1

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted

    OK FOLKS CALM DOWN

    All of the 1997-98 Novas are not retired.....There is still 4900 and 4901 (which is part of the build production of the 9350-9699 run and not the 4902-5249 run). 4900 was built in the production line after 9593 and 4901 was built in the production line after 9602.

     

    NYMTA Depot Roster Updated as of 3/25/18 @ 10:02AM - http://www.ttmg.org/transitwiki/Insider's_Guide:_Metropolitan_Transportation_Authority_Bus_Operations_-_Depot_Summary

    Fleet Summary Updated as well, we are down 9 buses fleet wide - http://www.ttmg.org/transitwiki/Insider's_Guide:_Metropolitan_Transportation_Authority_Bus_Operations_-_Fleet_Summary

     

     

    3

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted

    11 hours ago, IAlam said:

    I have to disagree with your statement on Gilligs. While I do agree that their buses have gotten better, they are still pretty crappy buses. When I ride those in Buffalo, even their newer 2010 buses rattle like crazy. 

    Additionally, when it comes to the LFS first gen, again in Buffalo, these buses run in extremely harsh conditions, yet they still ride as smooth as the 4th gens that Buffalo just bought. It's amazing because how well the buses have held up for so many years. The only thing that I saw need repair on those buses were the doors, but pretty much everything else was in good condition. In fact, Buffalo started retiring their newer Gilligs over the 2000's LFS because they hold up better. 

    On a side note now that I'm on break and back in the city, I've gotten a couple chances to ride the Xcelsior from CS. HOLLY CRAP like what happened to these buses? Their ride quality is almost as bad as the Gilligs I've ridden in Buffalo. My worse ride was yesterday night when I took the Q44 from the Bronx, I always remember the ride being bumpy with the LFSA's but this was the first time I came from the Bronx with an XD60 and it was absolutely horrible. At this point, I'm not sure if it was the buses or the road that got worse, but I do remember when the XD60's were new they even smoother than the XD40's.

     

    The issue with GILLIGs, is the spec. GILLIG literally will let you either ruin the bus or get the best built bus. Every piece of a GILLIG is up to the property ordering it. Right down to the suspension. MANY take the off the shelf GILLIG which is actually more of a medium-duty spec, which then you get your crappy rides and horrible build. But those that have spec'd heavy duty GILLIGs, get a VERY good bus. It wasn't until I experienced the Minneapolis GILLIG that I got impressed, DASH in Alexandria got a good spec, Ride On in Maryland has a good spec, I was even impressed with the GILLIGs ordered by San Diego, but again, they spec'd them right. All of that matters.

    As for the Novas, they always rode well. But the first gens were rather rough in other areas, Nova got it right with the second generation all around and the third and fourth generations are tanks! BUT again even the Nova LFS can suffer from a poor spec. The New York MTA Novas tend to ride a bit more rigid than any Nova I've ever experienced. The TA spec'd horrible tires and are now changing over the tires. The buses with the changed tires ride a lot more softer. Its crazy, but yes something as simple as a certain tire will change the whole ride quality of a bus. I find that LFS buses with Michelin, Firestone and Bridgestone tires ride like a coach and LFS buses with Goodyears tend to ride like bricks.

    I as a bus owner have seen that with my own bus. I changed my rears to Goodyears as a temporary gap until Im able to get some Firestone FS400s and I noticed immediately a harder ride on the rear of my bus.

    2

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    1 hour ago, Brillant93 said:

    Is it possible TA will order more cng buses once the older ones at WF will be retired in near future? 

    Once the XN60s clear out the Orion VII/CNGs, the oldest CNGs in the fleet, the C40LFs, will only be a mere 7-8 years old....They have at minimum another 7-8 years of service as the Tanks of the C40LFs are rated for 15-20 years of service.

    0

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, MysteriousBtrain said:

    1054-1109 (56) isn't really enough to displace all artic's at WF, especially if the Bx6 SBS/Bx36 will be converted artic full-time. The most I see is the D60s and VIIs leaving the depot. Of course it may not be the case but that's my thoughts.

    Let me start out by saying that these XN60 units are NOT replacement buses for ANY articulateds at West Farms, these XN60s are direct replacements for the 2004 Orion VII/CNG fleet. This fleet of articulated buses is to supplement the current articulated fleet at West Farms which is to allow the conversion of the Bx6SBS and the Bx36 to articulated fleets. The D60s are being displaced slowly by LFSAs coming out of SBS service in Manhattan. 5934 and 5935 have already arrived to West Farms and have been unwrapped.

    1

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    2 hours ago, 4 via Mosholu said:

    Out of the Xcelsior XN40 buses in the 742 to 810 group for Fifth Avenue (Jackie Gleason), which ones are perhaps going to be transferred north to the Coliseum (West Farms) to retire the many ZF Ecolite Orion VII CNG buses in the 7685 to 7819 group?

    Well first of all, the 2004 DCBNA Orion 07.501 CNGs do not have ZF EcoLIFE transmissions in them, they have ZF ECOMAT-2 transmissions. The ONLY buses with ZF Ecolife transmissions are Orion 7 EPA 10 Gen 4 7000-7089; Nova LFSAs 5253-5363, 5439-5530, 5770-5986; Nova LFS 8015-8503; New Flyer XD60 4785-4799, 5364-5438; New Flyer XN40 673-810 and New Flyer XN60 1000-1109.

    Secondly, the information of the exact fleet numbers of XN40 units to be transferred from Gleason to the Farms is not available.

    1

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted

    Just now, JeremiahC99 said:

    Why can’t they transfer the C40LF buses from Gleason to West Farms when they get the XN60 units? Is it because they need more new buses?

     

    The deciding factor in what buses get shifted when a new fleet arrives is based on the average fleet age of a depot. If C40LF units are transferred instead of the XN units, Gleason's average fleet age would be too young. So to balance this, they'll keep all their C40LF units while the new XN60 units displace XN40 units to the Farms. This move also balances out West Farms average fleet age.

    0

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    Amended New Flyer XN60 Order Information

    1000-1015 to West Farms for Bx6 Select Bus Service

    1016-1053 to Gleason for B35 Articulation

    1054-1109 to West Farms for Bx36 Articulation (Of course you'll see them on the Bx15 and 19)

     

    This will allow the retirement of the majority of the 2004 DCBNA Orion 07.501 CNG Low Floor fleet. There is a possibility that Orions with tanks that are not near expiration may be kept, if so, it would be a very small batch (much like how some of the 2002-03 batches hung around). As of now, expect some New Flyer XN40 units to be transferred from Gleason to the Farms when Gleason gets their batch of XN60 units.

    5

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted

    On 3/11/2018 at 3:26 AM, East New York said:

    We've actually talked about this a few times but I will go over it again for the ones that missed it.

    Nova bids on every MTA procurement, however for several reasons they have chosen to go with New Flyer.

    CNG: When MTA awarded the contract they based the evaluation off technical experience. Nova had none at the time and had only delivered 2 CNG buses. 

    Hybrid: MTA decided all the evaluation pilots and most likely all of the of the 275 will go to New Flyer because of the price point. The Nova hybrids are more than $100k more per bus than NFI. Therefore this was a unanimous decision. If the price range would have been similar as is other split Nova/NFI orders they may have got 10 in there as well. In addition, techinal evaluation is always a major point as well as at that time and still currently, Nova has only delivered hybrids to SEPTA. (Not including Canada.) 

    Electric: Of the top 4 manufacturers in MTA's final evaluation, this was "unofficially" the ranking:

    4. Nova: Technical experience and in service evaluation capability is not too bad, but only in Canada, and still very new.

    3. BYD: Technical experience is excellent, however, within the United States the only substantial fleet they have delivered are 10 to LBT. And MTA would like to alter the specs in a way that would likely not be cost effective. Not only that, the platform K9 platform has not completed an MTA New Bus Qualification.  

    2. Proterra: Tech Evaluation is excellent and MTA always monitors what LACMTA and everyone else chooses. They are the highest technically rated hybrid in the country and as they deliver more buses the price will continue to drop. The Specs aren't what MTA is typically used to, but the range on the buses is unmated at this particular time. 

    1. New Flyer: Tech evaluation is not the best because they don't have many buses in service, yet have and will be delivering a substantial amount of buses in the near future. The platform is common to all current models in service and for body and interior maintenance purposes this automatically lowers the over-life maintenance costs. The bus also comes at a great price.

    Final decision. 3 Year Bust Test & Evaluation program. I'm being told MTA is now also evaluating the retention of whatever manufacturer is selected buses we have in service. This however is unconfirmed and as of my last official report this is only a dual lease. I cannnot confirm if there is a lease to buy option. However, from what I have reviewed there's always the option on the table by default. So MTA could in fact purchase 50 buses with only 45 of them being brand new. They would get a great deal on the remaining balance for the 5 winners.

    If somehow MTA decided both buses come out as winners and do a split award things could shake up. 

    I gotta correct you bro.

    At the time of the award for the CNG, Nova had built 2 buses for Calgary, the first Hamilton Street Railway order and was in the middle of building the Buffalo order. New Flyer lied on paper to the MTA about that.

    Also Nova has just about the same amount of technical experience with Hybrids as New Flyer, just because they built more Hybrids for the Canadian properties than US properties doesn't lessen their technical know-how on building and supporting Hybrid buses.

    New Flyer keeps using that "technical experience" excuse to the MTA about Nova, but the truth of the matter is while New Flyer may have been in the CNG game longer than Nova, Nova's technical know-how surpasses New Flyer. On the electrical vehicle front, Nova kicks New Flyer's ass but unlike New Flyer, Nova will not "cheapen" (lower its prices) just to score a bid, Nova knows what its worth. New Flyer, since 2013 has been underbidding itself and is a dangerous gambling game that if they don't watch themselves, they'll go the way of Flxible and Orion...who had tons orders at their close dates, but couldn't financially sustain itself after various financial woes INCLUDING under bidding. From the beginning of the Xcelsior production until around 2013, the X was priced at the most expensive bus on the market, followed by Nova, then Orion and the GILLIG. After 2013, all of a sudden we saw a jump, and a large jump in X orders nationwide, all of a sudden they were beating out GILLIG in markets that was GILLIG strongholds, that was the red flag for me with New Flyer. Some properties are starting to come to their senses about the X product, its still not where it should be in terms of quality for New Flyer to be boasting so much about it. Point Blank, Its Not. New Flyer should've kept the LFR platform around a bit longer and really got the X to where it should be in terms of quality and THEN gotten rid of the LFR, but its not THERE yet, its not.

    Unlike the X....The Nova LFS, the GILLIG Low Floor all have had their time to mature and be the strong built, higher quality buses that they are, not debatable. I hate the the GILLIG Low Floor, with everything in me, but I know a quality built bus when I see it. You know I've been around this industry long enough to know. The Nova LFS, when it first came out was a weak product, it wasn't until the 2nd generation variant that the LFS became a well-built, strong quality product. HELL, even ElDorado has take the time to strengthen that Axxess platform and that a mean ass bus, I'm excited to see how they do in the LACMTA environment. But I say all that the say this, the MTA better be careful with all this New Flyer stuff, none of it sits well with me ESPECIALLY after having lived through and seeing the business and the business practices of many bus manufacturers. Get the X to where it really needs to be because every new order of Xs I've seen around the North American continent, and I've experienced many of Xs between the US and Canada, the quality is just not there yet. Pretty ass buses, yes! But for me that's where it stops.

    3

    MTA Bus Operations: Fleet & Depots

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    Upcoming New Bus Delivery Expectancy Months:

     

    March 2018:

    19 Nova LFS Artics (4 to MQ for SBS, 15 to GH for SBS)

    1 New Flyer XDE40 (1 to GA)

    ____________________________

    April 2018:

    20 Nova LFS Artics (20 to MQ for SBS)

    4 New Flyer XDE40 (4 to GA)

    ____________________________

    May 2018:

    20 Nova LFS Artics (20 to MQ for SBS)

    3 New Flyer XN60s (3 to WF for Bx6 SBS)

    22 New Flyer XD40s (11 to EN, 11 to FB)

    ____________________________

    June 2018:

    14 Nova LFS Artics (14 to MQ for SBS)

    11 New Flyer XN60s (11 to WF for Bx6 SBS)

    27 New Flyer XD40s (11 to EN, 15 to FB, 1 to JA)

    ____________________________

    July 2018:

    16 New Flyer XN60s (2 to WF for Bx6 SBS, 14 to JG for B35)

    24 New Flyer XD40s (21 to FB, 3 to JA)

    ____________________________

    August 2018:

    17 New Flyer XN60s (13 to WF, 4 to JG for B35)

    1 New Flyer XDE40 (1 to GA)

    27 New Flyer XD40s (1 to FB, 8 to FP, 18 to JA)

    ____________________________

    September 2018:

    13 New Flyer XN60s (5 to WF, 8 to JG for B35)

    3 New Flyer XDE40 (3 to GA)

    15 New Flyer XD40s (4 to FP, 11 to GA)

    ____________________________

    October 2018:

    10 New Flyer XN60s (8 to WF, 2 to JG for B35)

    1 New Flyer XDE40 (1 to GA)

    18 New Flyer XD40s (13 to UP, 1 to JG, 4 to MQ)

    ____________________________

    November 2018:

    18 New Flyer XN60s (8 to WF, 10 to JG for B35)

    22 New Flyer XD40s (11 to MQ, 7 to JG, 4 to *TBA Depot for L Train Shuttle)

    ____________________________

    December 2018:

    18 New Flyer XN60s (18 to WF)

    20 New Flyer XD40s (6 to MQ, 14 to *TBA Depot for L Train Shuttle)

    ____________________________

    January 2019:

    3 New Flyer XN60s (3 to WF)

    12 New Flyer XD40s (12 to *TBA Depot for L Train Shuttle)

    ____________________________

    February 2019:

    30 New Flyer XD40s (30 to *TBA Depot for L Train Shuttle)

    ____________________________

    March 2019:

    33 New Flyer XD40s (5 to JA, 28 to *TBA Depot for L Train Shuttle)

    ____________________________

    April 2019:

    44 New Flyer XD40s (15 to JA, 17 to EN, 12 to UP)

    ____________________________

    May 2019:

    37 New Flyer XD40s (10 to JA, 10 to MQ, 8 to FP, 9 to GA)

    ____________________________

    June 2019:

    27 New Flyer XD40s (9 to JA, 8 to MQ, 10 to UP)

    ____________________________

    July 2019:

    8 New Flyer XD40s (3 to MQ, 5 to UP)

     

    All of the current XD40s in SBS at Flatbush will be replaced with a new batch of XD40s in the new SBS scheme, also EN will get some in the SBS scheme for the B82 SBS.

    TBA means TO BE ANNOUNCED, HAS NOT BEEN DECIDED YET! And as with anything MTA, this is current as of now and its subject to change. Any other upcoming deliveries (The 72 addition Nova LFS Artics, the 251 Nova LFS 40-footers and the 131 New Flyer XD60s) are not available yet.

     

    10

    MTA Bus Operations: Deliveries, Moves & Transfers

    in New York City Bus

    Posted · Edited by The Real

    1 hour ago, Train92 said:

    7483 to FB

     

    7 4 8 3   IS NOT HERE... I was just in Flatbush and the bus is not here, in fact it hasn't even been delivered yet. Its on its way yes, maybe sometime early next week. BUT it is and I REPEAT, not here. (Gotta know how to decipher the information you guys are getting from "that site.")

    5
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept