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Random Thoughts Thread - Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE)


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I wouldn't say Orion is shit considering that the only other bus mfg to beat them/be on their level at Altoona's testing facility is Designline. The Orion VII(2011 and up) is rated the best bus to be built and tested out of Altoona. New Flyer and the rest don't come close. It all comes down to maintenance, and NICE certainly does not do well with that. The best example is with the 2012 Orion VII CNGs they got....and those were never operated by MTA!

 

And as much as I don't like those 2004 Orion V CNGs(1633-1699)....they were much better during the MTA's reign.

 

 

They were never predicted to last long, that's why, and they're right. The fact that we have an order of 110 XN40s(base order of 52 with an option of 58), there's no point in giving an old bus a new look if it's going to be gone within the 5 years Veolia has taken over. A bunch of 1500s were retired in 2012-2013, so it would've been a huge waste of money for them to waste paint to give them a temporary look. Better off doing it for a fleet that will last long, especially with tanks that goes over 15 years.

 

----------------

 

An update to the Foothill CNG saga, while one struck an overpass, I hear that another got t-boned. idk who's been driving/towing the buses into Long Island but gotdamn, what a shotty job. I hear they ordered 28 of these buses, they're down 2 already.

So I saw your video riding the ex-foothill, how do you feel about the seats? Does the suburban seats feel comfortable?

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Do all the ex foothills have suburban style seating?

Yes. From F1200-series to F1300-series. Those buses has suburban seats, overhead luggage racks and were used for express services in LA.

Fleet number range Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes F1200-F1265 128px-Foothill_Transit_F1209a.jpg 2002 OBI Orion V

(05.501 CNG)

Detroit Diesel Series 50G Allison B400R6
  • Feature suburban seating with overhead luggage racks.
  • Used primarily on express routes and the Pasadena Rose Bowl Shuttle.
  • First buses to feature multicolor destination signs.
  • Most units retired as of February 2015
  • Some units sold to Nassau Inter-County Express
F1300-F1350 128px-Foothill_Transit_F1326a.jpg 2003 OBI Orion V

(05.501 CNG)

Detroit Diesel

Series 50G Allison B400R6

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Foothill_Transit

Fleet number Thumbnail Date VIN License plate Notes F1200   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501742 1125224 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1201   2002 1VHBH3C2126501810 1125244   F1202   2002 1VHBH3C2326501811 1125245   F1203   2002 1VHBH3C2526501812 1125246   F1204   2002 1VHBH3C2726501813 1125247   F1205   2002 1VHBH3C2926501814 1125248 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1206   2002 1VHBH3C2026501815     F1207   2002 1VHBH3C2226501816 1125249   F1208   2002 1VHBH3C2426501817 1125251   F1209 128px-Foothill_Transit_F1209a.jpg 2002 1VHBH3C2626501818 1125250   F1210   2002 1VHBH3C2826501819 1125252   F1211   2002 1VHBH3C2426501820 1125242 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1212   2002 1VHBH3C2626501821 1125260   F1213   2002 1VHBH3C2826501822 1125253   F1214   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501823 1125271   F1215   2002 1VHBH3C2126501824 1125270 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1216   2002 1VHBH3C2326501825 1125272   F1217   2002 1VHBH3C2526501826 1125294   F1218   2002 1VHBH3C2726501827 1146779   F1219   2002 1VHBH3C2926501828 1125285   F1220   2002 1VHBH3C2026501829 1125286 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1221   2002 1VHBH3C2026501832 1125295   F1222   2002 1VHBH3C2226501833 1125287   F1223   2002 1VHBH3C2426501834 1125289   F1224   2002 1VHBH3C2626501835 1125290   F1225   2002 1VHBH3C2826501836 1125296 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1226   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501837 1125297 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1227   2002 1VHBH3C2326501839 1125298 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1228   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501840 1148633   F1229   2002 1VHBH3C2126501841 1125299   F1230   2002 1VHBH3C2326501842 1125284   F1231   2002 1VHBH3C2526501843 1146750   F1232   2002 1VHBH3C2726501844 1146751   F1233   2002 1VHBH3C2926501845 1125288   F1234   2002 1VHBH3C2026501846 1146752   F1235   2002 1VHBH3C2226501847 1146753   F1236   2002 1VHBH3C2426501848 1146754   F1237   2002 1VHBH3C2626501849 1146755   F1238   2002 1VHBH3C2226501850 1146780 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1239   2002 1VHBH3C2426501851 1146785   F1240   2002 1VHBH3C2626501852 1148008   F1241   2002 1VHBH3C2826501853 1148015   F1242   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501854 1148019   F1243   2002 1VHBH3C2126501855 1146783 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1244   2002 1VHBH3C2326501856 1148010 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1245   2002 1VHBH3C2726501858 1148011   F1246   2002 1VHBH3C2926501859 1146784 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1247   2002 1VHBH3C2526501860 1146781 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1248   2002 1VHBH3C2726501861     F1249   2002 1VHBH3C2926501862 1148018   F1250   2002 1VHBH3C2026501863 1146782 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1251   2002 1VHBH3C2226501864 1148025 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1252   2002 1VHBH3C2426501865   RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1253   2002 1VHBH3C2626501866 1148024   F1254   2002 1VHBH3C2826501867 1148021   F1255   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501868 1148009   F1256   2002 1VHBH3C2126501869 1148012 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1257   2002 1VHBH3C2826501870 1148013 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1258   2002 1VHBH3C2X26501871 1148017 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1259   2002 1VHBH3C2126501872 1148016 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1260   2002 1VHBH3C2326501873 1148027   F1261   2002 1VHBH3C2526501874 1148020   F1262   2002 1VHBH3C2726501875 1154102 RETIRED

Sold to Nassau Inter-County Express

F1263   2002 1VHBH3C2926501876 1154103   F1264   2002 1VHBH3C2026501877 1148026   F1265   2002 1VHBH3C2226501878    

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Foothill_Transit_F1200-F1265

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Do all the ex foothills have suburban style seating?

Sorry, I didn't realize my copy and paste came out wrong. Just ignore that first reply. Can't even edit since I don't have permission. Here is the correct one I was meant to send:

 

Yes. From F1200-series to F1300-series. Those buses has suburban seats, overhead luggage racks and were used for express services in LA. Notice: F1200-F1265 are mostly used on all Commuter Express Lines(in Foothill Transit) and feature high-back reclining seats for superior passenger comfort on long-haul trips to/from Downtown Los Angeles. F1300-F1350 are regular counterparts to the F1200 Series suburban Orion V's, being used mostly on local routes(in Foothill Transit).

 

From F1200-F1265, some units sold to Nassau Inter-County Express.

From F1300-F1350, F1311 and F1312 sold to Nassau Inter-County Express .

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Foothill_Transit

 

Here are the fleet numbers that are sold to Nassau Inter-County Express:

From F1200-1265     License Plate                 From F1300-1350     License Plate

F1200                          1125224                      F1311                           1148628

F1205                          1125248                      F1312                           1148627

F1211                          1125242

F1215                          1125270

F1220                          1125286

F1225                          1125296

F1226                          1125297

F1227                          1125298

F1238                          1146780

F1243                          1146783

F1244                          1148010

F1246                          1146784

F1247                          1146781

F1250                          1146782

F1251                          1148025

F1252                              N/A

F1256                          1148012

F1257                          1148013

F1258                          1148017

F1259                          1148016

F1262                          1154102

 

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Foothill_Transit_F1200-F1265

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Foothill_Transit_F1300-F1350

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Had the morning free, headed to Freeport in hopes of seeing/riding an ex foot hill (was hoping for a nice long ride to Jamaica. No such luck, didn't see one so I headed home. Has anyone seen this on one run more than any in particular? LDL is it just random? I figured it be a good bus (with the suburban seating) for the n4X...

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Had the morning free, headed to Freeport in hopes of seeing/riding an ex foot hill (was hoping for a nice long ride to Jamaica. No such luck, didn't see one so I headed home. Has anyone seen this on one run more than any in particular? LDL is it just random? I figured it be a good bus (with the suburban seating) for the n4X...

 

I don't think so. I know the setup is almost the same as it was on LI Bus, where depending on where the bus are, it'll operate out of that garage. For the most part, they've been at Mitchell Field, so you'll see it on...(this is just a list of routes I've found operating out of the Mitchell Field Facility)

 

N6, N6x, N15, N16, N17, N20, N21, N22, N22A, N22x, N23, N24, N26, N27, N35, N40, N41, N43, N45, N46, N47, N48, N49, N50, N51, N54, N55, N57, N58, N70, N71, N72, N73, N74, N78, N79, N80, N81
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The fleets get constantly moved around though now IIRC, think JFK/FR at MTA Bus. That's whats different, the routes are still run from the different depots but the buses don't always stay at the same depot.

 

Last I heard, they want those buses to stay at Mitchell Field until more are ready for service.

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So at one point in history there was a N22B? I seen it in an old picture at 179th street station in the 1980s. It can be found on nycsubway.org

 

So where did this N22B go and when was it discontinued?

 

The n22B is the current n22 that runs from Hicksville and Jamaica.

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I had a chance to ride Bus 1019 running on route N20L on Friday. Not because I wanted to, but because the donkey driving the modestly full (about 5 standees on my count spread throughout) N21 about 12 minutes earlier didn't feel like stopping at Northern & Middle Neck. Apparently, that particular driver is notorious for doing that according to what I overheard from the 2 others waiting at the stop with me. 

 

---

 

The engine is definitely quieter - looks like Foothill's contractors did a better job maintaining than the MTA and Nassau ever will.

 

Highback cushioned seats with armrests throughout. The seating configuration is definitely not suitable for accommodating many standees, especially if the bus is operating at a crush load. I expect to see exposed styrofoam and heavy soiling in short time if maintenance's track record holds.

 

Passengers were having a hard time opening the back door. The doors open inward and it looks like there was no air assist mechanism (or otherwise not operational) judging by how hard everybody was laboring with the vertical mounted pushbars to open.them.

 

---

 

I got a better idea for NICE's acronym... Never Intended Contention (for) Excellence. 

 

I'm glad I don't have to ride out to Nassau now as often as I once did.

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I'm pretty much still here because I'm the only one who still has to ride these stupid buses on a regular basis.  People don't really busfan out here anymore because there's nothing new.  The Foothill Orions and New Flyer winning the contract are cool, but there are only a few buses here and I'm not going to expect anything new out until next March, and that's a HOPEFUL ballpark figure.

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I got a better idea for NICE's acronym... Never Intended Contention (for) Excellence. 

 

It's public bus transportation how excels t do you expect it to be? Flying is terrible, it gets worse and worse year after year and I pay a hell of a lot more for a ticket on Delta or US Air. And back in the day flying was considered glamorous....

 

Needy Idiots Critisizing Everything is a proper description of the average NICE rider...

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It's public bus transportation how excels t do you expect it to be? Flying is terrible, it gets worse and worse year after year and I pay a hell of a lot more for a ticket on Delta or US Air. And back in the day flying was considered glamorous....

 

Needy Idiots Critisizing Everything is a proper description of the average NICE rider...

 

What the hell do flying and buses have to do with each other?  They're two different modes of transport.

 

Oh right.

 

NICE SUCKS!

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It's public bus transportation how excels t do you expect it to be? Flying is terrible, it gets worse and worse year after year and I pay a hell of a lot more for a ticket on Delta or US Air. And back in the day flying was considered glamorous....

 

Needy Idiots Critisizing Everything is a proper description of the average NICE rider...

 

Hey listen, I'm sure that Delta and US Air considers you a "needy idiot" the next time you dare think (much less speak to one of their employees) about missed connections, missing luggage and long delays on the tarmac. I mean, what do you possibly expect from public air transportation?

 

If I routinely confiscate YOUR MONEY on threat of imprisonment/gunpoint (call it a "tax" or a "fee" if it makes you feel better) under the guise of providing a "public service" that you may or may not use AND duly fail to deliver on that (or otherwise do a miserably poor job of it), would the whole situation sit well with YOU?

 

Yeah, you'd happily fork over more money without a single comment or thought the next time I come back for more, wouldn't you?

 

You personally might have no standards and expectations, but speak ONLY for yourself. Tables can turn quicker than you think.

 

---

 

It's painfully evident that the operating company has virtually NO control over employees that are running amok and making a mockery of the company's missions and goals. The company shows generally POOR grasp of the needs of core customer ridership - constantly screwing around with routes and schedules, more misses than hits. 

 

One would think that if they're in above their heads, they should GET OUT OF THE RING! But I'm sure there's a lucrative enough reason why they're still sticking around despite all the pummeling from the public and the lack of "official help" from Nassau County. (I'm thinking "off the books").

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"It's painfully evident that the operating company has virtually NO control over employees that are running amok and making a mockery of the company's missions and goals. The company shows generally POOR grasp of the needs of core customer ridership - constantly screwing around with routes and schedules, more misses than hits. 


 


One would think that if they're in above their heads, they should GET OUT OF THE RING! But I'm sure there's a lucrative enough reason why they're still sticking around despite all the pummeling from the public and the lack of "official help" from Nassau County. (I'm thinking "off the books").


 


We are talking about the MTA correct ??


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"It's painfully evident that the operating company has virtually NO control over employees that are running amok and making a mockery of the company's missions and goals. The company shows generally POOR grasp of the needs of core customer ridership - constantly screwing around with routes and schedules, more misses than hits. 

 

One would think that if they're in above their heads, they should GET OUT OF THE RING! But I'm sure there's a lucrative enough reason why they're still sticking around despite all the pummeling from the public and the lack of "official help" from Nassau County. (I'm thinking "off the books").

 

We are talking about the MTA correct ??

 

 

It's almost the same thing.  But there has to be a reason why those buses to Massapequa are still around when there's at most three people on them, and that's during the rush...

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It's almost the same thing.  But there has to be a reason why those buses to Massapequa are still around when there's at most three people on them, and that's during the rush...

 

Those buses to Massapequa are still around because of Sunrise Mall, even though it has a very terrible Bus Shelter.

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