Toronto Transit Commission 7200-7251

Toronto Transit Commission 7200-7251 were Nova Bus RTS-06 WFD (T80-206) buses built and delivered in 1998.

Engine	Transmission	Seating	Destination sign
Detroit Diesel Series 50 275 hp @ 2100 rpm	Allison VR731RH 3 speed	39: American Seating Model 6468	Luminator MAX2000 Luminator Horizon

History

Order

The TTC had already substituted half of a 100 unit order for the Orion VI with lift-equipped Orion Vs in order to expedite delivery. Instead of ordering 100 more Orion VIs, the TTC placed an order for the RTS; a bus that General Manager David Gunn knew well from his time in New York. However, Nova could not meet the TTC's delivery schedule; the order was reduced to 52 buses, and the TTC purchased 51 buses from New Flyer.

The RTS order was the last high floor, lift-equipped buses purchased by the TTC. Unlike other lift-equipped buses used by the TTC, the wheelchair lift was located at the rear door.

TTC 7200 was the first bus delivered, and arrived at Hillcrest on June 12th 1998, with a second pilot bus planned to follow and the remainder of the order to be delivered later that year, to be assigned out of Danforth Garage.

Refurbishment

This series received a mid-life structural and mechanical overhaul beginning in October 2006, with the final bus completed by 2008. The most visible difference post-rebuild was the livery. The black portion now wrapped around the front and around the rear of the bus. In addition, prior to their rebuild it was common for the paint to chip because of the stainless steel body panels.

Modifications

All buses have received bike racks, automated announcements, and CCTV cameras. In March 2010, a prototype driver barrier was installed in unit 7200. It consisted of a two-piece, hinged plexiglass upper portion and an independent metal bottom portion. The rest of the fleet was fitted with the barriers later in the year. A couple of buses received Luminator Horizon destination signs in 2010 and 2012. Other buses were retrofitted when the original flip-dot signs fail.

Deployment History

From the beginning of their careers, these buses were found on Danforth division's accessible routes such as 57 Midland, 65 Parliament, 72 Pape, 75 Sherbourne, 81 Thorncliffe Park, 87 Cosburn, 94 Wellesley and 100 Flemingdon Park. They were able to replace some of the 6300 series D40s and some older 8000 series GM New Looks.

When the New Eglinton garage opened in 2002, this series was moved to Arrow Rd. division and were most commonly found on routes 35 Jane, 96 Wilson and 165 Weston Rd North, but could occasionally found on busier Arrow Rd. routes, including 36 Finch West, 60 Steeles West, 84 Sheppard West and 108 Downsview. On rare occasions, they could be found on other Arrow Road routes as well.

Retirements

This batch of buses was originally scheduled for retirement in 2016, however some buses were being withdrawn in advance due to a number of factors. These included corrosion of structural components, decreased reliability with age, and difficulty in acquiring replacement components. Approximately fourteen buses were sidelined in 2014 and never returned to service. Buses were gradually retired through to August 21, 2015, when the last few were pulled from service. The final bus to operate in service was 7232, running on route 165 Weston Rd North one day prior.

Details

Fleet number	Date	VIN	License plate	Garage	Status/Disposal	Notes
7200	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833059	BM5 942 (prev. BJ6 301)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs.
7201	1998	4RKMWTGAXWR833060	BM8 762 (prev. BJ6 302)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7202	1998	4RKMWTGA2WR833229	BM8 763 (prev. BJ7 804)	Arrow Rd.	Retired July 2015
7203	1998	4RKMWTGA9WR833230	BM5 943 (prev. BJ7 777)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015
7204	1998	4RKMWTGA0WR833231	BJ7 795	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs.
7205	1998	4RKMWTGA2WR833232	BM5 944 (prev. BJ7 796)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014	No bike rack.
7206	1998	4RKMWTGA4WR833233	BM5 945 (prev. BJ7 797)	Arrow Rd.	Retired July 2014
7207	1998	4RKMWTGA6WR833234	BM8 672 (prev. BJ7 778)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015
7208	1998	4RKMWTGA8WR833235	BM5 946 (prev. BJ7 798)	Arrow Rd.	Retired July 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs. Used as a paintball wall during the 2015 Harvey Shop open house after retirement.
7209	1998	4RKMWTGAXWR833236	BN2 288 (prev. BM5 947; BJ7 779)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014 Scrapped. Engine removed and listed for sale.
7210	1998	4RKMWTGA1WR833237	BM8 673 (prev. BL6 539; BJ7 799)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs in early 2012.
7211	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833238	BM8 674 (prev. BJ7 819)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015	Rear destination sign stuck displaying "25". Used as a paintball wall during the 2015 Harvey Shop open house after retirement.
7212	1998	4RKMWTGA5WR833239	BM5 948 (prev. BJ7 800)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 17th, 2015	Rear View Made its last run on route 165 before retirement.
7213	1998	4RKMWTGA1WR833240	BM8 675 (prev. BJ7 801)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7214	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833241	BM8 676 (prev. BJ7 802)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015 - Collision
7215	1998	4RKMWTGA5WR833242	BM8 764 (prev. BJ7 805)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014	Sustained moderate fire damage on December 12th, 2010; returned to service in 2011.
7216	1998	4RKMWTGA7WR833243	BM5 949 (prev. BJ7 780)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015	In a collision in January 2015; returned to revenue service in mid February 2015. Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs.
7217	1998	4RKMWTGA9WR833244	BM5 950 (prev. BJ7 771)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015	No bike rack.
7218	1998	4RKMWTGA0WR833245	BM8 677 (prev. BJ7 806)	Arrow Rd.	Retired July 2015
7219	1998	4RKMWTGA2WR833246	BM5 951 (prev. BJ7 781)	Arrow Rd.	Retired March 2015
7220	1998	4RKMWTGA4WR833247	BM5 952 (prev. BJ7 770)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7221	1998	4RKMWTGA6WR833248	BM5 953 (prev. BJ7 769)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7222	1998	4RKMWTGA8WR833249	BM5 954 (prev. BJ7 768)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014	Side mirror/front bumper hit by TTC 2155 on October 4th, 2004.
7223	1998	4RKMWTGA4WR833250	BM5 955 (prev. BJ7 808)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs.
7224	1998	4RKMWTGA6WR833251	BM5 956 (prev. BJ7 820)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 17th, 2015	Made its last run on route 96 before retirement.
7225	1998	4RKMWTGA8WR833252	BM5 957 (prev. BJ7 782)	Arrow Rd.	Retired May 2015
7226	1998	4RKMWTGAXWR833253	BM5 958 (prev. BJ7 783)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015
7227	1998	4RKMWTGA1WR833254	BM5 959 (prev. BJ7 784)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 12th, 2015
7228	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833255	BM8 678 (prev. BJ7 807)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7229	1998	4RKMWTGA5WR833256	BM5 960 (prev. BJ7 813)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7230	1998	4RKMWTGA7WR833257	BM5 961 (prev. BJ7 803)	Arrow Rd.	Retired May 2015
7231	1998	4RKMWTGA9WR833258	BM5 962 (prev. BJ7 785)	Arrow Rd.	Retired May 2015
7232	1998	4RKMWTGA0WR833259	BM8 765 (prev. BL6 540; BJ7 786)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 19th, 2015	Missing bike rack May 2015. Made its last run on route 165 before retirement.
7233	1998	4RKMWTGA7WR833260	BM8 766 (prev. BJ7 787)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7234	1998	4RKMWTGA9WR833261	BM8 679 (prev. BJ7 788)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7235	1998	4RKMWTGA0WR833262	BM8 680 (prev. BJ7 789)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015	Retrofitted with new Luminator sign control.
7236	1998	4RKMWTGA2WR833263	BM8 681 (prev. BL6 541; BJ7 790)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs in late 2010.
7237	1998	4RKMWTGA4WR833264	BM8 682 (prev. BJ7 791)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014 Used as a Toronto Police training bus, later replaced by 7325.
7238	1998	4RKMWTGA6WR833265	BM5 963 (prev. BJ7 814)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7239	1998	4RKMWTGA8WR833266	BM5 964 (prev. BJ7 767)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7240	1998	4RKMWTGAXWR833267	BM8 683 (prev. BJ7 815)	Arrow Rd.	Retired 2012 Used as a parts bus after retirement.
7241	1998	4RKMWTGA1WR833268	BM5 965 (prev. BJ7 792)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7242	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833269	BM8 684 (prev. BJ7 816)	Arrow Rd.	Retired December 2014
7243	1998	4RKMWTGAXWR833270	BM8 685 (prev. BJ7 821)	Arrow Rd.	Retired July 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs. Made its last run on route 35 before retirement. Used as a paintball wall during the 2015 Harvey Shop open house after retirement.
7244	1998	4RKMWTGA1WR833271	BM8 767 (prev. BJ7 817)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7245	1998	4RKMWTGA3WR833272	BM5 966 (prev. BJ7 793)	Arrow Rd.	Retired May 2015	Retrofitted with new Luminator sign control.
7246	1998	4RKMWTGA5WR833273	BM5 967 (prev. BJ7 822)	Arrow Rd.	Retired April 2015
7247	1998	4RKMWTGA7WR833274	BM5 968 (prev. BJ7 823)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7248	1998	4RKMWTGA9WR833275	BM5 969 (prev. BJ7 824)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015
7249	1998	4RKMWTGA0WR833276	BM8 768 (prev. BJ7 825)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 2015
7250	1998	4RKMWTGA2WR833277	BM8 688 (prev. BJ7 826)	Arrow Rd.	Retired January 2015
7251	July 1998	4RKMWTGA4WR833278	BM8 689 (prev. BJ7 827)	Arrow Rd.	Retired August 7th, 2015	Retrofitted with Luminator Horizon signs. Made its last run on route 195 before retirement.