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Nova Bus LFS (all models)


dj.surf.lfs

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It's an improvement to everything except the sound!

You sure? I've already tested STM 29-803 (Artic) and I can tell you that it's much more quieter.... Well maybe except for the ZF sound but it was a very nice ride! :D

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Plattsburgh plant as the same configuration then St-Eustache ... So , both can built diesels , hybrids and artic buses . The 5000th LFS was built this summer , but i just dont remember , who's getting this bus . I must check at my work , to find out .

Also ... many buses , from differents regions are virtually ready to be shipped . A lot of HEV and diesel Translink , Bc transit , L.A.Transit , Regina and more , they just need to be inspected by the clients before leaving the plant .

Thanks for the update, it's much appreciated! I was wondering what was happening in Plattsburgh, with all those Translink and BC Transit buses showing up at St-Eustache. Are you aware of buses built in Plattsburgh being sent to St-Eustache for final testing or something? Or more likely the order is being split between the two plants.

Also, I've read in an article published this summer that the first 3 buses built in Plattsburgh were to become NovaBUS demos, do you know if this info is correct and whether those demos are still at the plant?

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You sure? I've already tested STM 29-803 (Artic) and I can tell you that it's much more quieter.... Well maybe except for the ZF sound but it was a very nice ride! :D

Like you said; that's an artic; can't compare the two especially if you're sitting at the front section which drowns the sound out even more.

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It's an improvement to everything except the sound!

BTW, I noticed ThunderBay has the rear seating for these with 2 pairs of rear facing seats. Can't they make it like the D40LF seating with 2 pairs of side seats or is there not enough room? The video doesn't exactly show how much room and I haven't rode one so far.

Look carefully, there's a huge rear wheelcover.

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I wonder if the diesels will be built in Plattsburgh as well. We don't have much news from what's brewing at that plant, alas.

This reminds me, based on my calculations Nova will build its 5000th LFS this year, probably this fall? There might be some kind of event in the near future to celebrate this milestone with the lucky owner!

The first info in the batch ID and bus type, then quantity, and finally plant. These are listed in order and most batches do overlap with each other.

L454 HEV - 69 Buses - St. Eustache

L455 HEV w/APC - 21 Buses - St. Eustache

L482 HEV - 26 - Plattsburg

L532 Diesel w/APC - 9 - St. Eustache

L533 Diesel - 22 - St. Eustache

L483 HEV - 25 - Plattsburg

L534 Diesel - 25 - Plattsburg

Bah what a bunch of cheap bastards. Well there goes my hopes of seeing LFS's in the West Vancouver Scheme... well other then 981 that is. On the upside i guess this means that the Orion's will be around for just a little bit longer. :) Although this might be spelling the end of west van transit... typical retarded translink officals.

Nope, the Orions will still be retired as expected.

Chris Cassidy

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The first info in the batch ID and bus type, then quantity, and finally plant. These are listed in order and most batches do overlap with each other.

L454 HEV - 69 Buses - St. Eustache

L455 HEV w/APC - 21 Buses - St. Eustache

L482 HEV - 26 - Plattsburg

L532 Diesel w/APC - 9 - St. Eustache

L533 Diesel - 22 - St. Eustache

L483 HEV - 25 - Plattsburg

L534 Diesel - 25 - Plattsburg

Thanks for the details! So I reckon that 9401 was the first bus of the L454 batch, even though it was built much earlier than the rest in February? Should we assume that L454 are buses 9401-9469, L455=9470-9490, and so on?

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Look carefully, there's a huge rear wheelcover.

I didn't see it from the ThunderBay youtube video but I went through my collection of pics and saw it. Why is the wdith of that wheel cover so freaking huge? What did they put there that the D40LF and VIIs dont have?

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Here are a few more for the list ... Brantford Transit has 4 Nova LFS HEV (hybrids) on order for 2010 delivery. RTL has 9 artics on order for 2011 delivery (2-1125 to 2-1133) according to a document that I obtained from CUTA. Woodstock has 2 40' and Stratford has 1 40' on order for delivery late this year.

Here are some photos of the Timmins and Sudbury units.

Kevin

Greater_Sudbury_Transit_792___15OCT09.jpg

Greater_Sudbury_Transit_794___16OCT09.jpg

Timmins_Transit_94___16OCT09.jpg

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Like you said; that's an artic; can't compare the two especially if you're sitting at the front section which drowns the sound out even more.

Yeah, but, I was sitting on the rear section and i'm telling you, the sound was okay.

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Here are a few more for the list ... Brantford Transit has 4 Nova LFS HEV (hybrids) on order for 2010 delivery. RTL has 9 artics on order for 2011 delivery (2-1125 to 2-1133) according to a document that I obtained from CUTA. Woodstock has 2 40' and Stratford has 1 40' on order for delivery late this year.

Here are some photos of the Timmins and Sudbury units.

Kevin

List updated and nice photos! I especially like the Timmins livery. :)

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Thanks for the update, it's much appreciated! I was wondering what was happening in Plattsburgh, with all those Translink and BC Transit buses showing up at St-Eustache. Are you aware of buses built in Plattsburgh being sent to St-Eustache for final testing or something? Or more likely the order is being split between the two plants.

Also, I've read in an article published this summer that the first 3 buses built in Plattsburgh were to become NovaBUS demos, do you know if this info is correct and whether those demos are still at the plant?

Plattsburgh's plant can built buses for US and Canada , but St-Eustache cannot " technically " built buses for the US market . So , its logical to think then the order is splitted between the two plants . For your first question ... No , we de not inspect any buses from plattsburgh . They do the final inspection by themself !

For your second question about the first 3 buses built , i dont really know , but i think , they become demos . Dont forget a important fact here : Plattsburgh's workers has no experience to built buses . Making bus with experienced workers can take between 400 and 600 hours by bus ! If i was a customer , i'll never buy these first 3 buses , except if nova , make me a mega deal ( 3 for the cost of 1 !!! ) hehehehe ...

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This reminds me, based on my calculations Nova will build its 5000th LFS this year, probably this fall? There might be some kind of event in the near future to celebrate this milestone with the lucky owner!

The 5000th LFS is a TRANSLINK HEV . I think its the 9436 ( 454-36 )!

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Plattsburgh's plant can built buses for US and Canada , but St-Eustache cannot " technically " built buses for the US market . So , its logical to think then the order is splitted between the two plants . For your first question ... No , we de not inspect any buses from plattsburgh . They do the final inspection by themself !

For your second question about the first 3 buses built , i dont really know , but i think , they become demos . Dont forget a important fact here : Plattsburgh's workers has no experience to built buses . Making bus with experienced workers can take between 400 and 600 hours by bus ! If i was a customer , i'll never buy these first 3 buses , except if nova , make me a mega deal ( 3 for the cost of 1 !!! ) hehehehe ...

Lol, yeah maybe they didn't want to take any chances, the first buses were practice runs! :P

I understand your point about Americans buying only from Plattsburgh, but Translink and BC Transit are Canadian transit systems (British Columbia) so they are maybe less fussy about having some of their buses built in the USA.

I hope they have a party with Translink to celebrate their 5000th! A few years ago, many people thought that NovaBUS would never survive long enough to reach this milestone. It seems like the wind has turned!

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I understand your point about Americans buying only from Plattsburgh, but Translink and BC Transit are Canadian transit systems (British Columbia) so they are maybe less fussy about having some of their buses built in the USA.

As I understand it, American transit agencies qualify for government funding every 12 years for a diesel bus - but the buses have to be built in the USA. In Canada, there is minimal (no?) funding from the federal government so they can buy from anywhere. It's nice to help out the Canadian economy though (only a few agencies have gone with other companies ie. Alexander Dennis).

American agencies could buy elsewhere too, but then there is no subsidy and they have to cover the entire cost of the bus.

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In Canada, there is minimal (no?) funding from the federal government so they can buy from anywhere. It's nice to help out the Canadian economy though (only a few agencies have gone with other companies ie. Alexander Dennis).

Perhaps little to no federal funding in Canada, but provincial funding can and has dictated where a bus has to be built.

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The steering issue is probably the reason why some 3rd Gen orders were delayed (TBT's 3rd Gens were manufactured in June but not delivered until October), and STM's 3rd Gens were the first to be delivered so problems may not have been fixed yet. No worry for other TAs really, since only 75 buses are recalled.

Road Safety Recalls Database

Transport Canada Recall # 2009253

Recall Date: 2009/08/27

Notification Type: Safety Mfr

System: Steering

Manufacturer Recall Number: CR1421

Units Affected: 75

Category: Bus

Recall Details:

On certain vehicles, the front tires may contact surrounding mechanical components during a tight turning manoeuvre. Over time, tire rub damage could cause tire failure which, in turn, can result in a vehicle crash causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.

Make Model Model Year(s) Affected

NOVA LFS 2010

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Guest GRT Kid
The steering issue is probably the reason why some 3rd Gen orders were delayed (TBT's 3rd Gens were manufactured in June but not delivered until October), and STM's 3rd Gens were the first to be delivered so problems may not have been fixed yet. No worry for other TAs really, since only 75 buses are recalled.

GRT;s 3rd Gens had this problem and we had to send them back for repair, in the middle of a bus shortage. I am surprised that we got them back within a few days !

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NOVABus should start offering the BAE Systems HybriDrive for their LFS HEV.

According to the report that has passed in Decouverte earlier this fall, the GM Allison Hybrid solution is more effective then BAE Systems HybriDrive Solution. Seattle got buses with the GM Allison system and not a SINGLE battery made default, they have it for at least 7 years. We also learned that TTC using Orion BAE Hybrid use Lead Battery, that must be changed every 18 months.

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According to the report that has passed in Decouverte earlier this fall, the GM Allison Hybrid solution is more effective then BAE Systems HybriDrive Solution. Seattle got buses with the GM Allison system and not a SINGLE battery made default, they have it for at least 7 years. We also learned that TTC using Orion BAE Hybrid use Lead Battery, that must be changed every 18 months.

It depends on the situation it's being used in, not to mention the types of battery, etc. Who knows, Seattle may have had batteries on their earlier units replaced. (Not disputing it it's just that it's impossible to know when batteries have been replaced)

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According to the report that has passed in Decouverte earlier this fall, the GM Allison Hybrid solution is more effective then BAE Systems HybriDrive Solution. Seattle got buses with the GM Allison system and not a SINGLE battery made default, they have it for at least 7 years.

Edmonton's testing showed that the BAE HybriDrive is a bit better than the GM Allison.

Interstingly, Seattle is now going with Orion/ BAE and away from the Allison product.

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