RSMG106

If I can understand, we are still waiting for 62 more 2017 XD60s to TU. However, it may take forever. But I can understand about fleet uniformity. TU mostly has New Flyers, and Novabuses. As for the 1200s, this would make sense since that both Gun Hill and Kingsbridge has the 1200s. Both Gun Hill and Kingsbridge are currently moving their 4700s to Grand Avenue, and Ulmer Park. However, I would prefer the 62 additional 2017 XD60s to TU, and all 90 of the 1200s to TU. Then, move the remaining 2011-13 LFSAs to Kingsbridge and Gun Hill. It would be a style of "old school and new school". You will have a combination of the 2000s decade units, with the 2010s decade units.

The stop requested chime.

In the afternoon, I was on the M102 route to the East Village on unit #6035, and I noticed something unique. That unit has a longer chime than the other XD60s from NYCT. This has to do with the essential service where I think TA decided to edit the chime to make it louder. I'm not sure if this is true if the other units have it, or that it is just me.

For the first time, the Prevost will not only feature the same Hanover signs from the New Flyer and Novabus fleet, but will also be the first MTA Prevost to feature the Cuomo livery. And it will be the first order of X-345 commuter buses with the new redesign, ever built.

May I ask why they renumbered 5299 to 5252? This maybe a similar case where a bus gets renumbered into the same number series. The D60s from 1998 were originally numbered 1110-1111, and then we're renumbered to 5250-5251, to match the 5200 series.

Actually, how about we go back to the pre Orion VII NG order and have just the chime instead.

So today, I was on 5903, a 2012 Novabus LFS Artic based out of OH. During its run on the M103, the third door located in the rear malfunctioned. It took at least 30 seconds before the door was normal. Whenever it does that, the bus operator turns off the vehicle, and turns it back on to resolve the issue. I wanted to ask, since that I rode the LFS Artics most of the time, if there are similar units that had issues like this, or that bus operators had issues with the doors on the LFS Artics? That was not the first time that this happened. I encountered these instances a few times in 2019 on some units.

To be honest, Andy Byford was the best choice for the MTA. When it comes to modernization, Byford had a lot of ideas to improve subways and buses, such as the Fast Forward plan. Also, when he was in charge, subway delays went down, and it was much better. However, thanks to Andrew Cuomo, I think the MTA may fail at some point, however I could be wrong. Cuomo shouldn't go after Byford just because of his spectacular job. Overall, Byford was a great choice for the MTA, and would've begun a renaissance for the system.

Oh. It makes me wonder on why the MTA chosen this exhaust spec, over the D4500CLs. What the MTA should've done, was to keep the same spec as the CLs, that way they can have 126 coaches. But nope, they chosen a spec that can cause a potential safety hazard.

Well, there were supposed to order 126 D4500CTs from 2008, but they reduced it 59, but due to insufficient funds, they send 18 to NJT, leaving only 41 units on order at the time.

For this topic, I wanted to check out the reject bus orders from the MTA, and why there were rejected. It may not be all of the rejected orders, but here are the rejected orders so far: The first order was from 1995, with the Flxible Metro E. The Metro E order would've been numbered 1900-1949 (50), and was to be powered by the Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine, with the Allison VR731RH transmission. Unfortunately, despite being ordered in '95, Flxible went out of business before being built, and closed in 1996. This resulted in the order to be award to Orion for the Orion V, and numbered 631-680. It would've been cool to see the Metro E buses, since the controversial Grumman Flxible 870 order. The second order was from 2004, with the New Flyer D60HF. This order would've been numbered 5770-5834 (65), and would've used the same powertrain as the 2002-03 units, and the depots were listed for delivery. The depots were revealed on which units will they receive. 5770-5792 (23) would go to 100th Street (OH), 5793-5827 (35) going to Casey Stengel (CS), which would've been the first Queens depot to receive articulated buses, and 5828-5834 (7), going to MJQ. However, the model was discontinued prior to being built. This didn't make sense, since that Metro Transit of Minnesota-St. Paul, received the last batch of D60HFs ever built in 2006. But like the Metro E order, it would've been cool to see these units in service, especially in Queens. The third order was from 2006, but this time was from the then MTA Long Island Bus division. This order was the famous Orion V CNGs. This order would've been numbered 463-512 (50). The powertrain was interesting, since that the Allison B400R5 G4 transmission was the primary for this order, and the other Orion V CNGs, were mostly Allisons, the engine was different. It would've been powered by the John Deere/Powertech 6081H engine. This order was a possible order from the batch of 2004 Orion Vs, but was dropped, presumably for the Orion VII Next Gen. If this would've been order, then it would be the first time that the MTA ordered a different CNG engine, not from Detroit Diesel. The fourth and fifth order are from 2012-13, and are from MTS. The MTA would've received the RTS Extreme, and the RTS Express, with the Cummins ISL9 engine, and the Allison B400R6 G4 or G5 transmission respectively. The Extreme order would've been numbered 4700-4789, and the Express order would've been numbered 2500-2589. However, both orders were not delivered for unknown reasons. In my opinion, it would've very amazing to see the RTS return to glory in New York City. The last order was from 2012-13, but for MTA Bus. The Orion VII 3G CNG order would've been numbered 570-643 (74), with an option of 30 buses, making a total of 104 buses. It would've been the same as NICE's Orion VII 3G order. Sadly, only two were built, and were sent to CENTRO, under 1271-1272. And also, Orion closed, resulting in the contract to be moved to New Flyer for the last order of C40LFs. However, It would've been interesting to see the Orion VII 3G CNGs in Queens, but it's better late then ever. Those are so far the rejected orders from MTA Bus, and New York City Transit. It may not be all of the rejected orders, but if I'm missing something, or some facts about the rejected orders, let me know.

Okay, I understand that I made a complaint that is stupid, but this is my opinion, and I can definitely understand that the MTA will not do anything about it.

When I was at least 3 years old, I remember riding the 1997 New Flyer D60HF #1024 on the M102, back when the 100th Street Depot was reopened. I was on the bus, when all of a sudden, I hear an voice from the speakers about priority seating. At first I thought it was the bus operator, but then later on, I discovered that those were PSA announcements. To this day, I heard the female voice, in which I don't know who provided that PSA, and it still being used on all buses as an alternative PSA. When the newer and worst Orion VII NG Hybrids came along, I heard new things about the voices. Firstly, it was the first order to feature the all new "Please Exit Through The Rear Door", voice when the Stop Requested button was pressed, or the yellow cord was pulled. And secondly, they had all new PSAs done by two male voices and one female voice who also provided both "Thanking for riding the MTA", and a violation of assaulting an bus operator. It seems pretty amazing to hear these new voices, especially the Vapor CLASS door systems voice. However, in the beginning of 2018, with the change from Ladies and Gentlemen, to more gender neutral announcements, the voices had an impact on the buses as well. The biggest complaint that I had with the change, is that most of the original PSAs were either redone by a new male voice, or a new female voice. The male voice is especially annoying because for some weird reason, he provided the priority seating PSA, even though the old PSA recording was still there, playing it occasionally, and also replaced the female voice that explained the violation for assaulting an bus operator. I understand these changes, and it appeals to more of an gender neutral change for everyone to understand, but it makes wonder, how much changes can the MTA do in the 2020s. Also, the on-board announcements, can be a bit lazy, since that it's done by a Text to Speech Siri for buses that have On-Board Displays. So that it all for this question.

I wasn't knowing about this, since the video came in today. My apologies sir.

According to this video, 4950 will arrive at MJQ in a few hours. Source of this video and special thanks to King Auto & Xcelsior, and Mystical. This unit will either do tests, or start SBS duties on the M14.

Well, it's official. Novabus made a fully electric, long range version of the original LFSe. Known as the LFSe+, this bus is capable of a range between 211 and 292 Miles before needing a charge. Unlike the LFSe which was powered by the TM4 Sumo HD motors, the LFSe+ will instead have BAE Systems in place. I think there's a slight possibly that the MTA will test out the LFSe+ in the 2020 decade. Here's the link to the LFSe+: https://www.metro-magazine.com/zero-emissions/news/735949/nova-bus-launches-new-fully-electric-lfse

I'm not too sure. It may not happen, unless the MTA knows about this issue, and starts the process of refitting all the XD60s.

I can understand of why the HVACs are more heavy than the 2016-17 order, but I think the MTA should at least keep the specs from the 2016-17 order as it is. Overpowering the HVACs, and making it heavy, can have massive issues, i.e. engine breakdown, Also, for the Thermo Kings on the XD60s, if riders heard that the bus whines when the AC is on, it should be noted that the compressors are the key points of the whine. Honestly, I don't like it that much, but I think the MTA in the future, should test out the Moblie Climate Control, or the all new Sutrak ACE HVACs for their next articulated order. But I will admit that the 2917-19 XD40s with Thermo Kings are better than the XD60s in my opinion. Overall, the MTA should consider testing out new HVACs for other buses.

12 years? It seems pretty early to retire buses like that. Some companies retired their buses in the 15-20 year mark, or rarely more. However, most companies due retire their buses at the 12 year mark, so they can make room for newer, and better efficient buses, or retiring them for unknown reasons. The MTA should at least retire buses at the 18 year mark, similar to their 1998-99 Orion Vs. However, this is just my opinion though.

That's very good news. I knew the MTA decided to preserve the D60s after all.

Interesting. I could've sworn a NG has YU stickers on a MV unit.

Weird. 4040 still has Yukon stickers on it, and you said it was assigned to MV? Maybe they didn't have the chance to switch stickers.

4040 was on loan at MV from YU this morning on the M98.

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Thanks for the info. I forgot that the M35 operates at Quill.