Chris.A

Dang, that's crazy.

Feels like we are leaving 2021 only to head right back to 2020.... This is basically the modern day post 9/11 World honestly.

Yeah and that is the main concern. Is the new railyard by Dulles full already?

As 2021 is nearing it's end we are almost at the 10 year anniversary of the creation and birth of Nassau Inter-County Express bus as well as the death of MTA Long Island Bus. It's amazing as to how much this former MTA Regional bus division has changed in such a short time frame. Since it's creation, these are some of the routes that got axed over the years : n2, n8, n14, n17, n20L, n22A, n22L, n36, n45, n47, n50, n51, n62, n73, n74, n81, and n87. Additionally, Rockville Centre Depot closed down in 2017 due to a particularly nasty string of cuts that year, to which it had all but spelled the end of the legacy Orion 5.501 CNG fleet on long Island. However, 2017 also was the year that introduced Articulated buses to the system so that was one good thing. Fast forward to 2020-2021 and NICE bus had deployed it's largest New fleet yet with more than 100 new CNG buses (XN40s and BRT Plus CNGs) and had retired this first ever large scale semi-lowfloor bus fleet in the form of the 2008-2009 Orion 7.501 Next Generation CNGs #1700-1799 ( whose main purpose was to help better integrate MTA LI bus with the rest of the fleet), the oldest buses in the fleet now are the 2011 Orion 7.501 Next Generation CNGs , #1800-1839 batch. One thing worth noting is that these are technically Long Island Bus's last new buses before the NICE takeover. However, in all actuality, it is the 2012-13 EPA10 Orion 7.501 3G CNGs #1840-1884 that were the TRUE last new buses destined for Long Island Bus. Those 3Gs in the grand scheme of things are basically transitional buses between the MTA era and the NICE era.

All the +SBS + wrapped NG hybrids have since been unwrapped and regulated to local duty. As for the 7000 series trains, I think this is likely going to postpone the opening of the phase 2 extension to Dulles, because besides replacing the older 1000 Series Rohr cars, the main reason Metro got these was for the Silver Line train.

You're good. Those #9400s are about to debut at MJQ.

The MTA is only doing it for +SBS+ lines like the M15, BX12, and M34/M34A. Basically any lines that use artics. I agree with your sentiment.

That was something that always made me wonder as those lines were very far from any Depot at the time, though technically Montgomery Depot was the closest in terms of Deadheads over the bridge on I-495. Almost makes me wish that I moved to the DMV from NY in 2001 instead of 2005. Almost...lmao Hypothetically, a Tyson's Corner garage could also help out with some outer D.C. and Maryland routes. Montgomery and possibly Western could have gotten a huge load taken off. Not sure why this wasn't done.

Honestly, I think the main problem is that they built it so far away from the rest of the system. They probably would have been better off building a Depot around Tyson's Corner instead. Atleast then they could have taken the 28A, 23A/23T, 5A, etc. Yeah and for that very reason, it should have been a full time/main overhaul maintenance facility for Fairfax Connector bus. Who had the 12 and 20 lines before? Arlington or Montgomery?

So won't that technically also make the #4600s 2021 models? West Ox is also still relatively new as well, but they certainly didn't put that depot to good use.... On that note, why did they build West Ox to be a Metrobus depot anyway? It makes sense for Fairfax Connector.

It's a major life altering experience that I have never encountered before in my relatively short life. Unfortunately, Covid may very well be here to stay for the foreseeable future (as I type this, we are about to hit the 3rd consecutive year of this madness)..

This is a worldwide issue overall.

2021 Nova LFS hybrid #9771, delivered to Manhattanville Depot. 2021 New Flyer XDE40 hybrid #9513, Delivered to East New York Depot. You mean "#2660"? #2260 is a 2012 MCI D4500CT Crusier and to my knowledge, none of these were damaged by Ida.

There's a possibility that #8082-8105 may also be Virginia bound. Once Cinder Bed reopens fully, any clue as to what other routes they will take in officially (besides the 29s, REX, 17s, and 18s)? Yeah until now, the 7000 series (the buses, not the trains lol) were mainly on Maryland routes out of Maryland Depots.

Is it still assigned to Cinder Bed or is it our of Sheppard's Parkway now? Was it in service?

But don't Western have some new #4500s? They're getting more new buses? I don't think WMATA brands the buses anymore. They haven't done that since since 2018 when they repainted several #6300s in the REX scheme.

Apparently, there are now dozens of OOS 7000 series cars parked along the phase 2 stretch of the Silver Line. Supposedly due to a lack of room in the Rail yards (presumably in the Northern Virginia side). Not sure if this will also effect the opening date of said stretch....

That's interesting. I wonder what they did with the supervisor SUVs that read "Metrobus" instead of "M"?

Is #1307 totaled?

Any idea of any scrap bus moves coming from Cinder Bed Depot?

According to the fourms, 2021 Prevost X3-45 #1307 is now out of service due to....some kind of mishap....

The LFA hybrids are actually wrapped. If you look closely, the roof still have the old Metrobus decals.

They're trying to. Originally, they were going to scrap almost all of them. However, I guess the higher ups at the MTA DOBs had other plans.....

You mean the ex-WMATA New Flyer and Orion hybrids right? Not the college campus XD40s (1700s)? That's a hell of alot of moves! You think the D40LFRs sitting at FMR will get reactivated too?

Lol right, cause for the last couple of years for the most part, it been mainly all XN40s and DE42LFAs. BTW, does anyone know if the buses transferred to Fairfax Connector are 100% keepers, or just place holders/ loaners until they get their new XD40s?