Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission 8001-8075
Ottawa-Carleton Regional Transit Commission 8001-8075 are Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses built and delivered in 2012. Fleet numbers 8001-8012, 8013-8020 were previously used for 1980 GMDD T6H-5307N buses.
This purchase was a result of the successful pilot project with buses 1201-1203 that showed the double deckers offered capital and operating cost savings when used on certain routes. They could seat more than articulated buses and carry more people overall with less trips and less buses. The purchase of these 75 additional double deckers was approved by council in April 2011.
They are the first urban transit double deckers in Ontario to comply with the Highway Traffic Act and do not require some excess height permits. They are also the first OC Transpo vehicles to have LED headlights, and the first OC Transpo vehicles since the Orion III not to be manufactured entirely in North America.
The buses are mainly used on express routes (except routes 40, 41, 67, 93) to service the suburban communities of Ottawa during peak periods.
Teething issues
Upstairs window fogging
When these buses first entered service, the windows on the upper deck would fog excessively once the bus neared capacity on cold winter days (usually below -10°C). While not a safety issue as the driver's view was not obstructed, it was a passenger comfort issue. This is the first time this model has encountered the unique circumstances which lead to the problem.
As of March 2013 the issue is being resolved by Thermo King with one of the units sent to their Research and Development facility in Prague, Czech Republic via Alexander Dennis' facility in Falkirk, Scotland.
Safety concerns
On December 21, 2012, 8022 left the road along Woodroffe between Hunt Club and Fallowfield, ended up on its side. The bus was out of service and no one was injured. It was very windy and the roads were very icy the day of the incident.
A similar incident occurred on April 12, 2013 where 8010 left the road along the same section of Woodroffe. Instead of ending up on it's side, it collided with a hydro pole. Power was disrupted to the majority of Barrhaven. The bus was out of service and no one was injured. The weather conditions were similar to those at the time of the 2012 incident.
The union has raised their concerns over the buses and the road design. The land around the road where theses incidents occurred is very flat and there is nothing to break the high winds that are usually encountered in that area.
| Engine | Transmission | Seating | Destination sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cummins ISL9 EPA 2010 330 hp |
Allison B500R6 6 speed |
86 American Seating Vision | Luminator Titan |
Details
