Motor Coach Industries general discussion

[Bus_Medic]

2 hours ago, MiWay0310 said:

So I guess I was right to an extent. And this software fiddling can be done by the agency that operates it I assume?

Typically no. 

They can put in a request, but any ecu “re flashing” will be drawn up by the engine mfr, and either send their guys to do it, or send the file to the customer, depending on how many are to be updated.

ive seen them in both CD-ROM and more recently USB thumb drive form.

[A. Wong]

Quote

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) delivered the first of its all new MCI D45 CRT LE, the company's next-generation Commuter Coach.

The coach offers modern styling and rider comfort with  passenger accessibility via a second door with a low-entry automatic ramp system. The Low-Entry Vestibule design provides comfortable seating for up to five passengers, including two with mobility devices plus an attendant.

Following rigorous in-service testing by public and private transportation organizations across the nation, the first full production unit, # 81000, has rolled off the production line for delivery.

Everything about the MCI design project was new. “Our research and customer feedback demonstrated a need for more efficient, well-designed options for mobility challenged passengers,” said Brent Maitland, MCI VP, marketing and product planning. “The D45 CRT LE entry simplifies the boarding process, matching low-floor transit dwell times, and as importantly improves the overall passenger experience.”

https://www.metro-magazine.com/motorcoach/news/733545/mci-completes-production-of-first-d45-crt-le-commuter-coach

[Megabus Rider]

My friend who is in a closed FB group gave me these photos. This is going to be the new MCI D4505 which should be available in 2021. These photos were taken at a Coach USA yard in NJ. It seems MCI is currently reaching out to the current D4505 customers to demo and for inputs before its released for operators to buy. Enjoy!

 

[Michel]

7 hours ago, Megabus Rider said:

My friend who is in a closed FB group gave me these photos. This is going to be the new MCI D4505 which should be available in 2021. These photos were taken at a Coach USA yard in NJ. It seems MCI is currently reaching out to the current D4505 customers to demo and for inputs before its released for operators to buy. Enjoy!

Can't say I am too crazy about the styling at the front of the bus.

[Bus_Medic]

Hopefully that plug door is optional, and not the de facto standard. They’re maintenance headaches compared to the sedan door.

[A. Wong]

10 hours ago, Megabus Rider said:

My friend who is in a closed FB group gave me these photos. This is going to be the new MCI D4505 which should be available in 2021. These photos were taken at a Coach USA yard in NJ. It seems MCI is currently reaching out to the current D4505 customers to demo and for inputs before its released for operators to buy. Enjoy!

Interesting! I did see these photos too and wondered if they were now offering a D45 CRT LE with no LE...

[Transit geek]

On 5/22/2019 at 1:08 PM, Megabus Rider said:

Looks like the full LCD instrument panel would be an optional extra. What I see here seems to be adapted from that of the Xcelsior - not a surprise.

[A. Wong]

This article refers to a 2019 MCI J4500 "Livery Edition": https://www.metro-magazine.com/motorcoach/news/734721/mci-delivers-3-livery-edition-j4500s-to-olympus-limo

Quote

Koutsos chose MCI’s 2019 Livery Edition coaches for their comfort, amenities, advance technologies, and strikingly black exterior. The model features industry-leading curb appeal, best-in-class legroom, baggage capacity, and interior space. The Livery Edition adds black leather diamond stitch seating for 56 passengers in addition to woodgrain flooring, a programmable lighting package to personalize the interior in variable hues of red, green, or blue, a top-of-the-line entertainment system and power outlets with UBS ports at each seat.

 

[MVTArider]

I got these blurry pics of a baby MCI coach in Winnipeg 6 weeks ago but just getting around to uploading now, J3000, J3500, or maybe just a short engineering tester for a new system of some sort?  Apologies the pics aren't clear, it was zipping by on King Edward pretty fast. I can't clearly make out what the badge by the door says when I zoom in, but to me it doesn't look like J4500, more like J3000. That's mostly speculation though. I was thinking it was a 35' unit but looking at the pics it seems more like 30'. I'm not very familiar with the individual lengths of the body panels/windows though.

 

 

[tomsbuspage]

4 hours ago, MVTArider said:

I got these blurry pics of a baby MCI coach in Winnipeg 6 weeks ago but just getting around to uploading now, J3000, J3500, or maybe just a short engineering tester for a new system of some sort?  Apologies the pics aren't clear, it was zipping by on King Edward pretty fast. I can't clearly make out what the badge by the door says when I zoom in, but to me it doesn't look like J4500, more like J3000. That's mostly speculation though. I was thinking it was a 35' unit but looking at the pics it seems more like 30'. I'm not very familiar with the individual lengths of the body panels/windows though.

 

It does look pretty short, but the J3500 has five side windows and two baggage compartments so I'm going with that:

[simonsevillematt]

@A. Wong Can i please talk with you?

[A. Wong]

4 hours ago, simonsevillematt said:

@A. Wong Can i please talk with you?

Yes, please send me a private message.

[AnalogPentium]

Out of curiosity, how much does the GM/MCI Classic share with the GM New Look aside from the body shape?

I'm looking at the back and I see basically the same rear engine cover as on the New Look as well as the same contours so it makes me wonder if there are other things.

 

 

[Bus_Medic]

26 minutes ago, AnalogPentium said:

Out of curiosity, how much does the GM/MCI Classic share with the GM New Look aside from the body shape?

I'm looking at the back and I see basically the same rear engine cover as on the New Look as well as the same contours so it makes me wonder if there are other things.

 

 

Almost everything.

[smallspy]

14 hours ago, Bus_Medic said:

Almost everything.

More specifically....

 

Everything on the Classic from the bottom of the windows down was from the New Look. Much of the structural bits carrying the axles, motor, transmission, etc. were, too. To that they grafted a tubular structure that carried the windows, upper sides and the roof.

Dan

[A. Wong]

An article from October 4, 2019:

http://metro-magazine.com/zero-emissions/news/735836/mci-debuts-d45-crte-charge-battery-electric-model-at-calif-event

Quote

MCI debuts D45 CRTe CHARGE battery-electric model at Calif. event

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) offered a sneak preview of the battery-electric, all-accessible MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE in Hayward, Calif.

The occasion is the first Reliability Symposium for West Coast operators at the MCI Service Center. The Hayward location, one of MCI’s busiest serving Bay Area’s growing Silicon Valley employee shuttle operations, public transit agencies, and dozens of tour and charter companies, featured a demonstration of MCI’s move into all-electric transit at the symposium.

At the event, operators also had the chance to test ride the latest J-Series models, which now includes the 45-foot J4500, equipped with efficient Cummins X12, and the smaller 35-foot J3500. Both models feature electric cooling (e-fan) systems for fuel efficiency improvements and the latest-generation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) plus 360-degree camera systems as options.

 

[A. Wong]

Some interior pictures of the D45 CRT LE - Roam Transit 1028. Quite an interesting configuration!

[GojiMet86]

https://www.metro-magazine.com/10122090/nfi-combines-new-flyer-mci

 

 

Quote

 

NFI Combines New Flyer, MCI

July 27, 2020 • by METRO Staff

NFI Group Inc. announced a company-wide transformational initiative called “NFI Forward” to rationalize its business units and facilities.

 

“While we have been working to streamline our businesses to enhance competitiveness by leveraging scale, expertise, and capability, the drastic and unanticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to revisit our unique business definitions,” said Paul Soubry, NFI president and CEO. “The first major activity of NFI Forward is the immediate combination of New Flyer and MCI into one business, and to ensure a smooth transition Ian Smart has been appointed executive vice president, business transformation, of NFI to lead the effort.”

New Flyer and MCI have legacies of product excellence dating back to the 1930s. The combined entity will retain both market-leading brands and will operate under the leadership of New Flyer President Chris Stoddart. “Leveraging North America’s largest team of experts in bus and coach technology and design, manufacturing, and support, we are keen to continue executing on our innovation agenda,” said Stoddart. “I look forward to working with Ian to ensure a seamless combination of our businesses, and to enhancing the competitiveness of all New Flyer and MCI product and service offerings.”

 

“We know the past several months have been extremely hard on all of our customers, and our primary focus was to continue providing exceptional customer care as they responded to the pandemic,” said Ian Smart. “The dramatic drop off of the motorcoach market, and the challenges resulting from COVID-19 presented an opportunity to integrate MCI into New Flyer, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective combined business. Unfortunately, it also means the elimination of certain executive roles, and I want to recognize and thank those affected for all that they contributed to MCI and to our customers for so many years.”

The combined entity will continue offering all models of New Flyer transit buses and MCI motorcoaches, the industry’s widest range of models and propulsion systems. MCI public market sales will be combined under New Flyer VP, sales & marketing, Jennifer McNeill, while MCI private market sales will be led by Brent Maitland, VP, private sector sales & marketing. Pat Ziska will continue to lead private new coach sales team, while Steve Batho will continue to lead MCI technical customer support and service centers.

“At NFI, we exist to move people, and our dedication to customers remains unwavering,” said Soubry. “We will overcome the incredible impact from this pandemic and will keep communities moving safely as we continue to lead the migration to smarter vehicles and develop more environmentally responsible platforms.”

 

 

[TRENT_TRANSIT_SYSTEM]

Can anyone clarify before I get an email from MCI tomorrow, whether or not I am going to be disappointed to find out that MCI discontinued the D4500CT????

I just finished setting up my company (legally and such), and was finally looking at the MCI brochures. No D4500CT brochure on the page. I dreamed my company would get 4500CT buses... I am not prepared to shell out for J series buses, and I don't like the new designs either.

[Bus_Medic]

14 hours ago, TRENT_TRANSIT_SYSTEM said:

Can anyone clarify before I get an email from MCI tomorrow, whether or not I am going to be disappointed to find out that MCI discontinued the D4500CT????

I just finished setting up my company (legally and such), and was finally looking at the MCI brochures. No D4500CT brochure on the page. I dreamed my company would get 4500CT buses... I am not prepared to shell out for J series buses, and I don't like the new designs either.

MCI states within this article the D series is being superseded by the CRT template.

https://www.mcicoach.com/mci-launches-its-new-d-series-and-unveils-battery-electric-zero-emission-commuter-coach-the-d45-crt-le-charge/

Buy used.

 

[TRENT_TRANSIT_SYSTEM]

16 minutes ago, Bus_Medic said:

MCI states within this article the D series is being superseded by the CRT template.

https://www.mcicoach.com/mci-launches-its-new-d-series-and-unveils-battery-electric-zero-emission-commuter-coach-the-d45-crt-le-charge/

Buy used.

 

Good news!

The dealer says they'll continue accepting orders for the D4500CT into at least 2023. MCI is only advertising the D4520 and D45CRT LE at this time to promote the new line-up.

Brochures for older models are still available on request.

 

CY2020 D Series Spec Email.pdf CY2020 Commuter Spec Email.pdf

[Bus_Medic]

So your original question was supposed to be rhetorical or something?

[TRENT_TRANSIT_SYSTEM]

12 hours ago, Bus_Medic said:

So your original question was supposed to be rhetorical or something?

No no, I wanted to see if anyone else heard otherwise or had more info. But the dealer did confirm that they're still taking orders this year and next. So, maybe a few more years still...

[tomsbuspage]

The Royal Canadian Mint have released a 13-piece silver puzzle coin set tracing "the evolution of transportation in Canada," and one of the pieces depicts an MCI Courier Western Flyer Canuck motorcoach.  It's a beautiful set but at nearly $2000, I won't be buying it for my coin collection.  Besides, it's already sold out despite just being released for sale this morning.

Pure Silver Puzzle Coin Set – Canadian Passages | The Royal Canadian Mint

Quote

New puzzle coin set shows a nation on the move.

Look to the North Star for direction in this journey through Canada’s history! Like tinted memories, and inspired by iconic images from our past, the colour depictions on the 13 puzzle-shaped coins trace the evolution of transportation in Canada, culminating in the geography-themed centrepiece. But this set represents more than just a timeline of travel – it’s about connections, for as the nation evolved, so too did the transportation links that keep us connected and moving forward together.

PREVIOUS PUZZLE COIN SETS SOLD OUT! This set is the story of Canada, told piece by piece and through the different ties that bind.

The puzzle-shaped coins include depictions of:

• Kayak
• Stagecoach
• Prairie Schooner
• Voyageur Canoe
• Railway
• Dogsled
• Passenger Steamboat
• Passenger Liner
• Air Transport
• Snowmobile
• Pontoon Airplane
• Passenger Bus
• Train Ferry

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Your 2022 puzzle coin set. Different pieces of the past come together once more in the 2022 puzzle coin set, which tells the story of Canada through the evolution of transportation.
• No assembly required. This is one puzzle you won’t need to piece together! Inside the wood collector case, all 14 coins are individually encapsulated and already in position, with just a bit of space left between them to draw attention to the individual pieces and to reduce the risk of rubbing during transit.
• Includes serialized certificate. The Royal Canadian Mint certifies all of its collector coins, including this set.
• High demand, low mintage. Previous puzzle coins sold out quickly. With mintage limited to just 800 sets worldwide, don’t miss this opportunity – order your puzzle coin set today!
• No GST/HST.

PACKAGING

Your completed puzzle comes beautifully assembled and packaged in a wooden collector case with black beauty box. Each coin is individually encapsulated and separated by a defined space to draw attention to the individual pieces and reduce the risk of rubbing during transit.

EDIT: On closer inspection, the coach is actually a Western Flyer Canuck.  I've posted a link to this thread in the Western Flyer thread.

[TRENT_TRANSIT_SYSTEM]

Hey, I am buying an MCI next week but before I put it into revenue service, I need insurance just to move the thing. Anyone how or where one can insure a 45ft bus as a personal vehicle? Or RV? Or what? $30000 is a little steep when I am not using it commercially.