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Posted

The U of MN Parking and Transportation Services department recently redesigned the campus shuttle network. In addition to adding some service and changing routing for the existing lines, their contractor First Transit has also apparently added some new units.

There is now another 30' LF/BRT Hybrid, I'm guessing it replaced one of the cutaways. Additionally some secondhand D40LF were added. I saw units 3333 and 4438. I have no idea where they're from. Both have flip dot destination signs and I believe ISC or ISL engines. I'll try to ride one the next time I get the chance to transitfan. Of course the Van Hool AG300 artics, A300L, and Gillig 40' Hybrid units are still the backbone of the Campus Shuttle fleet. I haven't seen either of the 2002 Gillig LF, 624 or 625 recently. If they aren't still spares for the PTS fleet then I'm guessing they were transferred to the DELTA Airlines/MSP campus fleet. I see former U of MN shuttles 622 or 623 on the runway shuttles at the airport constantly.

25063223813_ef4c6aabe1_t.jpg 25571254852_f9fc37cfc8_t.jpg 25597279021_cc787c6c70_t.jpg

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

I was able to ride another D40LF, 4424, today. 4424 and 4438 are ex-Milwaukee County Transit System from the 2001 44xx series! ISC/ZF Voith D864.3 powertrain, tan seats and woodgrain look interior. I suspect 3333 is a former MCTS unit as well. However as you can see it has different mirrors than MCTS spec. It could just be those were replaced with an overhaul before going into the First fleet. 4424 has a #6 marked in the front window, while 3333 has 'Fir 1508 #001 3333' marked. So perhaps a total of 6 buses were bought?

 

26094401451_72e9677fed_t.jpg 26068286112_c189c9cb01_t.jpg 25555986274_766f7e07e5_t.jpg

  • 1 year later...
Posted

Well the D40LF have been replaced by some more A300L, I suspect 2010 units from DC Circulator based on the interior.

37253899771_0a2a58ea36_t.jpg 36584428443_25ed80254a_t.jpg

Also on a First note, it appears the former U of MN assigned 2002 Low Floors are now gone from their active fleet, now that the 2008 Gillig BRT Delta Airlines buses have all been refurbished. It'll be interesting to see how long First (or Delta) runs these BRTs. A couple of them sound horrible, you can hear the ISL07/B400R powertrain shrieking a 1/4 mile away.

  • Like 3
Posted
10 hours ago, MVTArider said:

Well the D40LF have been replaced by some more A300L, I suspect 2010 units from DC Circulator based on the interior.

37253899771_0a2a58ea36_t.jpg 36584428443_25ed80254a_t.jpg

Also on a First note, it appears the former U of MN assigned 2002 Low Floors are now gone from their active fleet, now that the 2008 Gillig BRT Delta Airlines buses have all been refurbished. It'll be interesting to see how long First (or Delta) runs these BRTs. A couple of them sound horrible, you can hear the ISL07/B400R powertrain shrieking a 1/4 mile away.

Inside looks like DC Circulator

  • Thanks 1
  • 3 years later...
Posted

At some point in 2020 First got a few Gillig LF to supplement the UMN Campus Shuttle fleet. It looks like they were a temporary measure as there are now 4 Gillig LF for sale at ABC Faribault. 2 2006 and 2 2007 units. I think the UMN fleet numbers on these were 3844-3847.

15GGD291961077133

15GGD291X61077139

15GGD291171077595

15GGD271X71078098

Here are the only in service shots I have of one of these, 3844, a 2006 unit seen on the 122 last Fall. (sorry the quality is poor) :

50510120058_969de856d1_t.jpg  50510119558_4361e62a1c_t.jpg

I suspect these were replaced by more secondhand Van Hools. I spotted AG300 3848 when visiting the U campus a couple weeks ago:

50972156416_521b15f52a_t.jpg

There are also buses 3849-3851 from watching the tracker. However I don't know what models they are or the full number range.

The existing 2008 Van Hool A300L and AG300 all still seem to be in service, along with the University owned Gillig Hybrid buses.

 

  • Like 3
Posted
On 3/1/2021 at 12:28 PM, MVTArider said:

I suspect these were replaced by more secondhand Van Hools. I spotted AG300 3848 when visiting the U campus a couple weeks ago:

3848 seems to be a brand new 2021 model AG300

YE2UE84BXM2062924

On 3/1/2021 at 12:28 PM, MVTArider said:

In order -

Ex-The Rapid 270

Ex-The Rapid 276

Ex-The Rapid 286

Ex-The Rapid 296

Posted
18 minutes ago, Orion6025 said:

3848 seems to be a brand new 2021 model AG300

YE2UE84BXM2062924

In order -

Ex-The Rapid 270

Ex-The Rapid 276

Ex-The Rapid 286

Ex-The Rapid 296

Thanks for the info! I had no idea they were still importing Van Hool transits. Odd they put an old plate on it as well, usually new buses get a new plate.

Posted
1 minute ago, MVTArider said:

Thanks for the info! I had no idea they were still importing Van Hool transits. Odd they put an old plate on it as well, usually new buses get a new plate.

No problem, I'm quite surprised as well. I'll report back in this topic if I can dig up anything more...

  • Like 1
Posted

Ah, thank you for the photos. The 30' Gillig Hybrid with the big back doors is a pretty interesting looking vehicle. Makes sense for the operation though!

  • 6 months later...
  • 2 months later...
Posted
On 3/2/2021 at 9:43 PM, Orion6025 said:

3848 seems to be a brand new 2021 model AG300

YE2UE84BXM2062924

In order -

Ex-The Rapid 270

Ex-The Rapid 276

Ex-The Rapid 286

Ex-The Rapid 296

As I recall KMETRO (Kalamazoo) got some of those rapid buses in 2018 then sold them to Battle Creek.

  • 3 months later...
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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted
On 8/21/2024 at 10:49 PM, Tcmetro said:

There's a new route #125 - Dinkytown Connector beginning Monday, August 24, 2024. It runs every 10-15 minutes from 7 am to 2:30 pm weekdays during fall and spring sessions and connects West Bank and Dinkytown via the 10th Ave bridge.

https://pts.umn.edu/transit/campus/dinkytown-connector-125

This route didn't start until Sept 3rd, the day after Labor Day.

In other news it looks like the U of M is using some Gillig BRT buses now. These look like they could be ex-Metro Transit.

 

  • Like 3
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted
On 9/18/2024 at 8:51 AM, MVTArider said:

'New' buses appear to be 3830-3835 based on tracker spotting so far. Though I don't know if all are ex-MT Gilligs or if there's a mix.

Ex Metro Transit 1444-1449? Those units haven't run since June.

  • 1 month later...

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