Denver RTD

[chasbo2]

I saw that RTD has retired all of the BRT Hybrid buses as of last year, too bad. I kinda liked that design seemed very futuristic. I think if the agency was fulley operated by itself and not transdev/first transit, the gillig models from 2014 to present could've been BRT hybrid or BRT plus which is very similar to Pinellas County's fleet. 

 

Oh well, I did hear that they were not going fully electric as well so I can't complain about that.

[Link8451]

1 hour ago, chasbo2 said:

I saw that RTD has retired all of the BRT Hybrid buses as of last year, too bad. I kinda liked that design seemed very futuristic. I think if the agency was fulley operated by itself and not transdev/first transit, the gillig models from 2014 to present could've been BRT hybrid or BRT plus which is very similar to Pinellas County's fleet. 

 

Oh well, I did hear that they were not going fully electric as well so I can't complain about that.

yeah it is too bad tho i understand why. Personally i think RTD best bet for electrification is trolley busses imagine the 15 and 15Ltd running on trolley busses that would be huge 

[skyline]

On 5/14/2023 at 7:59 PM, Cress C said:

registered in Longmont out here

On 5/15/2023 at 1:36 PM, Link8451 said:

possible it could have been moved

In preparation for the 6600 series bus introduction, and RTD's weird phobia of giving First North Division anything new, First Metro (Denver) and First Commerce City will be receiving the 6600 series buses, and North (Longmont) will be receiving 6300 and 6500 series buses.

[skyline]

I've recently returned from a visit to Platte Division and am proud to announce that the 6600 series buses have arrived!
Also, there's like 30 of them, I think they started showing up months ago.

[Cress C]

On 6/10/2023 at 9:28 AM, skyline said:

I've recently returned from a visit to Platte Division and am proud to announce that the 6600 series buses have arrived!
Also, there's like 30 of them, I think they started showing up months ago.

I sure am going to miss the 5000 series buses... Guess I should start chasing them down to get my last rides around Denver out of them!

[skyline]

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denver_Metro_Transit_No._132_2_20160521.jpg

It's believed that DMT 132 is now located at the Meow Wolf "Convergence Station" exhibit in Denver.
This vehicle is part of the theming for the exhibit and also as an advocacy platform for the Gang of 19 and accessibility.

According to the theming in the exhibit, this bus is part of Denver Public Transit, despite all of the branding being DMT, I suppose they were too lazy to create their own logo and type.

[skyline]

According to my contacts at the Regional Transportation District, the 3000 series buses are almost all in service (they still don't have trackers for some reason) and the 6600 series buses will begin entering service "by the end of summer"

[Cress C]

Seems like the transitioning from First Transit to Transdev has begun, all of the FT Denver buses I saw today are now registered under Transdev. 

[Cress C]

I'm surprised they're running an artic on the 42/45 right now since Montbello's got some really tight streets.

[skyline]

Nice catch!

5 hours ago, Cress C said:

 

5 hours ago, Cress C said:

Montbello's got some really tight streets.

Artics still have the same or a similar turn radius as 40' buses, and the 43 and 45 used to always have artics as the area still has a high level of demand (as well as Washington School Trippers). And of course, the 47X which also traveled through Montbello used a mix of coaches and artics which proves their capabilities in the area.

[skyline]

Here's something I noticed about passenger mentality:

Swifties would only board trains labeled "E Line" and not any train just labeled "Union Station"
This would leave fans of the pop idol waiting much longer than they needed to at Central Corridor rail stations.

E Line trains would be packed to capacity and C Line trains would be left relatively empty. I suspect if J Line trains ran (which they didn't), those would be completely empty because at least older Denverites know what the C Line actually was.

Yes, C Line.
Every event that RTD posts an article about on News Stop (like Broncos games and the Swift concert) almost guarantees event extra trains. I likely shared earlier but they're never advertised because they rely on available operators from Loop Extra or those to come in on their day off.

[Cress C]

3955 was just a tad bit behind schedule today...

Honestly I'm surprised FTL still has (and runs) 3955, I thought this would be one of the retirees when they got the 3000's

[skyline]

It's very surprising that 55 still exists, and that they haven't fixed that tracker because it's been like this for years

[Cress C]

I'm assuming D is the new letter code for Transdev (aka what used to be First Transit) Denver/Longmont and Commerce City is staying as letter code C. RTD sure isn't making it easy to keep the fleet roster updated lol

Caught 6055 with a mix of both letters D and F today before it got pulled out of service with a check engine light.

[skyline]

I've heard from a source (I can't confirm this, however, I have no reason to doubt the accuracy) that 6508 has been spotted with an E leasing code.

6508 used to have an X (for Connex) leasing code.

Combined with the D codes spotted recently, I'm willing to bet the following:

C - Transdev Commerce City
D - Transdev Denver (Metro)
E - Transdev Englewood
L - Transdev Longmont (North)
M - MTM
T - Transdev at 41st Street in Central Park
V - Via (both Metro and Boulder)

Edited October 21, 2023 by skyline
Added MTM and Via | L Code Confirmed

[skyline]

All of the new buses received trackers recently!

[skyline]

The C Line is dead now

As in: RTD recorded over the C Line announcements so even if you type in the C Line route and sign codes, it won’t be the C Line.

All northbound pull-outs are E Line trains, and all Union-Mineral trains are SPSW. This was alluded to months ago when the C Line returned to GTFS as the SPSW.

Trains will announce “This is the Special Service train to Union Station” (or Mineral).

Headsigns will display:
SPEC’L SERVICE
UNION STATION

[MountainWizard]

Does anyone know why it is taking so long to get the new 40 foot buses (6581-6697) into service? They started showing up at the Platte Division Garage back in January and it looks like all 117 have been delivered and staged at Platte.  To date, it looks like only 15 are in service (6581-6592 assigned to Englewood, 6594, 6596, 6604 assigned to Longmont). You would think RTD would want to retire the 18-year-old 2006 series buses. 

[skyline]

7 hours ago, MountainWizard said:

Does anyone know why it is taking so long to get the new 40 foot buses (6581-6697) into service? They started showing up at the Platte Division Garage back in January and it looks like all 117 have been delivered and staged at Platte.  To date, it looks like only 15 are in service (6581-6592 assigned to Englewood, 6594, 6596, 6604 assigned to Longmont). You would think RTD would want to retire the 18-year-old 2006 series buses. 

From what I know, this is just the process. The 3000s took a similarly long amount of time to enter service because they needed to test and inspect all equipment, as well as burn-in all of the buses. Additionally, I've heard (I don't know why or any other reason) that it takes time for divisions to convert from 5000 operations to 6000 operations simply because of the differences in the fleets. I heard that Longmont Division had 6000 series buses for over a year before they entered service because the facility wasn't equipped to handle the new buses. I would assume similar is true. In addition, storage at all divisions is limited. However, I don't know for sure.

[temer1ty]

On 9/15/2023 at 12:10 PM, skyline said:

L - Transdev Longmont (North) *NOT CONFIRMED

Can confirm, saw 6600L on the 225 in Boulder today.

[Cress C]

Was looking at Pantograph and saw this on one of the Bustang ID's. Is this a new vehicle/tracker or just a glitch in Pantograph's system?

[skyline]

No new vehicles, it looks like the trackers just had their IDs scrambled or something like that.

[MountainWizard]

I've got a couple of questions. Has RTD retired the remaining 39xx 30-foot buses.  Transdev Engleweeod has 3951-3953 and 3968-3976, but none of them have not been in service since the end of October. Transdev Longmont has 3955-3966, but none of them have not been in service since mid of September. Are they still planning on ordering another 25 new 30-foot buses?

Also, are the 2010 MCI D4500CL (199x series) also retired. They haven't been in service since May, and they are parked all together at Platte.

[skyline]

17 hours ago, MountainWizard said:

Has RTD retired the remaining 39xx 30-foot buses

Although they haven't seen service in months, the last time I spoke with my contacts at RTD, they said that the district is "in process" of retirement.
As far as I know, they are not planning to purchase any additional 30' (or equivalent) buses aside from those necessitated by Longmont routes and demand in Douglas County.

 

17 hours ago, MountainWizard said:

are the 2010 MCI D4500CL (199x series) also retired

I have not heard a word to prove that they are retired, however, I haven't heard anything that would prove otherwise. I'll look into it.

[Cress C]

I really hope in house operations hasn't retired their 5200's series Gilligs yet. I have some fond memories attached to 5264 and was hoping to get (possibly my last few) photos on my next visit back to Colorado before their retirement.