6400-series Nova LFS - Updates & Retirements

[Shannoncvpi]

1 hour ago, Bus1883 said:

Well we are keeping #6472 of course, #6539 and #6728 are stored in Fresh Moves, Ex-#6712 and Ex-#6783 are work buses you can possibly see those in the dead lot at FG. The status of the following Novas #6470, #6477, #6488, #6558, #6579, #6585, #6671, #6694, #6696 and #6697 are unknown/Retired, the plan was to use them as Instruction buses to train new drivers but that plan was demolished.

6585 is sitting behind 6 6697 is sitting in the back lot at K 6488 sitting in C training lot 6558 79 71 94&96 is sitting in the boneyard  6470 is sitting inside of 7 collecting dust 

[YoungBusLover]

6 hours ago, artthouwill said:

I don't know if there's room at SS with so many 8350s taking up residence theee.

Nope still a lot of 6400/6500s back there added with a long line of artics.

[YoungBusLover]

5 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

Well we are keeping #6472 of course, #6539 and #6728 are stored in Fresh Moves, Ex-#6712 and Ex-#6783 are work buses you can possibly see those in the dead lot at FG. The status of the following Novas #6470, #6477, #6488, #6558, #6579, #6585, #6671, #6694, #6696 and #6697 are unknown/Retired, the plan was to use them as Instruction buses to train new drivers but that plan was demolished.

#6539 and #6728 should be gone by now, Fresh moves uses different buses now that are non-CTA. All instruction buses are LTH but presumably retired since early 2020.

[YoungBusLover]

6 hours ago, Rhys Pate said:

I hope that some 6400-series buses will get preserved (going to museums or becoming part of the CTA’s Heritage Fleet), as the 6400-series was the CTA’s first large order of low-floor buses. It is easier for seniors and passengers with disabilities to board low-floor buses. I do know that 6472 is the CTA’s Community Connection bus (6472 was overhauled and modified after being retired in 2017).

I'd rather see #4905,#5678 and #6163 get preserved and added to the heritage fleet before another #6400. 

[Rhys Pate]

I know 6472 is the Community Connection bus. Is 6472 also in the Heritage Fleet?

[Rhys Pate]

As far as preservation of other 6400s goes, perhaps some can go to museums. The Illinois Railway Museum has a bus department and I am sure the Illinois Railway Museum would love to have a 6400.

[Bus1883]

14 hours ago, Shannoncvpi said:

6585 is sitting behind 6 6697 is sitting in the back lot at K 6488 sitting in C training lot 6558 79 71 94&96 is sitting in the boneyard  6470 is sitting inside of 7 collecting dust 

I was actually wondering where was #6579, if any bus fan was allowed in the boneyard I would of been all over the place.

[Bus1883]

10 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

#6539 and #6728 should be gone by now, Fresh moves uses different buses now that are non-CTA. All instruction buses are LTH but presumably retired since early 2020.

oh wow, I guess they’re probably scrapped now 

[Shannoncvpi]

1 hour ago, Bus1883 said:

oh wow, I guess they’re probably scrapped now 

Naw they sitting in the bone yard behind 1993 & 804

[Shannoncvpi]

1 hour ago, Bus1883 said:

I was actually wondering where was #6579, if any bus fan was allowed in the boneyard I would of been all over the place.

Yea I ain't been there in a while 

[Rhys Pate]

The 6400-series buses are great buses, as they had a long service life (2000-2022). I hope that the 7900-series and 8350-series buses also have long service lives, as they are from the same manufacturer (NovaBus). For comparison, the 7500-series NABI articulated buses (the first of which started service not long after the last of the 6400-series buses started service) had a very short service life, as they had issues (2003-2009). They were retired in 2009 after only a few years of service. They were an example of a bad product. Are any of the 7500-series NABI articulated buses still in storage at South Shops or are they all gone? The CTA and other transit agencies want their buses to be good products, like the 6400-series buses are, as they were in service for more than 20 years.

[Rhys Pate]

More likely than not, all the 7500-series NABI articulated buses are gone.

[Shannoncvpi]

On 8/22/2022 at 9:18 PM, Rhys Pate said:

The 6400-series buses are great buses, as they had a long service life (2000-2022). I hope that the 7900-series and 8350-series buses also have long service lives, as they are from the same manufacturer (NovaBus). For comparison, the 7500-series NABI articulated buses (the first of which started service not long after the last of the 6400-series buses started service) had a very short service life, as they had issues (2003-2009). They were retired in 2009 after only a few years of service. They were an example of a bad product. Are any of the 7500-series NABI articulated buses still in storage at South Shops or are they all gone? The CTA and other transit agencies want their buses to be good products, like the 6400-series buses are, as they were in service for more than 20 years.

All the 75's are scrap metal now been that way for a few years & yea the novas was good buses but I don't think the 7900 & 8325+ will last as long as the 64's cause for one they don't make buses like they use to real buses everything is cheap now 2 the Noah's be breaking down alot the 14+ novas won't run as long as it's big sister not without a rehab cause the 64's never got a rehab & was still running 

[andrethebusman]

7500-7725 sat mostly at SS, with 20 or so at 103rd for better part of two years, then all were dragged away in a matter of a couple of weeks. The ones at 103rd were all hauled off THE SAME DAY!

[mikeymc77]

So based on the tracker, 6867 was the last one in service on August 16th on the 81 logging off at 4;20. Those were some damn good buses.

 

[BusHunter]

4 hours ago, mikeymc77 said:

So based on the tracker, 6867 was the last one in service on August 16th on the 81 logging off at 4;20. Those were some damn good buses.

 

That's probably why they bought more of them, but really it's just Novas low bidding. Really though the buses will only be as good as the people fixing them. I think in the long term some NF's will give the Novas a run for their money. CTA is setting the stage for a delayed bus procurement. They got this Nova contract that only gives 100 buses a year and they pine away over 10 electric buses that will be lucky if it does one route. Buying electric buses delays the whole bus program cause while you get a zero emissions bus you get less buses that may not run as long. 

The 95th/Dan Ryan electric bus program has a long way to go. For one there's no substations and for now there is no bus. News outlets say it will be a few years away. I believe it. All press releases point to an all chicago garage arrival for these proterras. Makes me wonder why put chargers at 63rd then. Plus the whole Dan Ryan corridor is set to change. RLE is coming and 95th/Dan Ryan won't need alot of buses it has now. Probably it would have been smarter to go to a terminal that's more stable like Union Station. Or have a dedicated spot at the big bus terminals to charge buses. But it is what it is. 

[busfan2847]

8 hours ago, mikeymc77 said:

So based on the tracker, 6867 was the last one in service on August 16th on the 81 logging off at 4;20. Those were some damn good buses.

 

6:20pm not 4:20pm.

The other 2 out that day were 6870 on 77 logging off at 5:10pm and 6869 on 86 logging off at 6pm.

[mikeymc77]

5 hours ago, busfan2847 said:

6:20pm not 4:20pm.

The other 2 out that day were 6870 on 77 logging off at 5:10pm and 6869 on 86 logging off at 6pm.

I guess me being in Arizona makes sense of the 2 hour difference

[artthouwill]

4 minutes ago, mikeymc77 said:

I guess me being in Arizona makes sense of the 2 hour difference

Enjoyed my time out there earlier this year even with the crazy heat, dust storms, and even monsoons.   I plan to visit again and hope to ride the Valley Metro Buses and Light Rail. No Novas to worry about there. 

[ajay]

Just gonna drop this photo. This was the last 2002 Nova I rode in CTA passenger service. This bus was kinda sluggish but the driver tried her best. But who knows what the future may hold up for a few of these? 

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

1 hour ago, ajay said:

Just gonna drop this photo. This was the last 2002 Nova I rode in CTA passenger service. This bus was kinda sluggish but the driver tried her best. But who knows what the future may hold up for a few of these? 

hopefully at least 1 gets added to heritage 

[Bus1883]

8 hours ago, ajay said:

Just gonna drop this photo. This was the last 2002 Nova I rode in CTA passenger service. This bus was kinda sluggish but the driver tried her best. But who knows what the future may hold up for a few of these? 

I’m gonna be honest here I haven’t rode these since 2013. Literally going on 10 years since the last time I rode a #6400. #6843 is now in the boneyard on the 77th side where #6705, #6713, #6714, #6722, #6724 and #6734 is.

Edited October 12, 2022 by Bus1883

[Bus1883]

8 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

hopefully at least 1 gets added to heritage 

#6472 should still be part of the heritage even if it was a former community bus. But I do hope they’ll bring another #6400.

Edited October 12, 2022 by Bus1883

[Shannoncvpi]

2 hours ago, Bus1883 said:

#6472 should still be part of the heritage even if it was a former community bus. But I do hope they’ll bring another #6400.

Wait they don't use 6472 no more for that reason what happened to it 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

22 hours ago, ajay said:

Just gonna drop this photo. This was the last 2002 Nova I rode in CTA passenger service. This bus was kinda sluggish but the driver tried her best. But who knows what the future may hold up for a few of these? 

6858 was the last bus I rode so far