Low Floor RTS

[sw4400]

Who makes this bus.  I know there isn't a company called Millienium Transit, is there? If there is, is it a subdivision of one of the following???

• NOVABus
  
• NABIBus
  
• OptimaBus
  

[venom_20]

Millienium took over Novabus Industries. And they do make the rts. New jersey transit has put in an order with them already. Also, they had the two new versions of the rts at the apta convention this year.

[Busjack]

You are both wrong. NovaBus sold its N.M. plant to Millennium Transit Services LLC, which was organized by some former officers of Volvo Truck. Nova still owns its LFS operations in Quebec, but has withdrawn from the FTA supported  market. Look at the Millennium Transit--The RTS is back thread and follow the links.

[venom_20]

you're right. millennium only produces the rts "legend" and the extreme which is the low-floor model. There is talk about a smaller bus that they are trying to produce, but i haven't seen any pics of it yet.

[sw4400]

What engine is in the RTS Extreme? Is it a Detroit Diesel(like our current 4400 Series RTS's), or is it a Cummins Low-Emmissions?

[venom_20]

I truthfuly don't know. I'm guessing that you can put either one in them considering that every TA chooses which powertrain that they want. Btw i just found out that millenium just won a bid for boston to produce some buses.

[Busjack]

Btw i just found out that millenium just won a bid for boston to produce some buses.

Apparently not; New Flyer just announced that it won the contract. While the GMC Truck site containing the pictures said Millennium was the apparent low bidder, a Boston roster site subsequently reported that on further review, it was not, but that site has since been revised to state:

85 additional diesel buses were ordered from Neoplan as an option to the original order for 175 buses. Because of financial difficulties, Neoplan could only build 18 of these buses for a grand total of 193 (0401-0593).

On December 8, 2005, the MBTA Board of Directors approved a contract with New Flyer for 155 low-floor diesel buses for delivery in late 2006/early 2007.

This is about the same as NABI announcing that it was the apparent low bidder for the CTA bus procurement in 2003, but it actually went to New Flyer in 2004. Being the apparent low bidder doesn't mean you have the contract.

[MetroShadow]

This is about the same as NABI announcing that it was the apparent low bidder for the CTA bus procurement in 2003, but it actually went to New Flyer in 2004. Being the apparent low bidder doesn't mean you have the contract.

I made this theory while discussing contracting in my public policy class. And its true in most forms; that even though you have a company with the lowest bidder, almost could mean that they have the contract, depending on the quality of service they have given in the past. You may want a company to deliver the lowest bid, but at the same time, you want the type of quality in the buses that you are recieving. Sometimes the lowest bid doesn't deliver the high quality you expect, depending on financial difficulties, product quality, etc.

Now whether or not the theory applies to NABI with the CTA, or NeoPlan with Boston could be factored.

-Dave

[RIPTA42]

In the Boston case, it wasn't that MBTA preferred quality over price.  Upon review of the bid, a mathematical error was found in Millennium's estimate, and New Flyer was discovered to be the true low bidder.

[RIPTA42]

you're right. millennium only produces the rts "legend" and the extreme which is the low-floor model. There is talk about a smaller bus that they are trying to produce, but i haven't seen any pics of it yet.

MTS also makes the "Express" wide-front-door suburban.

[venom_20]

Truthfully, I have not ridden a New Flyer bus in years.  they have not ever bid low enough to produce buses for Pittsburgh. So the last time I rode one is in 1995 when they had a test D60lf here for free when they first introduced it.

It was a very nice and very fast bus. But the only problem was that the drivers Hated that bus. I believe if that bus was never tested here, we would have bought them. That's the last bus I've ever seen tested in pgh ever since.

The newest buses that we have here are the Neoplan An460's that are being delivered as i'm typing this now.  I don't know if the last one has been delivered yet, But I know we just got another one this week. Just maybe we might have the last one ever.........maybe.

I know, I know I'm not from Chicago, but i have nowhere else to share this information. I'm happy that everyone here lets me do this. This is a very nice bus and subway forum.

Thank-You

[The Don of All Buses]

Millennium also canceled an order from NJ Transit because of lack of funds. NJ Transit is looking at the NABI 416 40 footer as a replacement for the Flxibles. I can't wait to see an NABI in NJ Transit Colors.