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I hope the XD 40's are more operator friendly then the 4 Nova's BT has.

The more I do this job the less I like the Nova buses.

The Nova front doors are painfully slow.

The Nova's have a bouncy ride and are not as good in icy/snowy conditions.

The Flyers we currently have are much smoother and more operator friendly.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
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New Handi buses 26 & 28 are on active duty.

28 has been operating for a couple of weeks, 26 became active this past Monday.

Handi buses 25 & 27 should be operating soon.

 Handi Buses  22, 23 & 24 are now retired from service.

The city is keeping Handi bus 21 as a spare.

Currently Handi bus 20 is still active but only until

the remaining new units become active.

 

All the retired units including bus 20 were traded in as part of the tender for the new units.

It remains to be seen if they are actually shipped back to Crestline or sent to Auction in Winnipeg.

Either way it's not the cities concern.

 

I've operated both 26 & 28, very nice units!!!

These have gas engines. Much quieter and seem to have good power

and acceleration.

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On 3/23/2018 at 3:56 PM, BusRider said:

Probably 71 and 72 since transit has seems to have been going in numerical order.

This is correct!!!

The bus board in the barn has been updated with all the new buses (Handi and Regular).

71 & 72 are listed on it.

I heard rumors that they are expected to arrive any day now.

Update.... 71 & 72 are here...they arrived Wednesday May 16 2018

They have the same striping as the Nova Buses.

49 & 50 are parked outside...I expect these two buses to be retired soon after

71 & 72 become active.

 

I got to drive bus 59 last night. (the bus that hit the building last fall)

It drives and steers good but it runs like crap!!!

Low on power and the transmission slips when up shifting from 3 to 4.

Edited by BrianD
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1 hour ago, BusRider said:

Damn! Looks really good!

Yes they are very nice!!!

I feel these two are the new Flag Ships for BT

49 is retired from service....the fare box is removed.

50 is still listed as active. I doubt it will ever see service again.

71 is in the shop getting 49's fare box installed.

 

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71 was in service this afternoon on one of the ML routes.

My buddy from work was operating it.

He said it's very nice, the doors work fast but the bus is slower accelerating than the Novas.

 

I'm assuming it's power will be on par with the existing New Flyer buses in our fleet.

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I operated the new Xcelsiors (71 & 72) a few times now.

They are a nice driving solid feeling bus.

The doors work decent!!!

The power seems down on them. Maybe they are DE-tuned for break in?

Both Xcelsiors seem quite slow accelerating.

The 2010 DFLR's will easily out accelerate the Xcelsiors and the Nova's will easily out accelerate the DFLR's

 

 

 

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On 9/21/2018 at 9:55 PM, bus is coming 1965 said:

Is the ex calgary bus still around or is it gone

Yes the lone remaining Calgary bus #65  is still around parked out back with #49.

I doubt it will ever see service again but who knows for certain.

Its been moved around the yard a few times this summer. According to one

of the mechanics it moved on its own power. He said there is nothing wrong

with it.

I've operated #50 a few times since it's return to service. It still works good.

When it does get used it's usually on the Maple Leaf runs

 

Just now, BrianD said:

Yes the lone remaining Calgary bus #65  is still around parked out back with #49.

I doubt it will ever see service again but who knows for certain.

Its been moved around the yard a few times this summer. According to one

of the mechanics it moved on its own power. He said there is nothing wrong

with it.

I've operated #50 a few times since it's return to service. It still works good.

When it does get used it's usually on the Maple Leaf runs.

 

We have a few buses Red tagged, 60 & 68 need transmissions, 61 has something wrong with

the engine, misfires and runs terrible, 56 was in an accident and is out being repaired.

 

Just now, BrianD said:

 

 

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On 2/1/2019 at 7:06 AM, 1046bluebus said:

Apparently route 16 and 19 will be cancelled in favor of Transcab? 

This is correct.

March 04 2019 Routes 19 & 16 will no longer exist and Transcab will be the option to service the area(s)

these routes covered.

 

  IMO...Brandon Transit needs to revamp the entire route system. Change from the current hub and spoke system

to an grid system with multiple transfer points through out the city. Brandon is getting to spread out to run the current

system on a 1/2 schedule. A couple of the routes are extremely challenging to keep on time with during off peak ridership  times and

its all but impossible to stay on time during peak ridership times. 

 BT operators are required to wait for all transfers from other routes. When a route is late arriving it holds up the other routes awaiting 

their transfers. At peak times this causes the entire  system to fall behind which frustrates the riders as well as the operators.

 

 I recently left my job for 15 months as a temporary entry level BT operator. I enjoyed the job very much however I spent all 15 months as the last hire. 

 I was hoping to eventually become full time however lack of funding and route cutbacks coming becoming full time was years away.

 

 

 

 

 

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Yea. Agree I think the Downtown Terminal should be abolished and different nodes should be used. I know they tried 40 min. Round trips in the early 1990s but switched back to 30 min. round trips around 1995 or so. 

I also remember when they realigned the routes from everything feeding to the downtown terminal to the City Circle routes (20/21) around 2003. They had an evening dial a bus, a senior shuttle run which ran less frequently than other routes but covered a large portion of the low ridership areas. Eventually dial a bus was cancelled in favor of fixed route service and the Senior shuttle was also cancelled. With the recent changes they seemed to somewhat revert to the system prior to 2003 which was 10 fixed routes running from the Downtown Terminal. 

Having thought about ways they could improve, I would have 4 routes covering the entire city. The main nodes would be Richmond Terminal and ACC North Hill Campus with minor nodes at BRHC, Brandon University and Corral Center. 

1 Richmond/ACC via Victoria East: destinations... Richmond Terminal, Crocus Plains HS, Neelin HS, Superstore, BRHC, ACC East End Campus, ACC North Hill Campus. 

Would start south side Richmond Terminal east Richmond South 1 Street West Maryland north 9st/10st east McTavish to BRHC, north at BRHC to Victoria East Victoria to 17 st e, north to Lorne west Lorne north 14 st West princess north 1 st West Kirkcaldy north Knowlton East breacrest north White swan east centre to ACC North Hill campus. Reverse route back to Richmond Terminal. Richmond 0:03/0:33 ACC North Hill 0:05/0:35. 

2 Richmond/ACC via Richmond West... Richmond Terminal, Vincent Massey HS, Brandon University, Corral Center.

Would start WB Richmond. South 20 Street West Maryland north 26 st West willowdale s34 Street West Richmond north wankling east willowdale north 34 street west McDiarmid to east Victoria north 18 Street East Kirkcaldy north Knowlton East breacrest north White swan east centre Ave to ACC North Hill. Reverse route back to Richmond. Richmond 0:06/0:36, ACC North Hill 0:35/0:05. 

Route 1 and 2 would be the primary mainline routes and could be interlined at Richmond Terminal to make for simple transfer connections. Also timed to connect at ACC North Hill however transfers could be made on Knowlton drive if either route is delayed. 

3 Richmond/ACC via Patricia TransCanada... Richmond Terminal, Crocus Plains HS, BRHC, Town Center, Superstore, Brandon University, Corral Center, TransCanada Highway, ACc North Hill. 

Eb Richmond Terminal, south 18 Street, south service road, east Patricia, north 10 street, east Maryland, north 1 Street East Richmond north Garwood drive west Queens, north 1 Street to BRHC to west Victoria north 1 st West princess south 10 st, west Victoria north 18 Street East Stickney north 6 st west Parker, north 18 Street East Middleton south 1 Street to ACC North Hill... Reverse route back to our Richmond. Long route Richmond 0:05/0:35 ACC North Hill 0:49/0:19. Does not connect to route 1/2 at ACC North Hill but does connect at Richmond.  

4 Richmond/Victoria West... Richmond Terminal, Brandon University, Vincent Massey HS. Loop route. 

West Richmond, north 22 st, east Brandon Ave North 18 Street West Rosser south 26 st. West balsam north McDiarmid west Victoria north governor gate east River Heights? To 34 street north 34 street to Rosser, east Rosser to 18 Street south 18 Street West brandon south 22 street east Richmond. Richmond 0:05

Maple leaf bus route 5 perhaps could simply connect at Richmond Terminal 0:05/0:35. 

Route 6 could be opposite of route 4 perhaps. West Richmond north 22 street west Brandon north 26 east park North 18 st west MacDonald south 26 west Rosser south fotheringham west governors gate east River Heights south 34 street east Victoria north 26 east rosser south 18 Street West park South 26 east Brandon south 22 east Richmond. Richmond 0:35. 

Route 3 would be a secondary mainline route with route 4/6 being the river Heights feeder, doing one loop one trip and the opposite loop the other trip. 3 and 4/6 would interline at Richmond Terminal. 

Peak routes during day would have at Richmond. 

0:05 route 1,2,3,4,5(infrequently)

0:35 route 1,2,3,5(infrequently), 6(with exception of 08:35/15:35 when route 4 would run for Vincent Massey) 

ACC North Hill

0:05 route 1,2 

0:19 route 3

0:35 route 1,2 

0:49 route 3 

4 buses on route 1/2 and 4 buses on route 3/4,6

Off peak. 

Richmond

0:05 route 1, 4

0:35 route 2, 3

ACC North Hill

0:05 route 2

0:19 route 3

0:35 route 1 

Weekday route 1,2 could be blocked with early morning maple leaf runs. So 

0600-2000 route 1,2 every 30 min. 2000-2359 route 1,2 every 60 min. 

Saturday 0700-1100/1900-2300 route 1,2 60 min. 1100-1900 30 min. 

Sunday 1100-1900 route 1,2 60 min. 

Route 3 weekday 0600-1800 every 30 min. 1800-2200 every 60 min. 2200-2359 every 90 min. Saturday every 60 min. 0600-1000, every 30 min. 1000-1800 every 60 min 1800-2000, every 90 min. 2000-2359. Sunday every 120 min. 1000-2000

Route 4 weekday 0600-1800 every 60 min. 1800-2200 every 60 min. Saturday 0600-2000 every 60 min. Sunday every 120 min. 1000-2000.

Route 5 as required. 

Route 6 weekday 0600-1800 every 60 min. Saturday 1000-1800 every 60 min. 

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9 hours ago, 1046bluebus said:

Yea. Agree I think the Downtown Terminal should be abolished and different nodes should be used. I know they tried 40 min. Round trips in the early 1990s but switched back to 30 min. round trips around 1995 or so. 

I also remember when they realigned the routes from everything feeding to the downtown terminal to the City Circle routes (20/21) around 2003. They had an evening dial a bus, a senior shuttle run which ran less frequently than other routes but covered a large portion of the low ridership areas. Eventually dial a bus was cancelled in favor of fixed route service and the Senior shuttle was also cancelled. With the recent changes they seemed to somewhat revert to the system prior to 2003 which was 10 fixed routes running from the Downtown Terminal. 

Having thought about ways they could improve, I would have 4 routes covering the entire city. The main nodes would be Richmond Terminal and ACC North Hill Campus with minor nodes at BRHC, Brandon University and Corral Center. 

1 Richmond/ACC via Victoria East: destinations... Richmond Terminal, Crocus Plains HS, Neelin HS, Superstore, BRHC, ACC East End Campus, ACC North Hill Campus. 

Would start south side Richmond Terminal east Richmond South 1 Street West Maryland north 9st/10st east McTavish to BRHC, north at BRHC to Victoria East Victoria to 17 st e, north to Lorne west Lorne north 14 st West princess north 1 st West Kirkcaldy north Knowlton East breacrest north White swan east centre to ACC North Hill campus. Reverse route back to Richmond Terminal. Richmond 0:03/0:33 ACC North Hill 0:05/0:35. 

2 Richmond/ACC via Richmond West... Richmond Terminal, Vincent Massey HS, Brandon University, Corral Center.

Would start WB Richmond. South 20 Street West Maryland north 26 st West willowdale s34 Street West Richmond north wankling east willowdale north 34 street west McDiarmid to east Victoria north 18 Street East Kirkcaldy north Knowlton East breacrest north White swan east centre Ave to ACC North Hill. Reverse route back to Richmond. Richmond 0:06/0:36, ACC North Hill 0:35/0:05. 

Route 1 and 2 would be the primary mainline routes and could be interlined at Richmond Terminal to make for simple transfer connections. Also timed to connect at ACC North Hill however transfers could be made on Knowlton drive if either route is delayed. 

3 Richmond/ACC via Patricia TransCanada... Richmond Terminal, Crocus Plains HS, BRHC, Town Center, Superstore, Brandon University, Corral Center, TransCanada Highway, ACc North Hill. 

Eb Richmond Terminal, south 18 Street, south service road, east Patricia, north 10 street, east Maryland, north 1 Street East Richmond north Garwood drive west Queens, north 1 Street to BRHC to west Victoria north 1 st West princess south 10 st, west Victoria north 18 Street East Stickney north 6 st west Parker, north 18 Street East Middleton south 1 Street to ACC North Hill... Reverse route back to our Richmond. Long route Richmond 0:05/0:35 ACC North Hill 0:49/0:19. Does not connect to route 1/2 at ACC North Hill but does connect at Richmond.  

4 Richmond/Victoria West... Richmond Terminal, Brandon University, Vincent Massey HS. Loop route. 

West Richmond, north 22 st, east Brandon Ave North 18 Street West Rosser south 26 st. West balsam north McDiarmid west Victoria north governor gate east River Heights? To 34 street north 34 street to Rosser, east Rosser to 18 Street south 18 Street West brandon south 22 street east Richmond. Richmond 0:05

Maple leaf bus route 5 perhaps could simply connect at Richmond Terminal 0:05/0:35. 

Route 6 could be opposite of route 4 perhaps. West Richmond north 22 street west Brandon north 26 east park North 18 st west MacDonald south 26 west Rosser south fotheringham west governors gate east River Heights south 34 street east Victoria north 26 east rosser south 18 Street West park South 26 east Brandon south 22 east Richmond. Richmond 0:35. 

Route 3 would be a secondary mainline route with route 4/6 being the river Heights feeder, doing one loop one trip and the opposite loop the other trip. 3 and 4/6 would interline at Richmond Terminal. 

Peak routes during day would have at Richmond. 

0:05 route 1,2,3,4,5(infrequently)

0:35 route 1,2,3,5(infrequently), 6(with exception of 08:35/15:35 when route 4 would run for Vincent Massey) 

ACC North Hill

0:05 route 1,2 

0:19 route 3

0:35 route 1,2 

0:49 route 3 

4 buses on route 1/2 and 4 buses on route 3/4,6

Off peak. 

Richmond

0:05 route 1, 4

0:35 route 2, 3

ACC North Hill

0:05 route 2

0:19 route 3

0:35 route 1 

Weekday route 1,2 could be blocked with early morning maple leaf runs. So 

0600-2000 route 1,2 every 30 min. 2000-2359 route 1,2 every 60 min. 

Saturday 0700-1100/1900-2300 route 1,2 60 min. 1100-1900 30 min. 

Sunday 1100-1900 route 1,2 60 min. 

Route 3 weekday 0600-1800 every 30 min. 1800-2200 every 60 min. 2200-2359 every 90 min. Saturday every 60 min. 0600-1000, every 30 min. 1000-1800 every 60 min 1800-2000, every 90 min. 2000-2359. Sunday every 120 min. 1000-2000

Route 4 weekday 0600-1800 every 60 min. 1800-2200 every 60 min. Saturday 0600-2000 every 60 min. Sunday every 120 min. 1000-2000.

Route 5 as required. 

Route 6 weekday 0600-1800 every 60 min. Saturday 1000-1800 every 60 min. 

Wow...I'm impressed!!!  You have given this some thought!!! 

This should be proposed to the city.

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14 hours ago, BusRider said:

Stop announcements are coming! As well as new fareboxes?

image.thumb.png.cba59e8bb3e702a590e5a0443066a577.png

Hopefully not the same fareboxes as Winnipeg's. Several years later - about 5 or so - they are still slow and the reader doesn't always work. Stop announcements are a nice feature especially if you aren't familiar with the route.

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 7/14/2019 at 11:44 PM, Viafreak said:

Hopefully not the same fareboxes as Winnipeg's. Several years later - about 5 or so - they are still slow and the reader doesn't always work. Stop announcements are a nice feature especially if you aren't familiar with the route.

Stop announcements work the best in the middle of Winter when it's dark out, the bus is crowded and you're in an area that you're not sure where you are. But I swear that some WT drivers turn the volume on Low or 0 sometimes.

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