BusRider Posted January 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I had a driver at the store a few days ago. I asked him how he liked the new units that were aquired in 2010. He didn't comment much about them but he did say he doesn't like the Easy Riders...lol He told me they have poor air circulation and when the air conditioning craps out yout roast...lol If the city is replacing them maybe they will sell cheap at auction. Might be interesting to purchase one for the right price. I made the mistake of going for a ride on the industrial on one of the EzRiders. Not enough room in those things, plus the heat was shot so it never really warmed up. The driver I was talking to was quite ready to get rid of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MVTArider Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Also the Brandon Sun confirmed four new buses (which will also have cameras, seven per bus) to replace existing ones, presumably 9, 10, 11, and 12. Does anyone know if the new units will be XD35? I assume they won't be more EZ Rider II Max 30'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted January 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Does anyone know if the new units will be XD35? I assume they won't be more EZ Rider II Max 30'. XD35's very well could be what we get. Nova doesn't really offer anything smaller, and transit might stay away from anything medium duty. The tender hasn't been posted yet, but I'll keep checking back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted January 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 Both 49 and 50 were out yesterday. 49 was having problems with a low oil light early in the afternoon, but didn't get changed off until 6:00pm due to having no spare buses. Also, rumour on the street is five Nova's for the next order according to some mechanics and drivers. I'm not really sure about how true that is with Nova only offering 40ft and 60ft buses. I can't see that replacing 30ft buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G.A Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 So assume that a 40 foot can't replace a 30 foot? That's unheard of. I've heard many times of 40 foots replacing 30 to 35 foots. All you can do is wait and see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorand Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 He could be referring to the shorter turn radiuse's of 30-foot buses. Brandon streets are more annoying than some of ours, for basic turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted January 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 52 is parked out by Maple Leaf. I'm on 49 at the moment, it's having issues with low oil light / buzzer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 The cost of operating a thirty, thirty-five, and forty foot bus is almost the same - based on BC Transit's experiences. Brandon doesn't have any routes that inherently require a shorter bus due to turning radius. Curious to see what comes of this order! Been quite a while since an in-service Nova was in Brandon. New delivery units to Western agencies often fueled and snacked on Highway One of course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted January 31, 2015 Report Share Posted January 31, 2015 Both 49 and 50 were out yesterday. 49 was having problems with a low oil light early in the afternoon, but didn't get changed off until 6:00pm due to having no spare buses. Also, rumour on the street is five Nova's for the next order according to some mechanics and drivers. I'm not really sure about how true that is with Nova only offering 40ft and 60ft buses. I can't see that replacing 30ft buses. Maybe they will have to fire up the 1957 GMC Coach #14...lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 52 is parked out by Maple Leaf. I'm on 49 at the moment, it's having issues with low oil light / buzzer. I drove out this way today. #58 is also out there with #52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 59 was leaking fuel while running the festival routes. Loss of power on acceleration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Heard on the scanner today that transit was completely out of spare buses. Both handi and regular transit. Edit: Just saw a Handi Transit bus on route 20 go past my place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Heard on the scanner today that transit was completely out of spare buses. Both handi and regular transit. Edit: Just saw a Handi Transit bus on route 20 go past my place. Funny you mention this. Last evening I saw #58 getting towed up 18th st and turned on to Richmond. It was out at RTB trucking a couple of weeks back for repairs. It seems these newer model Flyers are less reliable than the MCI's they replaced...lol BT never seemed to run out of spare buses in those days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Funny you mention this. Last evening I saw #58 getting towed up 18th st and turned on to Richmond. It was out at RTB trucking a couple of weeks back for repairs. It seems these newer model Flyers are less reliable than the MCI's they replaced...lol BT never seemed to run out of spare buses in those days! Mechanically the MCI's were solid, but the frames were in such rough shape... the way the floor moved separate from the rest of the bus. I hear the New Flyers aren't getting enough time in the shops due to Sunday bus service. Also they can't seem to hire new mechanics... which doesn't really surprise me because the wage is apparently lower than most other shops around town. Too bad there wasn't another $100,000+ just lying around for a mechanic to be dedicated to transit... oh... wait. Did we really need cameras in the buses or those phone box things that the drivers don't use anyway or the retrofit of the full seatbelts that annoy the hell out of the drivers but they have to wear them because safety (but it's fine if I stand at the front for 3 hours). What do I know though. Then again this is management that thinks that 90 people can fit in an EzRider. True story, late night industrial overload, they didn't want to send out an extra bus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 The shortage of buses continues. Bus 23 (Handi Transit) is assigned to the Industrial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorand Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 The shortage of buses continues. Bus 23 (Handi Transit) is assigned to the Industrial. I'm just wondering, how much funding does Brandon Transit get from: the city, the province and if applicable, the federal government? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicinity Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Mabe you guys should buy a couple MCI's from Calgary just incase Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorand Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Mabe you guys should buy a couple MCI's from Calgary just incase Thats actually not a bad idea! Or better yet, take our D40's off of our hands and buy a couple years of time to acquire more buses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I'm just wondering, how much funding does Brandon Transit get from: the city, the province and if applicable, the federal government? I know there was about $4.9 Million from the city for the department of transportation which is both the airport and transit. The city is having trouble keeping mechanics due to them not offering competitive wages. Mabe you guys should buy a couple MCI's from Calgary just incase I wish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianD Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 I know there was about $4.9 Million from the city for the department of transportation which is both the airport and transit. The city is having trouble keeping mechanics due to them not offering competitive wages. I wish. Yes something with a 2 stroke Detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Brandon is (somewhat) close to the Saskatchewan oil industry which is growing, and the town has a surprisingly high cost for housing / rent. Like someone spread mentioned this looks like it has less to do with the fleet make up, and more to do with vehicle availability. Since I moved last summer there's a new Mayor. Do they seem pro-transit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusRider Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 This council is not really pro or anti transit. They're quite passive about it. They do usually approve new funding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC40102N Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Mabe you guys should buy a couple MCI's from Calgary just incase How about our Orion Vs's from ttc as their being retired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Parsons Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 How about our Orion Vs's from ttc as their being retired. Because the TTC isn't well known for reselling transit buses for continued service but Calgary does.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armorand Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 How about our Orion Vs's from ttc as their being retired. Beaver Bus Lines may be interested... seeing as they buy anything ex-GO Transit in terms of Orions. Still though, would they last long out here? I don't know much about the Orion line of buse's, but their Orion I's lasted ages out in Manitoba. I've seen alot of these ex-California diesel buses being spread around the continent... how much are those D40LF's and D30LF's? And any significant hurdles to bring them to Brandon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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