Jump to content

Vancouver looking at double deckers?


wt_enthusiast_photos

Recommended Posts

Does anyone know if the provincial fleet has any new double-deckers coming any time soon, and if so which model they are? If they're the SuperLo model, then maybe TransLink could "borrow" one or two, try them out on different suburban routes/divisions for a sheet at a time, and see how they work? The replacements for the first Orion V Suburbans won't be coming up for another couple years at least, so there's plenty of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎9‎/‎24‎/‎2016 at 10:33 PM, SidneyTransitfan said:

I was just thinking about this the other day. With the 2001-built Orion Vs due for replacement within the next four years and capacity being an recurring issue on the suburban commuter routes out of Bridgeport, the 503 and the 555 Port Mann Express, and also longer distance routes like the 701 especially with the upcoming extensions to Mission; it would be ideal for TransLink to seriously consider obtaining double-decker buses for these routes. The 2008-built Orions will last a little longer, so those could continue to be used on less-busy commuter routes until they're replaced up to eight years later.

Personally I love the idea of an ADL Enviro 500 in TransLink's Sweep-R scheme. If the tunnel-replacement does go ahead and is completed on schedule, the new buses could theoretically just be the 4.1m model in order to keep the entire fleet the same height and specs, as opposed to having one order 3.9m and the other 4.1m.

 

503 & 555 are fine for them, but 701 have a problem for the frequent stops in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, single doorway SuperLo is not really particle for 701 + 791~~

On ‎9‎/‎26‎/‎2016 at 5:13 PM, NotQuite said:

Having driven the 351 many times over the years, I have found single door coaches not to be much of a problem.  Nor has it been that much of a problem on the 601.  However the single door restricts the bus to routes that are primarily pick up at one end and drop off at the other end.  Much like intercity routes rather than local ones.

Also, 601 & 620 are totally overlap on the portion of Bridgeport and Ladner Exchange, I assume that 601 will downgrade to urban buses instead of the current Orion V~~

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brought this topic up with my roommates father who is also a bus driver for CMBC, and he believes that while the general preference will be to use Artics where we can and just extend the pull outs where needed, however in areas where we won't be able to do that (parts of the North shore should it ever experience a population explosion) and the long range express routes.  Another problem he mentioned could be height clearance between the top of a decker, and trolley wires.  Even if there is sufficient clearance, they might not want to risk running them near any trolley routes due to the possibility (however remote it could be) of the wires hitting the vehicle.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In Seattle the Community Transit double deckers (full 4.4m height models) frequently travel underneath the trolley wires and I've yet to hear of any incidents regarding such contact between wires and buses.

Of course the wires could be considerably higher compared to Vancouver's - but there are photos of a full-size Enviro 500 on test at Metrotown Exchange around 2008 (the same bus that became BC Transit 9528).
Screen-Shot-2014-03-26-at-2.18.14-PM-984

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

These will clear the trolley wires without issue.  The issue would be if they could pass a trolley.  But like it has been mentioned here before, CoV probably won't see these if they are ordered.  While the capacity is there, people don't always go to far so an artic will be better suited for routes like the 99 and 49.

They would most likely be used on long distance commuter routes and would be a great option for the 701 as the WCE train bus if it happens to be separated from the regular 701.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 9/23/2016 at 10:19 PM, cleowin said:

If for some reason, we do get the Enviro500 double deckers, then I could see this happening with the fleet by 2020 (all estimates):

(assuming 10% fleet upgrade only) - 1,450 Conventional Bus

7101-7150: 1995 D40LF (Retired)

7151-7243: 1996 D40LF

7151-7243: 65: HTC

3283-3308: 1998 C40LF (Retired)

7247-7297: 1998 D40LF

7247-7262: STC: 15

7263-7297: HTC: 35

8001-8021: 1998 D60LF (Retired)

7301-7374: 1999 D40LF

7301-7374: STC: 75

8022-8047: 1999 D60LF (Retired)

8048-8101: 2000 D60LF (Retired)

7375-7429: 2000 D40LF

7375-7399: HTC - 25

7401-7429: STC - 29

7430-7446: 2001 D40LF (Active)

7430-7446: STC - 17

9201-9276: 2001 Orion V (Retired)

3309-3358: 2006 C40LF

3309-3358: PCTC: 50

7447-7504: 2006 D40LFR

7447-7504: STC: 57

8105-8117: 2007 D60LFR

8105-8117: BTC: 13

9605-9706: 2007 NovaBus LFS

9605-9664, 9707-9725: BTC: 79

9665-9706: VTC: 41

9726-9791: 2008 NovaBus LFS

9726-9791: BTC: 66

9277-9285: 2008 Orion V

9277-9285: RTC: 9

8118-8156: 2009 DE60LFR

8118-8156: BTC: 39

9401-9542: 2009 NovaBus LFS HEV

9401-9475: HTC: 75

9476-9542: VTC: 66

9543-9590: 2009 NovaBus LFS

9543-9590: VTC: 47

12001-12025: 2012 XDE60

12001-12025: VTC: 25

14001-14045: 2014 XN40

14001-14032: PCTC: 32

14033-14045: HTC: 13

15001-15021: 2015 XDE60

15001-15012: STC: 12

15013-15018: BTC: 6

15019-15021: VTC: 3

16101-16150: 2016 XD40

16101-16150: RTC: 50

16001-16051: 2016 XN40

16001-16051: HTC: 51

16501-16526: 2016 XDE60

16201-16226: BTC: 26

17001-17026: 2017 XDE60

17001-17018: BTC: 18

17019-17026: RTC: 8

18001-18031: 2018 XN60

18001-18018: PCTC: 18

18019-18022: RTC: 4

18023-18031: STC: 9

18101-18151: 2018 XN40

18101-18151: STC: 51

19001-19051: 2019 XN40

19001-19051: RTC: 51

20001-20076: 2020 Envrio500

20001-20012: PCTC: 11

20013-20060: RTC: 47

20061-20076: STC: 18

Now this is all estimates, but I imagine some of the 96/98's will come back from retirement

(if they had not yet been scrapped) for the purpose of expansion.

 

BRT BRT BRT BRT TROLLEY BRT

Some BRTs hold as much as a subway so I see a lot more buses in the fleet, maybe up to 21001-21051 (actually I had my old list and Chrome glitched and it got deleted)

I don't see CNG coming to STC or RTC anytime soon so maybe lets try XHE60s? For variety throw in some NovaBuses and get some more suburban config buses and add some Trolleys and some BRT lines and then I endorse this list.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, buizel10 said:

BRT BRT BRT BRT TROLLEY BRT

Some BRTs hold as much as a subway so I see a lot more buses in the fleet, maybe up to 21001-21051 (actually I had my old list and Chrome glitched and it got deleted)

I don't see CNG coming to STC or RTC anytime soon so maybe lets try XHE60s? 

A contract has already been award to convert STC to CNG by 2019. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 minutes ago, Blue Bus Fan said:

A contract has already been award to convert STC to CNG by 2019. 

NVM I dont see richmond though, we will probably stick with our hybrids and maybe a odd chance of Trolleybus

 

EDIT: Actually just checked RTC being converted too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, Blue Bus Fan said:

@buizel10, there is a plan to convert RTC? Can you please post link for this plan. 

I'm not sure that's it been put up for bidding yet, but RTC and STC have been planned to get CNG for some time.  STC is getting it first since it will be the easiest.  When they built the new fuel island, it was built with the intention of having CNG installed so all they have to do is install the equipment and the line into the property.  STC also has several buses that are due for retirement within the next 5 years or less so the next order of buses that are XN40's could go directly to STC or they will get the C40LFR's from PTC.

I think RTC would need a completely new fuel island or an extensive overhaul of the existing one to get CNG.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...