Coast Mountain Bus Company 3309–3358
Coast Mountain Bus Company 3309–3358 are a set of 50 New Flyer Industries C40LFR units built in 2006.
The Cummins Westport C Gas Plus engines used on these buses were manufactured as part of a joint venture between Cummins Inc. and Lower Mainland-based Westport Innovations, which can cut nitrogen oxide emissions by 500,000 pounds over the lifespan of the buses.[1]
Unit(s) | Engine | Transmission | Seating | Destination Sign |
---|---|---|---|---|
3309–3311, 3313–3347, 3349–3355, 3357–3358 | Cummins C Gas Plus 280 hp | Allison World B400R5 5 speed | 37 – USSC Aries | Luminator Horizon |
3312, 3348, 3356 | Cummins Westport ISL-G |
History
This order was originally made after then-Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell shot down an internal TransLink recommendation to purchase 107 diesel buses for a cheaper price and service/maintenance reliability despite CNG buses being more expensive.[2] There was also "fierce lobbying" by the compressed natural gas industry for TransLink to purchase more CNG buses[3] and Campbell argued that TransLink needed to abandon diesel to help the environment and to support local industries,[4] despite CNG buses emitting only slightly less carbon dioxide and would instead release more methane.
The base order for this batch was initially 73 with an option to increase up to 95 (which was exercised) with a delivery expected for mid-2006.[1]
Despite lobbying by the natural gas industry, TransLink overturned the decision to buy 95 C40LFR buses in March 2006 and this decision was led by Vancouver Coun. Peter Ladner and endorsed by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan.[4] This decision was made after months of back-and-forth debates and controversies until TransLink's directors agreed to purchase the 95 units for $44 million in fall 2005.[5] Because of the sudden change, New Flyer was unable to completely cancel the order "without significant impact to the cost and schedule as the buses [were] too close to production line entry" and the order was instead revised to 50 C40LFRs and the remaining 45 C40LFRs yet to go into production were converted to a diesel order. Because diesel buses were at the time $64,000 cheaper and upgrades to CNG fuelling stations at Port Coquitlam Transit Centre were no longer required, the money saved allowed TransLink to buy 12 more diesel buses, resulting in the order of 57 D40LFR buses.[5]
Due to headlight visibility issues with bike racks, bikes were initially not allowed after sunset for a short period after these units were delivered. Almost immediately after the buses entered service in late 2006, the issue was noticed and was brought to New Flyer's attention. The provincial motor carrier commission recommended that New Flyer retrofit the headlights, but that would have been costly and time-consuming. New Flyer proposed that a different style of bike racks be used instead. The bike racks were replaced with a different style from late 2007 to early 2008.[6] In 2009, passenger voice-announcement and display systems by INIT were introduced. CCTV cameras were installed in 2011. Compass Card readers were gradually installed starting in late 2012 and through 2013.
Between 2012 and 2013, units 3312, 3348, and 3356 had their engines replaced from Cummins C Gas Plus to Cummins Westport ISL-G.
In December 2016, several units suffered from cracked front axle beams during a period of heavy snowfall. This resulted in affected units being removed from service for repairs and prompted other garages to send in a contingency fleet for the time being. The failures prompted New Flyer to conduct an investigation, determining a manufacturing defect as the cause of the failures. As a result, a recall was issued for 1098 Low Floor buses from model years 2005–2007 which may have defective front axle beams.[7]
After an initial trial on the 9726–9791 series Novas, hard barriers were installed replacing the "shower curtain" installed on all non-barrier buses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Installation work on this series was anticipated to start in November 2023 but did not start until January 2024.
Six units (3310, 3321, 3324, 3325, 3332, and 3337) were removed from the fleet roster at the end of the October 31, 2024 service day as part of the first group of retirements (excluding unit 3317 which retired in April 2023). While these six units were supposed to undergo decommissioning starting in the final week of October, maintenance-related fleet shortages allowed for some units to continue running until their official status changed. Despite this, ongoing fleet shortages allowed units 3325 and 3332 to continue service into November as their radio and fare equipment were not removed yet.
Deployment
This series is entirely based out of Port Coquitlam Transit Centre, which was the only depot that was capable of maintaining and operating CNG buses at the time these units were procured. They have consistently been based out of Port Coquitlam and can be found on any conventional bus route operated by this depot.
Details
Fleet Number | Thumbnail | Paint | Date | VIN | License Plate | Transit Centre | Status/Disposal | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3309 | May 2006 | 2FYC5FP166C029768 | WA 9893 (prev. DP 1495, 7508 KD) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3310 | June 2006 | 2FYC5FP176C030265 | KP 4554 (prev. DP 1501, 8603 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – October 2024 |
| ||
3311 | June 2006 | 2FYC5FP196C030266 | PC 7391 (prev JC 7851, DJ 1557, 8548 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3312 | June 2006 | 2FYC5FP106C030267 | MC 7422 (prev DP 1544, 8637 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3313 | July 2006 | 2FYC5FP126C030268 | MV 8886 (prev DJ 1558, 8629 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – December 2024 |
| ||
3314 | July 2006 | 2FYC5FP146C030269 | KJ 1857 (prev DF 2801, 8563 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3315 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP106C030270 | JM 4315 (prev DF 2802, 8562 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3316 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP126C030271 | JC 7875 (prev DJ 1559, 8571 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3317 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP146C030272 | LB 6276 (prev. DF 2819, 8602 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – April 2023 |
| ||
3318 | July 2006 | 2FYC5FP166C030273 | JC 7855 (prev BN 2239, 8572 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3319 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP186C030274 | LS 6450 (prev DF 2820, 8530 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3320 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP1X6C030275 | LL 9724 (prev DF 2821, 8636 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3321 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP116C030276 | ET 7820 (prev 8658 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – October 2024 |
| ||
3322 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP136C030277 | LL 9656 (prev DF 2822, 8631 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3323 | July 2006 | 2FYC5FP156C030278 | JC 7850 (prev DF 2823, 8609 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – December 2024 |
| ||
3324 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP176C030279 | MF 8569 (prev DP 1496, 8638 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – October 2024 |
| ||
3325 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP136C030280 | NG 5665 (prev DP 1545, 8606 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3326 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP156C030281 | ET 7821 (prev 8604 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3327 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP176C030282 | PG 8300 (prev LX 3604, DP 1546, 8632 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3328 | July 2006 | 2FYC5FP196C030283 | JC 7874 (prev DF 2824, 8605 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3329 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP106C030284 | MV 8805 (prev DF 2825, 8702 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3330 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP126C030285 | MV 8807 (prev DF 2826, 8660 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3331 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP146C030286 | RC 5266 (prev ET 7822, 8703 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3332 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP166C030287 | MS 7647 (prev DJ 1560, 8659 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3333 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP186C030288 | LL 9650 (prev DJ 1561, 8704 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active | |||
3334 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP1X6C030289 | PP 2520 (prev DJ 1562, 8633 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3335 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP166C030290 | MK 6468 (prev DJ 1563, 8679 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – November 2024 |
| ||
3336 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP186C030291 | MJ 3645 (prev DJ 1564, 8688 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3337 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP1X6C030292 | FA 3569 (prev 7900 KM) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – October 2024 |
| ||
3338 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP116C030293 | VH 4565 (prev DP 1500, 8644 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – December 2024 |
| ||
3339 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP136C030294 | JC 7876 (prev DP 1547, 7901 KM) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3340 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP156C030295 | KJ 1858 (prev CT 1229, 8680 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3341 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP176C030296 | LS 6405 (prev FA 3570, 8645 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3342 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP196C030297 | LS 6475 (prev FA 3571, 8643 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3343 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP106C030298 | NA 3232 (prev DW 1579, 8657 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3344 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP126C030299 | MV 8829 (prev FA 3572, 8642 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3345 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP156C030300 | PF 7759 (prev EP 9131, 7912 KM) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3346 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP176C030301 | LG 4793 (prev FA 3573 8682 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3347 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP196C030302 | SC 0219 (prev. FA 3574, 8683 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3348 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP106C030303 | 8690 KE | Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3349 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP126C030304 | DP 1488 (prev 8681 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3350 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP146C030305 | PF 7760 (prev FE 5150, 8705 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3351 | August 2006 | 2FYC5FP166C030306 | SJ 8798 (prev FE 5151, 8689 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3352 | September 2006 | 2FYC5FP186C030307 | NA 3171 (prev DP 1497, 8691 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Retired – December 2024 |
| ||
3353 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP1X6C030308 | LG 4794 (prev CT 1247, 7902 KM) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3354 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP116C030309 | MS 7616 (prev FE 5152, 8694 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3355 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP186C030310 | PE 1121 (prev DP 1498, 8695 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3356 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP1X6C030311 | FE 5164 (prev. 8692 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3357 | 2006 | 2FYC5FP116C030312 | PG 8196 (prev DP 1499, 3785 LL, 8696 KE) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
| ||
3358 | September 2006 | 2FYC5FP136C030313 | SV 2685 (prev. DP 1467, 7913 KM) |
Port Coquitlam | Active |
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jamieson, J. (2005, December 9). TransLink inks deal with local engine maker, The Province, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ Maple Ridge News (2005, July 30). TransLink picks natural gas buses over diesel, Maple Ridge News, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ Boei, W. (2006, October 6). Diesel wins over natural gas for TransLink's bus order, The Vancouver Sun, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Boei, W. (2006, March 7). TransLink overturns earlier decision to buy only buses powered by natural gas, The Vancouver Sun, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Maple Ridge News (2006, March 8). TransLink shifts back to diesel, Maple Ridge News, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ Rossi, C. (2007, October 17). Bus company still working on bike rack problem; TransLink installing new racks that doesn't obstruct headlights, Vancouver Courier, retrieved 19-07-2021
- ↑ http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/tc/2017/62488r-eng.php