Winnipeg Transit and area

[dhelgason1]

Sorry about that , I saw the post after it got started and thought I should post the picture but never came back to do it. The Winnipeg posts are usually dead or very few and far between I didn't know there was anyone else from here posting Should of reread the posts. sorry again.

[YWGjets]

Apparently we won't be seeing any DE60LFRs according to an article in today's Winnipeg Sun. There were issues with heating and fuel consumption during the test of 998.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...874956-sun.html

"Bendy buses bomb: hybrids fail to make jump into era of green transit"

I wonder if this means that WT will instead order 60 foot diesel buses, or if it will be converted into an order for yet more D40LFRs.

[M. Parsons]

Apparently we won't be seeing any DE60LFRs according to an article in today's Winnipeg Sun. There were issues with heating and fuel consumption during the test of 998.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2...874956-sun.html

"Bendy buses bomb: hybrids fail to make jump into era of green transit"

I wonder if this means that WT will instead order 60 foot diesel buses, or if it will be converted into an order for yet more D40LFRs.

Or E60LFR's... one can dream

It seems that these systems that don't have a lot invested in hybrids have often come to the conclusion that the buses aren't worth it, yet, the large systems don't seem to say much.

I guess though, it would be bad if a system with 100's of hybrids announced that they aren't meeting the claims that have been made of them.

Examples:

BC Transit

TriMet

Edmonton (while they haven't said the hybrids are bad, their reports do show the hybrids do not save the amount of fuel that was promised)

and now Winnipeg.

[railbus]

Saw my very first D40LFR in revenue service this morning. Number 705 on the 21 Portage Express. Very easy to spot with that distinctive bandit scheme. If there is sufficient interest, I will post here as the other new deliveries enter revenue service.

Meanwhile, I rode 618 on 22 Express and saw several other 600s, 800s, 900s (enviros) and one 300 about. Rush hour always brings out the oddest collection of stuff.

Also, Beaver Orion V #66 was observed as well as two of their colourful charter coaches.

[A. Wong]

Saw my very first D40LFR in revenue service this morning. Number 705 on the 21 Portage Express. Very easy to spot with that distinctive bandit scheme. If there is sufficient interest, I will post here as the other new deliveries enter revenue service.

Meanwhile, I rode 618 on 22 Express and saw several other 600s, 800s, 900s (enviros) and one 300 about. Rush hour always brings out the oddest collection of stuff.

Also, Beaver Orion V #66 was observed as well as two of their colourful charter coaches.

There's always sufficient interest.

[YWGjets]

Or E60LFR's... one can dream

That would be nice!

It's an interesting point though - our provincial government likes to tout our cheap and 'green' hydroelectricity, so investing in a trolley bus system would be a good way to showcase the commitment to clean energy and public transportation. It would also provide WT with a buffer from oil price volatility. I wonder why it's never been discussed...

Saw my very first D40LFR in revenue service this morning. Number 705 on the 21 Portage Express. Very easy to spot with that distinctive bandit scheme. If there is sufficient interest, I will post here as the other new deliveries enter revenue service.

Meanwhile, I rode 618 on 22 Express and saw several other 600s, 800s, 900s (enviros) and one 300 about. Rush hour always brings out the oddest collection of stuff.

Yes indeed there is interest! Thanks for the info.

Still waiting to see a D40LFR!

[M. Parsons]

Or E60LFR's... one can dream

That would be nice!

It's an interesting point though - our provincial government likes to tout our cheap and 'green' hydroelectricity, so investing in a trolley bus system would be a good way to showcase the commitment to clean energy and public transportation. It would also provide WT with a buffer from oil price volatility. I wonder why it's never been discussed...

Considering how much work I've done one trolleybuses recently with regards to Edmonton, maybe I'll modify some of my stuff and send something off to Winnipeg's City Council. There are probably corridors in Winnipeg that could support trolleys.... Portage...

[railbus]

Thanks for the responses. OK I will post the fleet numbers as these emerge. They remind me of the Mississauga Transit 06s.

Meanwhile, I still have to get used to these fleet numbers. To me, a 700 is an enviro number so when I see one in the 900 series it always looks strange to me. Ah well. Life marches on.

[railbus]

This morning, 706 was observed with not a speck of a dust and not even an ad tailboard. This is now the second D40LFR I've seen in service in as many days.

Also of note, 314, 315 and 334 (MCI Classics) are still in revenue service as well. These are dropping off, so get your photos now.

Is anyone tracking when the D40s are being released in new paint following a refurbish job? There are more and more of these white D40s out there and I am just wondering if anyone has been maintaining a list since the rebuilds started. If so, send me your list so far; I might be able to help you.

[YWGjets]

This morning, 706 was observed with not a speck of a dust and not even an ad tailboard. This is now the second D40LFR I've seen in service in as many days.

Also of note, 314, 315 and 334 (MCI Classics) are still in revenue service as well. These are dropping off, so get your photos now.

Is anyone tracking when the D40s are being released in new paint following a refurbish job? There are more and more of these white D40s out there and I am just wondering if anyone has been maintaining a list since the rebuilds started. If so, send me your list so far; I might be able to help you.

I haven't seem any lists of D40 paint schemes around, but I'm relatively new to this forum. Maybe we should keep track on this board? It's starting to seem like almost half of the 300 and 600 series d40s are white now with shiny fresh ones appearing every day. Are any of the older D40s being refurbished? I've only noticed one 800 series unit in white (863 I think).

The 1987 D40s seem to be disappearing. The only ones I ever see nowdays are 638, 639, 640, 643 and 658.

Still anxious to see (and ride) my first LFR!

[railbus]

I'm thinking of starting an offline spreadsheet to track the dates of first appearance for the white D40s, but do not want to re-invent the wheel if someone is already doing this.

Based on my observations over the past year and a half, the only D40s that seem to be getting refurbished are the ones built in 1994 in the 300 and 600 series. I have never seen any of the older ones with this treatment, so your 863 spotting is news to me. I almost wonder if that one might have been in a wreck or a fire and needed a new paint job. I've certainly never seen it. And some of those 800s, like 832, have already been placed in the scrap line. Every new order spells doom for older vehicles, so it's advisable to photograph any and all orange buses. Even some of the older D40LF units still have orange paint and should be photographed before they get the white paint.

[A. Wong]

If you wanted to start an online one, there is a Winnipeg Transit section on the Wiki.

http://cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Winnipeg_Transit

Looks like it is missing the D40LFRs too.

[railbus]

Thanks. I know there are some more knowledgeable people out there other than me, for instance Dave Wyatt maintains that all-time fleet roster on his website. Besides, I don't have access to edit that wiki nor have I ever done so before.

P.S. Is that a low floor bus in your avatar?

[A. Wong]

Always an opportunity to learn, and access is not an issue. I personally want to increase the amount of coach and ETS information on there but I'm also preoccupied with catching up with photos on my website.

Yes, it is the E40LFR that ETS loaned from Vancouver. The buses in my signature were Photoshopped.

[railbus]

Thought I would also mention in case anyone cares, on another topic, that Winnipeg Transit is operating specials out to the Red River Ex in Headingley. These are usually D40LF with "RED RIVER EX" on the destination sign and no route number.

http://winnipegtransit.com/redriverex.jsp

Red River Ex

The 2008 Red River Ex runs from June 13 through June 22.

Winnipeg Transit provides extensive service to and from Exhibition Park. Buses leave Market and Main (beside the Concert Hall) and operate south on Main, west on Portage to Exhibition Park making limited stops along Portage. See Map below for stop locations.

REGULAR TRANSIT FARES APPLY

Service Frequency

Mondays - Thursdays

1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Buses run approximately every 15 minutes

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Buses run approximately every 10 minutes

10:00 pm - 1:00 am Buses run approximately every 9 minutes

Fridays - Saturdays

10:00 am - 6:00 pm Buses run approximately every 15 minutes

6:00 pm - 10:00 pm Buses run approximately every 10 minutes

10:00 pm - 1:00 am Buses run approximately every 9 minutes

Sundays

10:00 am - 8:00 pm Buses run approximately every 15 minutes

8:00 pm - 12:00 am Buses run approximately every 9 minutes

IMPORTANT: To make your last transit connection downtown you must leave the Ex by 1:00 am (11:30 pm on Sunday)

For a complete list of activities, rides, and entertainers visit the Red River Exhibition website at www.redriverex.com.

City of Winnipeg : Departments : Winnipeg Transit, Last update: March 10, 2008

[madsad]

In today's WFP.

Transit fails 'bendy bus' on winter road test, emissions standards

By: Bartley Kives

Updated: June 17, 2008 at 12:25 AM CDT

Winnipeg Transit is looking for a new extra-long ride after its prototype "bendy bus" failed winter road tests.

Transit had been planning to buy 20 diesel-electric hybrid articulated buses at a cost of $27 million since February 2006, when the public utility unveiled a six-year, $142-million upgrade.

But the order will soon be cancelled because a prototype delivered by manufacturer New Flyer did not prove to be as energy-efficient as the city expected.

Now, Mayor Sam Katz wants Winnipeg Transit to find some form of new ride with far more seats than conventional low-floor buses.

"I like the idea of having longer buses that can move more people," Katz said Monday.

Although the mayor said he was disappointed Winnipeg's first articulated bus failed to be as green as transit officials had hoped, the utility is already looking at other forms of technology. And longer buses are still on top of the list.

The utility is also in the midst of purchasing 144 new conventional buses over the course of six years at a total cost of $65 million.

Articulated buses are used in several North American cities, including Ottawa, which is almost as cold as Winnipeg during the winter and usually endures much more snow.

But the model tested here during the past winter failed to save as much fuel as Winnipeg Transit expected, city spokeswoman Pam Sveinson said.

Greenhouse gas emissions also proved to be higher than expected, defeating the purpose of spending more city money on an energy-efficient vehicle. Winnipeg Transit plans to release more details about its bendy-bus road test before council breaks for the summer.

During the same time frame, Katz and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer plan to make a decision regarding how to spend a $17.9 million federal kitty earmarked for alternative transportation.

Katz said it is unlikely the city will funnel the $27 million earmarked for diesel-electric hybrids into a bus rapid transit system.

"If we don't get these type of buses, we still need more buses," he said, noting Winnipeg Transit has no choice but to upgrade its fleet.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

[BCT-3122-D800-10240]

The 1987 D40s seem to be disappearing. The only ones I ever see nowdays are 638, 639, 640, 643 and 658.

Actually, when I was in Winnipeg over a year and a half ago in October of 2006, they were already down to 5 1987 D40's at that point. And the ones you've listed are the ones that I remember being active at that time as well.

[railbus]

No. There are more. 618, 638, 601, 605 and several 100s are all seen quite regularly. I saw several others last night. I could take notes but then I would be doing nothing but writing on my whole ride to work. Maybe tonight I will jot down EVERYTHING I see and then post an OS. I think that would give a pretty good picture of the current situation.

[BCT-3122-D800-10240]

No. There are more. 618, 638, 601, 605 and several 100s are all seen quite regularly. I saw several others last night. I could take notes but then I would be doing nothing but writing on my whole ride to work. Maybe tonight I will jot down EVERYTHING I see and then post an OS. I think that would give a pretty good picture of the current situation.

Yeah, I didn't say anything about the D901A's. I quoted your text about the 1987 D40's, and those are the ones I was referring to.

[railbus]

Ohhhh I see. Sorry bud. My roster had omitted those. 658 is still around...there are a few. These questions are getting to be very specific so I'll have to start writing down numbers a little more diligently. But I know I have pictures of the 1987 D40s. They are around.

[YWGjets]

Those old 1987 d40s are cool in the way the doors open outwards.

Saw 706 on Portage over the noon hour on Route 14. That's one handsome bus.

[railbus]

Here are the refurbs I know about so far (updated 6-19-08):

360, 376 (bike rack), 383, 389, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 680, 683, 684, 686, 689, 691, 692, 693, 697 and 698.

On the current scrap line (among others):

161, 308, 832

Shipped off to the shredder earlier on:

106, 139, 155, 169, 172, 305, 307, 327, 333 and 810

And here is EVERY bus I saw on the way home on 6-18-08:

875, 466, 521, 814, 425, 581, 477, 561, 107, 690, 840, 176, 856, 560, 101, 838, 456, 442, 412, 913, 281, 595, 247, 482, 827, 217, 394, 673 (refurb), 406, 502, 503, 278, 822, 345, 833 and 450.

[railbus]

I checked all of my photos taken here since April 2007 and Peter has a point. I guess that's no big surprise really. I had thought the 1987 D40s were ALL the 600s but now I see they are just the 631-660 models. In which case I only ever snapped the 638 (ruined because a car zipped by at the critical moment) and 658. I'll have to look for the others but my hunch is they are all gone. I'm learning as I go here. Again, sorry Peter for the misunderstanding.

[BCT-3122-D800-10240]

I checked all of my photos taken here since April 2007 and Peter has a point. I guess that's no big surprise really. I had thought the 1987 D40s were ALL the 600s but now I see they are just the 631-660 models. In which case I only ever snapped the 638 (ruined because a car zipped by at the critical moment) and 658. I'll have to look for the others but my hunch is they are all gone. I'm learning as I go here. Again, sorry Peter for the misunderstanding.

Ah, no worries man! :-)

[railbus]

In today's WFP.

Thanks for posting that article, madsad!

I am glad the Mayor remains committed to the concept of high capacity buses. We can sure use them since we lost a lot of capacity when we were lobbied to commit to low floor. So we need to make up for it somehow. Let's see them keep trying and see what else they can come up with.