Denver RTD

[skyline]

Real-time for RTD Light Rail has recently been updated.

 

Here: Units 210, 236, and 304

Here: Units 242 and 288

Here: Unit 260

Here: Units 124, 128 and 145

 

Enjoy the extra info!

Edited April 7, 2024 by skyline
Changed to note that the units are listed in numerical order, not rake order

[skyline]

RTD has (pending board approval) announced the May 2024 service changes which include the following:
https://rtd.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=4315&Inline=True

Loop Construction and Coping Panel Construction on D, E, H,L, and R-Lines
No trains will run in the loop, with D and H lines to Union Station, and E, H, and R line trains running at reduced headway
W-Line trains will also have a reduced service span. 

Routine (and kinda basic adjustments):
8, 11, 12, 20, 24, 37, 44, 83, 105, 121, 169, 169L, 228, FF1, and GS

School trippers:
11, 20, 24, 30, 51, 65, 73, 204, 206, 225, BOLT, DASH, JUMP, NB, SKIP       

Changes that aren't related to Downtown:
N-Line runs later
45 uses Airport Way instead of Peña Blvd
RX has service reductions
120E/W becomes 120 (the letters confused people)
120L has a name change
PV FlexRide loses its FlexRoute and just becomes a zone, but it will operate all day
Evergreen North and South become one big zone (unknown whether it will still use two buses or just one)

Changes that are related to Downtown Rail Construction!
*appear to be temporary changes and will revert in September unless people complain enough
0L - All day service (likely bi-directional)
MallRide - Headway reduction 7-days a week in order to allow additional operators for:
MetroRide - Service again! 7 Days per Week, ALL DAY

It appears that MetroRide will CONTINUE after September, however, it will likely return to peak-only Monday-Friday service.

[BusBlitz]

On 2/25/2024 at 7:32 PM, skyline said:

RTD has (pending board approval) announced the May 2024 service changes which include the following:
https://rtd.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=4315&Inline=True

Loop Construction and Coping Panel Construction on D, E, H,L, and R-Lines
No trains will run in the loop, with D and H lines to Union Station, and E, H, and R line trains running at reduced headway
W-Line trains will also have a reduced service span. 

Routine (and kinda basic adjustments):
8, 11, 12, 20, 24, 37, 44, 83, 105, 121, 169, 169L, 228, FF1, and GS

School trippers:
11, 20, 24, 30, 51, 65, 73, 204, 206, 225, BOLT, DASH, JUMP, NB, SKIP       

Changes that aren't related to Downtown:
N-Line runs later
45 uses Airport Way instead of Peña Blvd
RX has service reductions
120E/W becomes 120 (the letters confused people)
120L has a name change
PV FlexRide loses its FlexRoute and just becomes a zone, but it will operate all day
Evergreen North and South become one big zone (unknown whether it will still use two buses or just one)

Changes that are related to Downtown Rail Construction!
*appear to be temporary changes and will revert in September unless people complain enough
0L - All day service (likely bi-directional)
MallRide - Headway reduction 7-days a week in order to allow additional operators for:
MetroRide - Service again! 7 Days per Week, ALL DAY

It appears that MetroRide will CONTINUE after September, however, it will likely return to peak-only Monday-Friday service.

In the March 13 Ops and Safety Committee (https://rtd.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=4321&Inline=True), they're adding the following:

10, 48, 49: Schedule Adjustments

 

It's interesting because the 10 right now sits and has a bus pass in the evenings at 9th/Clermont with 30 minute service and a 37 minute layover.

In my opinion, the Free Metroride should've been back sooner and the 45 should've moved away from Pena a while ago, but RTD being RTD makes these things happen.

Edited March 10, 2024 by BusBlitz
Link added

[MountainWizard]

On 1/25/2024 at 8:16 PM, skyline said:

Real-time for RTD Light Rail has recently been updated.

 

Here: Unit 210 Leading, 236 Middle, and 304 Trailing

Here: Unit 242 Leading and 288 Trailing

Here: Unit 260

Here: Unit 124 Leading, 128 Middle, and 145 Trailing

 

Enjoy the extra info!

 

Please note, the light rail cars and trains are listed in numerical order and not in the order they are coupled together.

[skyline]

I bring to you the updated RTD fleet as of a few days ago from a contact I have at the Regional Transportation District.

The document also includes the location of every bus in RTD's fleet.

Equipment List by STORED Location 4-9-24.xls

[BusBlitz]

The 38 today has an artic, Block 3. 

[Seashore_518203]

I had a chance to visit the RTD Platte garage during the Motor Bus Society convention in April 2008. At the time, we viewed the RTD historical fleet (photos attached).

I am now trying to arrange a visit to the same garage for the Bus History Association who is having its 2024 convention in Denver in June. The staff that I am dealing with have no knowledge of the historical fleet.

Does anybody know what happened to these buses? I know the trolley coach is now in the fleet of the Pikes Peak Historical Street Railway (Colorado Springs) as it can be seen at their facility via Google Streetview. I am hoping RTD did not get rid of the 5105 as it was in great shape. Any information that you can supply is appreciated.

[skyline]

On 4/30/2024 at 6:00 PM, Seashore_518203 said:

Although I can't be too sure, I believe that RTD may still own all of these buses, I specifically saw the 119 in the Platte Division just a few hours ago actually

[octabusfan92]

LA Charter recently acquired a Gillig and a MCI (not sure the former numbers) from Denver and were seen on the Hollywood Bowl shuttle on June 15th

[skyline]

In advance of the RTD run vote, schedule, blocking, and assignment information have been released for all in-house bus and rail routes and basic schedule information for all contracted bus and rail routes.

BUS:

Nearly all interlines have been adjusted, with the addition of new interlines to and from East Metro routes, many following School Tripper service changes.
In vehicle assignment, the 0B will fully operate with articulated buses, and in a landmark change, the 16 will also fully operate with articulated buses. These additional articulated buses reduce the articulated spare ratio from 23% to 13%, and considering the increasingly frequent "anomalies" with many (Platte) routes using rigid buses rather than articulated buses, this may affect service operation on this runboard.

Block 16_9 interlines with Route 11 will remain, meaning that several trips per day will now operate with articulated buses. This will be one of the first times that trips to Aurora Metro Center/Centrepoint will operate using articulated buses in nearly a decade after most Artic trips were cut back to Havana due to safety concerns in the Medical Center of Aurora area.

School Tripper Overview:
Route 30 (AM Only) and 51 School Trippers are still not indicated as such on their traincards or public-facing timetables for some reason.
Route 11/73 (AM) will receive an articulated bus due to an interline with Route 16, while the evening trip will continue using a Rigid bus.
Route 20 and 24 will resume and continue this year for service to East High School both with Rigid buses.
Route 65 trippers to Northfield High School (Paul Sandoval Campus) have been revised and now operate 10 minutes apart instead of 30, likely owing to revised bell times and increased demand on trips closer to bell times. These trips are indicated as school service on their traincards and public-facing timetables for the first time.
Due to extreme overcrowding, Thomas Jefferson High School will be receiving a SECOND school tripper, operating 3 minutes before (AM) and 3 minutes after (PM) the regularly scheduled tripper (necessitating more interlines with East Metro articulated routes). This is the first time that Jefferson has seen more than one School Tripper since 2020.

In other changes:
Route 38's traincards indicate that it will NOT serve Wheat Ridge-Ward Station and will terminate at the new Lutheran Hospital (this change was announced, quietly canceled, and is evidently being quietly reintroduced).
Additionally, Free MetroRide HAS been discontinued this run board with additional service being added to Free MallRide, however, it is fair to assume that Metro will be returning by May 2025 at the latest with many in the Service Development department speculating that the headcount will reach suitable levels to introduce Peak-Only 5-days a week service on Metro by January 2025.

 

RAIL:

The Downtown Loop has reopened, meaning that the D, H, and L lines will return to their original alignment. For some reason, pullouts on the D Line are not separated correctly, meaning that there are a few morning trips that seemingly bunch to 7-23 minutes instead of every 15 minutes, however, this is corrected by mid-morning. Additionally, the Southeast Corridor is not equally stacked, meaning that instead of a combined 15 minutes on the E and H lines, they will operate every 10-20 minutes instead. This could indicate the continuation of certain construction projects into this runboard, however, that is purely speculation.

[Cress C]

5000 series lives on (as instruction buses) 

[Cress C]

5000 series on route 49?? I'm going to see if I can catch it

[skyline]

2 hours ago, Cress C said:

5000 series on route 49?? I'm going to see if I can catch it

Yeahhhh that's 6192. Its original tracker was removed at some point last week and replaced by that one's.

That bus does not exist anymore and was auctioned off a while ago, and even if it wasn't, Commerce City does not possess any 5000 (incl. 51/5200s), those are all owned and operated by Platte at this point in time

[BusBlitz]

On 10/15/2024 at 3:45 PM, skyline said:

Yeahhhh that's 6192. Its original tracker was removed at some point last week and replaced by that one's.

That bus does not exist anymore and was auctioned off a while ago, and even if it wasn't, Commerce City does not possess any 5000 (incl. 51/5200s), those are all owned and operated by Platte at this point in time

That stupid tracker made me do the same thing :(.

[OM617]

Hello all! I work in the shop of the commerce city division, so if you'd like any specifics let me know!

I also owned 5060 for two years and outfitted it to live in. I took it to Los Angles, up the CA coast, throughout Utah and back to Denver, averaging 8mpg. Two years ago I sold it to another guy thats currently living in it near Golden Gate Canyon.

 

As I was in an RTD class, I spotted a picture on the wall of a rare RTD unit 1601. A one-off in the early 80's they got as a freebee with a mass purchase deal. Needless to say it was very complicated and expensive to maintain so it didn't last long in circulation. Fate unknown...

[MountainWizard]

I was hoping someone in this group would know which buses have been retired prematurely.  For example, I know 6046 was in an accident on 5/22/22 and has been scraped for parts, as was 3658 which was in an accident on 4/30/18. Have others been scraped for parts or just retired?

In particular are the following vehicles still active: 
     1681 (last used on 8/14/22)
     6119 (in an accident on 8/31/17, not used since the accident)
     6342 (last used on 9/8/20, recently spotted in Transdev Denver yard)
     6349 (last used on 9/27/23, recently spotted in Transdev Denver yard)
     6556 (last used on 8/20/23)
     6563 (last used on 1/17/24)
     9387 (in an accident on 3/19/24, not used since the accident)

Thanks for your help

[Articulated]

On 1/6/2025 at 5:15 PM, MountainWizard said:

I was hoping someone in this group would know which buses have been retired prematurely.  For example, I know 6046 was in an accident on 5/22/22 and has been scraped for parts, as was 3658 which was in an accident on 4/30/18. Have others been scraped for parts or just retired?

In particular are the following vehicles still active: 
     1681 (last used on 8/14/22)
     6119 (in an accident on 8/31/17, not used since the accident)
     6342 (last used on 9/8/20, recently spotted in Transdev Denver yard)
     6349 (last used on 9/27/23, recently spotted in Transdev Denver yard)
     6556 (last used on 8/20/23)
     6563 (last used on 1/17/24)
     9387 (in an accident on 3/19/24, not used since the accident)

Thanks for your help

The Bus History Association had its 2024 convention in Denver, and convention attendees were provided with an updated fleet roster from RTD (effective June 2024). The Regional Transportation District page on the Wiki has updated fleet information based on this roster.

FYI, I've cross-referenced the aforementioned fleet list, and all of the buses above (excluding 3658 and 6046) were still listed on that roster.

[OM617]

On 1/6/2025 at 3:15 PM, MountainWizard said:

In particular are the following vehicles still active: 

Unfortunately none of those are in my fleet group so I don't have access to their specific information.
The only two I directly know were retired prematurely were 5111 (twisted chassis from impacting a bridge) and 5093 (structural fire damage from a failed defroster motor).

[skyline]

Got this picture from a friend, I’m not familiar with the context but ig L Civil Rights bus.

This is what he said: "My running theory is since there’s a turn but no stop sign, one car stopped to turn another wasn’t paying attention and rear ended and the bus slide into car 2 crashed then course corrected sliding into the pond"

[JLiu1596]

I visited Denver last week, and got some photos of the RTD buses. Currently, the RTD fleet consists of 2014 and newer Gillig Low Floors, New Flyer XD60s, MCIs, and BYDs for the Free Mall Ride.

BYDs: 1653, 1660, 1664, 1679, 1682, and 1686 (exterior/interior) are pictured below.

Gilligs: 6041, 6108, 6163, 6178, 6196, 6213, 6326, 6381, 6653, and 6671 are pictured below.

New Flyer XD60s: 1802 (exterior/interior), 1805, 9316, 9332, 9336 (interior), 9346 (interior), 9364, 9380, and 9383 are pictured below.

MCIs: 3654, 3659, and 3719 are pictured below.

Enjoy!

[MountainWizard]

Looks like the Gillig 6000 series are starting to be retired from active service. 6010, 6011, 6013, 6014, and 6015 are now training (instructional) buses with a T after their number and stored with the other training buses. 6012 (Civil Rights Bus) was in an accident in February and hasn't been repaired. Wonder if they will just scrap it.

[BoulderBusSpotter]

Currently working on a project of organizing each unit of Boulder (and Cherry Creek) wrapped buses from the HOP-SKIP-JUMP-LEAP-BOUND-DASH-STAMPEDE-BOLT-BEE Line routes. Below are the charts and vehicle lists I've made...an overall summary, a list of HOP buses, and a list of all other RTD buses carrying special wraps.

I am still missing the following:

-BEE Line collins units (10xx buses)

-possibly a couple LEAP collins units (likely 1016-1020 if any)

-a few SKIP collins units for sure (likely 1006-1009, and 1010-1014 before they ran LEAP/STAMPEDE)

-possibly a couple SKIP gillig units (likely 3810-3811, 3813-3815 if any)

If anyone has any information about early LEAP-SKIP-BEE Line buses, I am very interested! Cheers.

RTD Livery Buses.pdf RTD Livery Vehicles - HOP.pdf RTD Livery Vehicles - RTD.pdf

[skyline]

A couple years ago, I started writing down all of the CTN buses that I could match from press photos and the CTN reports they used to do, and I compiled the attached list, I know it's definitely not 100% accurate, but hopefully it's stuff that you can build off of!

Also HOP25-26 are diesel, not electric.

 

Hope that helps!

CTN Fleet_.pdf

[BoulderBusSpotter]

On 9/6/2025 at 12:58 PM, skyline said:

A couple years ago, I started writing down all of the CTN buses that I could match from press photos and the CTN reports they used to do, and I compiled the attached list, I know it's definitely not 100% accurate, but hopefully it's stuff that you can build off of!

Also HOP25-26 are diesel, not electric.

 

Hope that helps!

CTN Fleet_.pdf 189.31 kB · 6 downloads 

@skyline Thank you so much! Overall this is great. I see a couple small corrections, but it tells the story! 
 

Gonna reach out via message as well.

 

Cheers!

[praveensoni]

Public transportation in Denver is often considered less effective compared to other major U.S. cities due to limited coverage, infrequent schedules, and a strong reliance on cars. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates buses and light rail, but many suburban and mountain areas remain underserved, making it difficult for commuters to depend solely on public transit. The city’s growing population has also outpaced the development of its transit infrastructure, leading to overcrowding on some routes and long waiting times on others.

Another factor is Denver’s sprawling geography and car-centric culture. Many residents prefer driving because it offers flexibility and convenience, especially for reaching destinations outside the downtown core or in the foothills. While there have been efforts to expand the light rail and improve connectivity, Denver’s public transportation system still lacks the speed, frequency, and accessibility found in more compact urban areas. However, you are travelling to Denver, you can consider the services from the following companies: 

https://eddielimo.com/
https://limo-denver.com/
https://centennialworldwide.com/