HoustonMETROFan Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 The NABI 40-LFW Gen-III diesel order is just about done. Only one bus remain (that's not listed in revenue service) so hopefully before this month is out, it'll be in revenue service. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted July 18, 2015 Report Share Posted July 18, 2015 http://ridemetro.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=1127&meta_id=18403 See pages 42 - 49. Looks like we're getting 10 more MCI D4500CTs. Yes, this item will be brought up in the next METRO Board Meeting next Thursday as "Consent Agenda Item #25." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 http://www.ridemetro.org/SiteImage/NBN/NewBusNetworkMap-2800x2800.png A view of METRO's New Bus Network system map - updated 7/2/2015. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transit man2015 Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 Will Houston Metro recieve the CNG NABI buses also since Newflyer has been switching NABI contracts over to them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted July 28, 2015 Report Share Posted July 28, 2015 (edited) Will Houston Metro recieve the CNG NABI buses also since Newflyer has been switching NABI contracts over to them? At last check, the original contract states that they're to receive 150 CNG NABI buses - since this happened BEFORE New Flyer announced that they're getting rid of NABI. From METRO dated Tuesday, November 25, 2014 3:30 PM: "METRO currently has a contract through 2016 with NABI for 150 CNG buses and 115 diesel buses. This contract currently remains in effect and NABI plans on delivering the number of buses currently under contract." Within the New Flyer article, it states that "New Flyer expects to deliver orders as previously committed and to provide support for NABI customers of the LFW and BRT products for as long as those buses are in service." Again, Houston METRO's order happened before New Flyer wanting to get rid of NABI. Unless things change and I have yet to see what needs to be seen for proof, the CNG NABI order still stands. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Edited July 28, 2015 by HoustonMETROFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metro4050 Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 At last check, the original contract states that they're to receive 150 CNG NABI buses - since this happened BEFORE New Flyer announced that they're getting rid of NABI. From METRO dated Tuesday, November 25, 2014 3:30 PM: "METRO currently has a contract through 2016 with NABI for 150 CNG buses and 115 diesel buses. This contract currently remains in effect and NABI plans on delivering the number of buses currently under contract." Within the New Flyer article, it states that "New Flyer expects to deliver orders as previously committed and to provide support for NABI customers of the LFW and BRT products for as long as those buses are in service." Again, Houston METRO's order happened before New Flyer wanting to get rid of NABI. Unless things change and I have yet to see what needs to be seen for proof, the CNG NABI order still stands. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk A high level Metro official has told me that the CNG order will be converted to diesel because the bids to build the CNG physical plant have come in too high. He's a pretty reliable source so I have no reason to believe otherwise. Also, one of the new buses was lost in the recent flooding this past Memorial Day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 A high level Metro official has told me that the CNG order will be converted to diesel because the bids to build the CNG physical plant have come in too high. He's a pretty reliable source so I have no reason to believe otherwise. Also, one of the new buses was lost in the recent flooding this past Memorial Day.Lovely but I'll still ask myself for proof and will post here what I'm told.Update: Email was just sent and I'll post whatever response I receive. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 A high level Metro official has told me that the CNG order will be converted to diesel because the bids to build the CNG physical plant have come in too high. He's a pretty reliable source so I have no reason to believe otherwise. Also, one of the new buses was lost in the recent flooding this past Memorial Day.So much for believing this. Just saw 2003 - a CNG NABI - signed up on the 56 route. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 So much for believing this. Just saw 2003 - a CNG NABI - signed up on the 56 route. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Good to know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Yes, it is. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Yes, it is. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Well it made no sense as there was no press release if there was a change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Well it made no sense as there was no press release if there was a change.Right and also, I didn't get any emails from METRO telling me of any changes to the original contract. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted September 5, 2015 Report Share Posted September 5, 2015 The CNG NABI era has begun. Six of the first 50 are now in revenue service - and yes, the fueling facility is still gonna be built. From Bill Peterson - the person who is tasked to provide info like this monthly: METRO has begun operating six (6) CNG 40-foot NABI buses from Fallbrook. These are the first of fifty (50) CNG buses numbered 2000-2049. METRO’s fixed-route bus fleet has increased thirteen, (+13) buses, to 1217 from 1204 buses. This is due to the introduction of six (6) of the new NABI 40-foot CNG buses at Fallbrook, while METRO is retaining extra buses until the fueling facility is completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 I wonder, with the last NABI produced, what will become of Houston METRO's NABI order? I thought they were supposed to receive 100 additional NABIs next year. Obviously due to METRO's stainless steel requirement, New Flyer cannot fulfill the contract with the Xcelsior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 I wonder, with the last NABI produced, what will become of Houston METRO's NABI order? I thought they were supposed to receive 100 additional NABIs next year. Obviously due to METRO's stainless steel requirement, New Flyer cannot fulfill the contract with the Xcelsior. According to the contract and unless I am told otherwise as to what happened to it, we're still gonna look for those other buses. I'll ask but what the agency tells me will stand. In the meantime, the 50 buses are here with several in service. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 According to the contract and unless I am told otherwise as to what happened to it, we're still gonna look for those other buses. I'll ask but what the agency tells me will stand. In the meantime, the 50 buses are here with several in service. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Lets see if New Flyer is really gonna sweeten the offer to change the order to XN and XD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 (edited) Lets see if New Flyer is really gonna sweeten the offer to change the order to XN and XD Nope - not gonna happen because they don't offer a "stainless steel" Xcelsior model. If both parties "mutually" agree to end the order at just 50 NABI CNGs so NFI can finally focus only on the Xcelsior, METRO may have to look somewhere else for those 100 CNGs. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Edited November 10, 2015 by HoustonMETROFan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted November 5, 2015 Report Share Posted November 5, 2015 Nope - not gonna happen because they don't offer a "stainless steel" Excelsior model. If both parties "mutually" agree to end the order at just 50 NABI CNGs so NFI can finally focus only on the Xcelsior, METRO may have to look somewhere else for those 100 CNGs. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Makes you wonder if they will wanna try Nova then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted November 6, 2015 Report Share Posted November 6, 2015 Makes you wonder if they will wanna try Nova then.If they can offer the lowest bid of the remaining manufacturers that offer CNG buses (if METRO wants to keep going that route) - excluding New Flyer. Sent from my HTC0P4E1 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted November 11, 2015 Report Share Posted November 11, 2015 Without further ado, here are the answers to whatever questions I have asked METRO in regards to the NABI order and what's happening moving forward with bus purchases. Q 1: What will become of the other 100 other NABI CNGs that we are needing to get for THIS fiscal year? Are they still coming or will the order end at just 50 NABI CNG buses? A 1: [Chuck Berkshire] The contract for 100 CNG buses due in FY16 from NABI was cancelled due to the current business changes underway between NABI and New Flyer. As such, METRO will operate the current fleet of 50 CNG buses to determine future needs. Q 2: If - repeating - IF METRO is still needing more buses in the near future, who might be the winning manufacturer since we all know New Flyer doesn't build a "stainless steel" Xcelsior bus model? A 2: [Chuck Berkshire] METRO recently went out to bid for 80 transit and 20 articulated buses powered by clean diesel. We hope to bring a recommendation to the Board in December. Also, New Flyer does now offer the Xcelsior model with a stainless steel frame option. What "80 transit" means is that they want 80 total 40' transit style buses. Now that I'm told that they (NFI) does offer a stainless steel frame option, I would think it'll be between New Flyer and NovaBus. Why only those two and not put Gillig and maybe even Eldorado National (with their Axess 40' bus model) in the mix? Well - if you want one straight order from a single manufacturer, only those two have 40' and 60' buses available. Gillig and Eldorado National can only be in the running only because they have 40' buses available and just deal with NFI or NovaBus for 60' buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAverageJoe Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 Without further ado, here are the answers to whatever questions I have asked METRO in regards to the NABI order and what's happening moving forward with bus purchases. Q 1: What will become of the other 100 other NABI CNGs that we are needing to get for THIS fiscal year? Are they still coming or will the order end at just 50 NABI CNG buses? Q 2: If - repeating - IF METRO is still needing more buses in the near future, who might be the winning manufacturer since we all know New Flyer doesn't build a "stainless steel" Xcelsior bus model? What "80 transit" means is that they want 80 total 40' transit style buses. Now that I'm told that they (NFI) does offer a stainless steel frame option, I would think it'll be between New Flyer and NovaBus. Why only those two and not put Gillig and maybe even Eldorado National (with their Axess 40' bus model) in the mix? Well - if you want one straight order from a single manufacturer, only those two have 40' and 60' buses available. Gillig and Eldorado National can only be in the running only because they have 40' buses available and just deal with NFI or NovaBus for 60' buses. NFI will be coming out with a stainless steel frame Xcelsior option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted November 28, 2015 Report Share Posted November 28, 2015 NFI will be coming out with a stainless steel frame Xcelsior option I've already received that answer via e-mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted December 10, 2015 Report Share Posted December 10, 2015 http://ridemetro.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=5&event_id=606 Take a look at Action Item #4. It seems that NovaBus may have won the next bus order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonMETROFan Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 http://ridemetro.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=1216&meta_id=22955 Pages 26 - 32 will tell all. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABQ RIDE Posted December 15, 2015 Report Share Posted December 15, 2015 http://ridemetro.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=1216&meta_id=22955 Pages 26 - 32 will tell all. Thanks! My guess is that Nova had the price advantage here due to their experience in the use of stainless steel, while the stainless steel version of the Xcelsior is still a new product that hasn't seen mass production yet. I'm a bit surprised that Gillig was not present in the RFP though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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