RailBus63

On 12/23/2023 at 8:03 PM, PhilFromCA said:

Thanks.  Nothing in The Bronx?

I've photographed on the Bronx elevated lines with a DSLR without issue. Generally speaking, be aware of your surroundings and try to stay in areas around other people, preferably with some way of avoiding any sketchy looking people if they start to take interest in what you're doing (in other words, don't get trapped by yourself out at the end of a platform with no exit that way).

On 10/20/2023 at 9:54 PM, RSMG106 said:

For the next 250 express bus order to Bus Co., Prevost was awarded the contract. There is also an option order of 131 more buses if needed. Deliveries are scheduled to start from April 2025 to August 2026 with 15 units per month. If the accepts the option order, then deliveries would start from August 2026 to March 2027 with 16-17 units per month. This order will replace all MCI D4500CLs and MCI D4500CTs. This could also add some fleet expansion if the accepts the option order.

https://new.mta.info/document/124311 

This must be funded by bond or state money, since Prevost will be building these buses in Quebec and thus the contract would not met the federal 'Buy America' rules.  

12 hours ago, A Former New Yorker said:

I've been thinking about setting up a transit company operating in NYC. I already have ideas for routes and know how to do scheduling such but idk the exact steps to properly pull it off like how does one find a garage location or if it's possible that the MTA would gives away retired buses or if we have to buy our own and also how does one advertise our services to the general community/areas we will serve. I'm genuinely serious about persuading this and would like help make transit in NYC the best it can be

Sorry to be blunt, but forget about it - the MTA has a monopoly on public transportation in the city. 

This incident in Bakersfield CA may delay the MTA's rollout of hydrogen buses - a New Flyer XHE40 was destroyed in a fire at the agency's fuel station.

https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/fire-engulfs-new-hydrogen-bus-and-fueling-station-at-golden-empire-transit-kern-county-bakersfield-fire-department-get-bus

On 7/18/2023 at 12:50 AM, Around the Horn said:

It says a lot about the state of manufacturing these days that such a common sense component was not already developed and installed on these buses from the jump. 

It's new technology that is still in the early development phase. If NFI or any manufacturer seriously believed that those batteries could spontaneously combust like that, they'd have done a lot of things differently. 

On 7/6/2023 at 4:04 PM, DEE123 said:

I pray I don’t get sent to the Bronx unless I’m doing the express buses in the Eastchester or Yonkers depot other than that, whenever I take the bus in my neighborhood I notice The riders are super disrespectful, they cannot control their children, they leave the strollers blocking the center isle, and will curse the driver out if he asks to move etc. 

You are going to have to deal with those situations wherever you drive if you plan on a career as a professional bus operator. 

1 hour ago, RandomRider0101 said:

So basically- if the MTA wants to continue ordering from Nova & Prevost, they have to pay for it themselves and can't rely on the feds' money for it?

Most NYCT and MTAB buses are purchased using state funds (presumably transportation bonds funding).  MTA typically reserves federal funding for the subway fleet, although some of those were bought with state funds also.

16 hours ago, MysteriousBtrain said:

We also said Gillig was not gonna come back to NYC (well the area) and in a way they did. Never say never. Also CTA looks like it's trying to shift into a Proterra agency especially now that NovaBus will be out the market so I'm not gonna out rule them at all even with the lemons at SEPTA. 

Remember it's been a couple years and they recently introduced "a new model" so things could definitely change in the future.

In my opinion, the MTA would be better off giving Gillig a shot (assuming that Gillig themselves would be interested in doing so, which is far from guaranteed) than going back to Proterra. It is very telling that Proterra did not receive any orders from the authority after participating in the electric bus test, while NFI did. Let other TA's be the guinea pigs while Proterra works through the various issues with their buses and tries to build up the capability to produce large orders with a high degree of quality. 

I do think that the days of the MTA throwing its weight around with bus manufacturers and getting multiple companies to do their bidding are over. Both Orion and Nova seemed to be hoping to be the authority's top bus manufacturer, but their European parent companies pulled the plug when the MTA/NY governor's office showed no favoritism for bidders with a factory located in the state (I'm not saying that they should have show favoritism, but I wouldn't be surprised if that mindset played a role at Daimler and/or Volvo). New Flyer is the last big manufacturer standing unless Gillig throws their hat into the ring, and the MTA frankly needs NFI more than NFI needs the MTA.  Even if Gillig does decide to get involved with the MTA, I think it would be very much on their terms - their management has been conservative over the years and would almost certainly want to protect the company from getting entangled in a messy and expensive situation with the authority.  A replay of the 2011 bus evaluation program would likely be ideal - say, 90 to 100 buses that could be assigned to a few depots to see how the Low Floor model performs in its most intensive test yet. I also wouldn't be surprised if the MTA reaches out to their counterparts at NICE to check on how their Gilligs are performing.  

Just my 2 cents worth. 

Bi-articulated buses would only make sense on a route that featured a fully exclusive bus lane with stations. I can't imagine trying a load such a long vehicle at a standard bus stop.

On 6/16/2023 at 9:25 AM, MHV9218 said:

Whenever I see these I think, one more thing to break. 

This, 100%  I've operated buses where the destination signs, farebox, cameras, automated stop announcements, AVL system, etc. were not functioning as designed, or at all.  I've never operated a bus where the mirrors just decided to stop reflecting though, LOL.  

3 hours ago, bobtehpanda said:

In addition to the other comments
 

• Siemens doesn't really make metro cars in the US. Their existing plants are pretty much at capacity because they handle nearly every light rail and Amtrak order in the US.
• CAF has had some reliability issues with their sets produced in the US
• Stadler in subway equipment is relatively new in the US, their first and only order so far has been MARTA in 2019, and those have not been delivered yet

Siemens built Boston's Blue Line fleet in 2007-09 - these cars have been very reliable.  Given the company's global footprint and capabilities, they absolutely should be qualified if they express interest in these orders.  They are also committed to the North American passenger rail and light rail markets in a big way.

45 minutes ago, newbie said:

Thanks for that great summary checkmatechamp13.   I really appreciate that information.  One of my biggest concerns is that I have an severely arthritic left ankle, bone on, and I wear a special Arizona ankle brace.  I limp along pretty badly and was hoping that it wouldn't be an issue with being a bus operator as I figured I would be seated driving and minimum walking. Does anyone have any feedback for me about working with this somewhat debilitating condition or would they be not hire me or terminate my employment?? 

 

 

I'm not sure about NJT's requirements, but at the agencies I've worked at the bus operators must be capable of pushing a manual wheelchair with passenger up the ramp.  We had to undergo a physical exam and pass an occupational exam (lifting a weighted box and carrying it up a set of stairs, pushing a weighted sleigh device meant to simulate a wheelchair, etc.).  Failing either exam would result in the job offer being terminated. In case of an emergency, you will also need to assist passengers in evacuating the bus. 

On 4/14/2023 at 10:46 AM, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

The buses ARE the subsidy. They turn a huge capital investment into a freebie.

It may be a 'freebie' but it's still only a small cost of providing the service compared to labor, fuel, maintenance and overhead expenses. Even using those 'free' buses on the weekends for charters can't be coming close to offsetting this if the operator isn't consistently running full buses on the weekdays.  

1 hour ago, davemackey said:

New Flyer has won the bid for 550 clean diesel cruisers.

So these would be MCI's (since New Flyer owns MCI)?

20 hours ago, Gotham Bus Co. said:

 

Doesn't it, though? Don't the private companies take state money for commuter runs but divert some drivers and buses to charters?

Doesn't NJT provide buses to the privates but no subsidy?  As the articles have noted, De Camp is upset that NJT got COVID money from the Feds but refused to share with the private operators. 

New Flyer has issued a recall for 2021-2022 XE35, XE40 and XE60 buses following the investigation of the battery fire that destroyed an XE40 bus in Connecticut last year - https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/NEW%2520FLYER/XE40#recalls.  This is affecting the delivery of all 2023 New Flyer XE buses as well until a remedy is developed.

Be careful what you wish for- given Nassau County's sorry history of support for public transit, any redesign would probably result in fewer buses on the street and lots of 'microtransit' vans running around. 

On 1/5/2023 at 10:10 PM, +Young+ said:

As soon as you walk into 180 Livingston Street, when they call you up to check your documents. However, as per this news article, in which a judge ordered another City agency to rehire workers who rejected the COVID vaccine, I don't know if and when they will stop checking for the Covid vaccine card.

Do they accept the NY Excelsior pass?  Any New York resident should be able to get that app on their phone and access their records, then print it.

On 8/26/2022 at 10:39 AM, Transit Enthusiast said:

Apparently, some 2010s are reaching their 500K mile limit early. Once any bus in the MTA hits 500,000 miles, then it has to retire.

Is that an MTA policy?  

There's nothing magical about the 500k mark, other than it being indicative of an older bus that is likely becoming more expensive to maintain.  

22 hours ago, Kkg said:

and also i have a cdl B already, i just dont have the p endorsement does this mean i have to do everything all over again? Pre trip inspection and all?

I believe you will need to take the written test and a road test to add the P endorsement to your CDL.  Not sure if the pre-trip is included on the road test, I believe it may be since you have to be able to identify and demonstrate the emergency exits, etc. 

From reading the article, it seems that the depot will only be partially closed at times. The use of the roof for express bus parking may take the biggest hit during the project, not sure what alternate sites would be available. 

13 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Did Transdev buy those four XN60's out of their own pocket or was it paid for by Nassau County?

According to the FTA National Transit Database, all NICE buses were purchased with Federal funds and are owned by the county.

13 hours ago, ryguy said:

Oh Also, I saw someone said that if they have CDL already they need to pass the air brake test called ALPS... something I forgot. Thanks.  

ALPS is the same as the brake test during in-cab portion of the CDL road test.  

On 5/21/2022 at 9:55 AM, dincena said:

Thank you for the info.  When I went for pre employ they only asked if I had a valid NYS drivers license, they never asked about pending tickets. Going in for Conditional offer 5/26 and I have a open ticket which I have a lawyer fighting it.  Not sure what to do

Check with your lawyer.  Don't make a decision like this based on what anonymous strangers are telling you on an Internet message board. 

On 4/30/2022 at 12:51 AM, RSMG106 said:

Prevost will no longer be in the United States after deliveries are finished by December.

https://www.masstransitmag.com/bus/vehicles/news/21264813/ny-prevost-to-cease-plattsburgh-operations

Prevost is ending U S. manufacturing - they can still sell coaches that are built in Canada to American customers, but will not be able to participate in federally funded orders subject to the Buy America act, and we know that MTA is unlikely to buy from them after they shut down their New York plant.