southsoundtransit

Really curious "when" they'll return them to service... knowing Metro they probably just won't. LOL. I mean the 2015 Proterras got killed off several years ago out of nowhere, and then the 2018 units died when they got recalled and they took out the chargers at Eastgate P&R. We'll just have to wait and see I guess!

TransDev/CT retired most of the 2010 D60LFR's within the first few weeks of Lynnwood Link opening. They will be entering service with Pierce Transit sooner than later. It's a repeat of when 9549, 9551, and 9552 were at Pierce... except this time its some LFR's instead of LF's. This is due to Pierce Transit cancelling their order for double deckers to replace the Phantoms.

Pierce Transit received 9557C and 9558C sometime in the past week. They will be receiving more of the 2010 D60LFR’s once room is opened for them.

As Pierce Transit begins to retire the local fleet of hybrids, they've started to retire the fleet of Sound Transit 9200's. 9209, 9210, 9211, 9214, and 9216 are all being stripped of paint and the first three are awaiting auction, while the latter two are up for auction on GovDeals. Attached are photos of them today, 10/20/24. Also, figured I'd post it here since nobody has noticed... but 9725 is long gone. It was last seen on base in April, missing most of it's parts. it's GPS last pinged in December of 2023... Attached is an image from 4/1/24 of it missing logos and awaiting it's inevitable scrap/auction.

Been a while. After escaping the PNW and running away to SoCal for a while, I decided to finally return and make a little update post. 501-505 and 506-509 are done for, totally done. They're sitting in the lot right now awaiting their fate, either scrap or auction. 515 is in the deadline as well following it's accident earlier this summer when it played tug of war with a power pole. 517 also sits in the deadline, awaiting it's fate. Also, turns out 10203 is the highest numbered coach, there is no 10204. 10189-10203 are all in service, albeit 10202 is taking a hiatus after dying for some strange reason. 10197 blew both of its airbags while on a Northbound 48 not long into its first week of service too. Also, 243 is awaiting her pickup from the new owner. Attacked is some photos from earlier today at the lot, of the 2010 and 2011 hybrids sitting in the deadline, with 243 also chilling. Sad to see these coaches finally going but... it was a long time comin.

WTA having an identity crisis as usual. Will they ever pick a livery and stick with it for more than one bus order? Lol.

10190 and 10199 entered service on the 6th. Caught them on the 7th running around. The Hanovers have started to grow on me

A while back, 10143 was involved in an accident. During its repair, they repainted it to the 2024 scheme. This paint scheme was originally designated for Stream buses (10180-10188), but 10189-10204 were delivered in it (just without the logos), and I was able to confirm with the fleet manager (who I know) that we will be painting any coach that was in an accident, in the new scheme. Also, some other fleet updates I’ll put here. 515 is retired after its accident. It’s being scrapped and ripped apart for parts at base right now. The 2010 hybrids, 501-505, are dead. Only 2 2011 units remain. The C30LF’s were retired on 8/31/24, after running about 20 years. They were the last Gasser Newfies to run in Pierce Transits fleet. They will be replaced by either Gillig Low Floor CNG 29’, or Gillig Trolley Replica CNG 29’ units. I’m still waiting on a response for what those will be. The ARBOC’s, 333-335, have been sitting in the Federal Way lot with other dead, or long term stored coaches. Proterras 522-524 are sitting in the reserve lot, dead. Batteries are disconnected and there at covers on the steering wheels that say “DECOMM”, as in Decommissioned. As for the PT Sound Transit fleet, 9100 is now used as a maintenance training coach apparently. 9102, 9103, 9104, 9110, 9111, and 9113 continue to be active as Zombie buses. 9734 and 9737 came back into service finally. 9725 is retired and off of the lot, and has been so for a while. The Enviro500’s will be replacing the Phantoms, NOT the MCI’s like people think they are. The MCI’s will stay until 2028-2030 depending on the coach. No replacements are known at this time.

Figured it was time for an update here. Pierce put 6 new 2024 units into service. 10189, 10191, 10192, 10193, 10194, and 10196 entered service on September 5th. These coaches are part of the 2024 order 10189-10204. They’ve replaced 2010 hybrids 501-505, and they should also be replacing more hybrids soon enough. These coaches are equipped with Hanover signs too. Pierce has made the switch to the cursed signs that are a pain to photograph. Apparently they’re going to try and get these signs on most of the fleet.

Yeah… now that they’ve taken out the chargers at Eastgate it seems, I’m 99% sure the 4600’s are officially done for. Good riddance. They already killed the 2015’s, they’ve been sitting at Bellevue Base rotting for a while. A few months ago they knocked out the 2018’s, and yeah.

I was right! Hopelink has retired the 200 Series Ford/Glaval Concorde units. Spotted one all the way out in Grays Harbor Transit territory just now while riding the 60 to Ocean Shores. Couldn’t grab a photo so I had to settle for a lucky shot on street view. ex-270.

Figured id drop in with some news about the DART fleet. They are finally getting new coaches! 2023/2024 Ford/ARBOC SOL #300 entered service recently, and I was able to nab it on the 917. I'm making the slightly sourced assumption that these will replace some 100 series (Ford/StarTrans) units, as when I used to use the 915 Daily, a driver I slightly knew told me that Hopelink was planning on replacing the 100's as they were having transmission issues. Not sure the validity of this, but I also haven't seen any of those 200 series Ford/Glaval Concorde II units in a long while, so maybe these are replacing those? Not sure, but it was fun riding this one! Now I kind of want to catch one again.