Azbusguy Posted October 15, 2016 Report Share Posted October 15, 2016 I just saw a new articulated Rapid bus here at the south lot. 7165. In front is the new artic, 8082. If the picture loads. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XDE60 Posted October 19, 2016 Report Share Posted October 19, 2016 So, what's the new status on the NABI 40-LFW buses? I saw 6233 on 12S on the beginning of last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ztonyg Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 10 hours ago, The XDE60 said: So, what's the new status on the NABI 40-LFW buses? I saw 6233 on 12S on the beginning of last month. From my observations: All 1998 NABI 40-LFWs are retired. Many 1999 NABI-40LFWs are still in service and can be found primarily on North division routes. If I had to guess probably about 20 or so still in service. They're very common on the 90, 106, 122,138, 154 but I've also seen them on the 0, 7, 8, 19, and you've stated also the 12. I'm not sure the breakdown between North / South division and if they've all been consolidated to the North division or not. There are about 40 - 50 2001/2002 NABI 40-LFWs in service. A handful are based at the North division with the remainder at the South division. Between the new artics (which aren't supposed to replace the 2004 D40LFs and will likely replace 40' NABIs) and the upcoming 40 additional Gilligs (5201-5040) I'd venture to say that by next year at this time the 40-LFW will likely be history in Phoenix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3we Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 19 hours ago, The XDE60 said: So, what's the new status on the NABI 40-LFW buses? I saw 6233 on 12S on the beginning of last month. They only auctioned a few buses last month: 6022 6104 6135. From my scratch sheet, I have not seen the following buses cross the auction block: 6012, 6016, 6031, 6036, 6039, 6041, 6070, 6122, 6125, 6128, 6136, 6137, 6139, 6142/3/4/5/7/8. Doesn't mean that they are in service, they just haven't been sent to auction. Of the 1999 group, 19 have not been auctioned, and of the 2001 group, 61 remain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3we Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Spoke too soon - this month's auction is Saturday. 6022 gets re-auctioned, and is joined by 6136, 6143, 6144, 6145, 6312, 6340, 6341, 6342. The last four have many parts, windows, and panels missing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azbusguy Posted October 20, 2016 Report Share Posted October 20, 2016 Based on my experience, 6298 and higher are at the South Garage and everything in the 6200's is at the North Garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 I saw one of the former LINK D60LFAs on the 61 today. It was still in the purple color scheme, but with the "LINK" titles removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ztonyg Posted October 25, 2016 Report Share Posted October 25, 2016 3 hours ago, ABQ RIDE said: I saw one of the former LINK D60LFAs on the 61 today. It was still in the purple color scheme, but with the "LINK" titles removed. I figured they'd go into local service. Especially as the purple color scheme is already in local service on the Gilligs. I'm curious where the D40LFAs will end up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2016 Looks like the ex-LINK D60LFAs are also operating express routes, since I saw one today on the 533 which is otherwise normally operated with a NABI 60-BRT on most of its runs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northwesterner Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 11 hours ago, ABQ RIDE said: Looks like the ex-LINK D60LFAs are also operating express routes, since I saw one today on the 533 which is otherwise normally operated with a NABI 60-BRT on most of its runs. How do you know it was an ex LINK coach? A number of these units had LINK decals removed years ago and operated Express routes from Tempe. Need a fleet number to know what we're dealing with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azbusguy Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Anybody know what the plans are for the Transdev south fleet? I was talking to my supervisor yesterday, and he said after the first of the year, the artics are gonna be replaced due to having too many problems with the current fleet, and the Rapids are gonna be replaced with articulated Rapids. I got to fuel 7158 yesterday, and it is nice inside. It's also CNG, which surprised me. I was under the impression that the artics were diesel because natural gas engines weren't powerful enough to push the extra weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 3 hours ago, northwesterner said: How do you know it was an ex LINK coach? A number of these units had LINK decals removed years ago and operated Express routes from Tempe. Need a fleet number to know what we're dealing with. It still had the purple front, except with the LINK decals removed. The ones that operate express routes from Tempe had their fronts repainted silver a long time ago. BTW the 533 is mostly out of Mesa and is normally operated using NABI 60-BRTs; and I think the few Tempe runs normally use the dedicated express C40LFRs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3we Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 12 hours ago, northwesterner said: How do you know it was an ex LINK coach? A number of these units had LINK decals removed years ago and operated Express routes from Tempe. Need a fleet number to know what we're dealing with. All of the D60LFAs were delivered as LINK. As noted above, a few buses were repainted in (what I call 6667) colors a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 1 hour ago, 3we said: All of the D60LFAs were delivered as LINK. As noted above, a few buses were repainted in (what I call 6667) colors a few years ago. Yep. The one I saw on the 533 yesterday still had the purple front. BTW, I saw one of the ex-LINK D40LFAs today on the 156. My guess is that the ex-LINK buses won't be dedicated to neither local nor express routes. I expect the D40LFAs will mostly operate local routes, while the D60LFAs will be shifted around between local and express like the NABI 60-BRTs are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3we Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 3 hours ago, ABQ RIDE said: Yep. The one I saw on the 533 yesterday still had the purple front. BTW, I saw one of the ex-LINK D40LFAs today on the 156. My guess is that the ex-LINK buses won't be dedicated to neither local nor express routes. I expect the D40LFAs will mostly operate local routes, while the D60LFAs will be shifted around between local and express like the NABI 60-BRTs are. If you figure that all 20 "Valley Metro Express" C40LFRs and all 8 Tempe 45C-LFWs are used exclusively on Express, that leaves you with 6 more buses needed to cover Express. Pretty much a coin toss, depending on what you want to use the BRT-60s for. They were originally acquired to get those MV Phantoms off Express. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer59 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 20 minutes ago, 3we said: If you figure that all 20 "Valley Metro Express" C40LFRs and all 8 Tempe 45C-LFWs are used exclusively on Express, that leaves you with 6 more buses needed to cover Express. Pretty much a coin toss, depending on what you want to use the BRT-60s for. They were originally acquired to get those MV Phantoms off Express. The 45CLFW at Tempe are retired Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Most Express runs out of Mesa are on artics, while most out of Tempe are on 40-foot buses with some runs on the silver D60LFAs. As far as I know the 514, 520, 521, 522, and 541 are entirely out of Tempe, and the 531 and 542 only have one or two trips out of Mesa with the rest out of Tempe. Only the 533 and 535 are predominantly out of Mesa (the latter not having any runs out of Tempe as far as I know). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer59 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 24 minutes ago, ABQ RIDE said: Most Express runs out of Mesa are on artics, while most out of Tempe are on 40-foot buses with some runs on the silver D60LFAs. As far as I know the 514, 520, 521, 522, and 541 are entirely out of Tempe, and the 531 and 542 only have one or two trips out of Mesa with the rest out of Tempe. Only the 533 and 535 are predominantly out of Mesa (the latter not having any runs out of Tempe as far as I know). There was a D40LFA on the 514 this morning, this route comes from Mesa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 19 minutes ago, Flyer59 said: There was a D40LFA on the 514 this morning, this route comes from Mesa Are they all out of Mesa, or is it like the 531 and 542 where only a few trips are out of Mesa? I know this was a Tempe route prior to unification, and when they first unified this route remained entirely out of Tempe. Perhaps this may have changed since then. The 533 remained entirely out of Mesa at first after unification due to being an artic-heavy route, but now has one or two trips out of Tempe. Interesting that they would have a run on the 514 out of Mesa; it doesn't seem like it would make geographic sense considering the entire route is closer to the Tempe yard. Could the D40LFAs now be at Tempe? As stated I saw one on the 156 this morning and the 156 is a split route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyer59 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 2 minutes ago, ABQ RIDE said: Are they all out of Mesa, or is it like the 531 and 542 where only a few trips are out of Mesa? I know this was a Tempe route prior to unification, and when they first unified this route remained entirely out of Tempe. Perhaps this may have changed since then. The 533 remained entirely out of Mesa at first after unification due to being an artic-heavy route, but now has one or two trips out of Tempe. Interesting that they would have a run on the 514 out of Mesa; it doesn't seem like it would make geographic sense considering the entire route is closer to the Tempe yard. Could the D40LFAs now be at Tempe? As stated I saw one on the 156 this morning and the 156 is a split route. It is entirely from Mesa now. They use the 87/Beeline Hwy to deadhead to Fountain Hills. D40LFA remain in Mesa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XDE60 Posted October 31, 2016 Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 A couple weeks ago, I made artwork of a potential 2019 bus order for Valley Metro in my POV. http://jakebasketball17.deviantart.com/art/Ami-and-Yumi-Announce-104-Buses-in-2019-641032922 You would see: Blue destination signs from Luminator 4ONE Aries seating A paint scheme similar to DC, but with purple and green instead of red and blue, respectively City of Phoenix emblem Valley Metro logo moved up slightly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted October 31, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2016 1 hour ago, The XDE60 said: A couple weeks ago, I made artwork of a potential 2019 bus order for Valley Metro in my POV. http://jakebasketball17.deviantart.com/art/Ami-and-Yumi-Announce-104-Buses-in-2019-641032922 You would see: Blue destination signs from Luminator 4ONE Aries seating A paint scheme similar to DC, but with purple and green instead of red and blue, respectively City of Phoenix emblem Valley Metro logo moved up slightly As far as I know, Luminator does not make blue-only destination signs. They would have to be Luminator Spectrum signs that are programmed to always display in blue, which would be a waste of multicolor signs and money. And why Aries seating and not Gemini? The Gemini is supposed to be the new and improved model. And I don't see Phoenix buying hybrids. The most recent RFP doesn't include any hybrids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ztonyg Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 It looks like the XN60s are in service now. I was driving N/B on I-17 at around 10:45 p.m. tonight and saw an XN60 in service E/B on Camelback Rd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azbusguy Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 As far as I know, there's just the one here at South garage. It bounces around. I saw it on 35 last week. Interesting enough, they don't run it on weekends. The Rapid one is in service as well, though I don't know which runs it does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The XDE60 Posted November 27, 2016 Report Share Posted November 27, 2016 Does anybody have news for the bus numbers for buses on hold? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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