7900-series Nova LFS - Updates

[BusHunter]

It is an OPTION. After taking the base order, they can take as much as they want, up to the maximum. As you can note from the title of the solicitation above, it technically wasn't even for an option, but just a minimum of 300 buses and a maximum of 450. 425 is in that range.

You would know whether 125 buses covers what's left. When this started, they said that the 450 buses, plus 100 4300 series artics covered the Novas, plus the Optimas (and apparently other stuff scrapped during the interim).

Well if you want me to answer, I'd say no it doesn't cover it unless there is some sort of service cut in the future. Well FG should be getting some now, question is will it be 125 buses. They could possibly be shrinking the fleet at FG if you consider the fleet is 13-14 years old and they would need more spares. New buses wouldn't need as many spares, so maybe that's their thinking on this.

Another wild card in this is only 277 buses are built so far according to Andre, so if they did 125 buses on top of that, that's roughly 400, 100 for FG. But it would be hard for me to believe FG could spare 50 spares missing unless the buses they have now are really that bad, but the AC works.

Edited August 10, 2015 by BusHunter

[Busjack]

...

Another wild card in this is only 277 buses are built so far according to Andre, ...

That was only with regard to scheduling, not that 300 buses (the minimum order) wouldn't be built.

[Brandon93]

I read on the tribune website that CTA will buy 125 more new Novas, well since they already have an order for 300 then that means 50 New Flyers will have to be sent to FG. Personally I think CTA should've gotten the additional 150 and sent them all to FG and called it a day.

[ChicagoNova]

I read on the tribune website that CTA will buy 125 more new Novas, well since they already have an order for 300 then that means 50 New Flyers will have to be sent to FG. Personally I think CTA should've gotten the additional 150 and sent them all to FG and called it a day.

I agree. I read the article this morning & the first garage that came to mind was FG.

[Busjack]

As indicated on the home page, CTA jumped the press release by 2 days, and it seems to answer most, but not all, questions above.

[sw4400]

Of course, those 125 buses could be from Mike's School Bus Emporium....

But in all seriousness..... 8000-8199(300 Bus Order) and 8200-8324(125 Bus Order). Looks like 8325-8349(25 Buses) will not see the streets of Chicago.... there's the odd chance that the remaining 25 could become a future option, but such a small quantity like that probably won't be exercised and just disappear into the "What would've been" world of bus orders, like the 125 Optimas and the 900 New Flyers.

As far as FG getting these 125 buses....

[Guest]

I read on the tribune website that CTA will buy 125 more new Novas, well since they already have an order for 300 then that means 50 New Flyers will have to be sent to FG. Personally I think CTA should've gotten the additional 150 and sent them all to FG and called it a day.

I agree 100 percent!!!  Send this entire order to FG!  But I can also see CTA shipping its oldest New Flyers to FG!  

Edited August 10, 2015 by Guest

[Busjack]

I agree 100 percent!!!  Send this entire order to FG!  But I can also see CTA shipping its oldest New Flyers to FG!  

According to Rahm (in the Press Release), there are no old New Flyers. Especially with BusHunter saying that they are rehabbing 1000s and 2000s at the same time.

But these 125 are undoubtedly going to FG. As I said before, allocations before were based on the entire contract.

[BusHunter]

I agree 100 percent!!!  Send this entire order to FG!  But I can also see CTA shipping its oldest New Flyers to FG!  

Yeah but they have to wait until May at the earliest. That's like another year!! Hopefully they do get some NF's, I'm starting to wonder about that or it will be a long winter.

[Busjack]

Of course, those 125 buses could be from Mike's School Bus Emporium....

But in all seriousness..... 8000-8199(300 Bus Order) and 8200-8324(125 Bus Order). Looks like 8325-8349(25 Buses) will not see the streets of Chicago.... there's the odd chance that the remaining 25 could become a future option, but such a small quantity like that probably won't be exercised and just disappear into the "What would've been" world of bus orders, like the 125 Optimas and the 900 New Flyers.

As far as FG getting these 125 buses....

1. You were the one who blamed Rauner for a transit doomsday that would have made these buses unnecessary (well, BusHunter more).

2. I noted above that the 25 probably are going to hang around a while so long as CTA thinks they are justification for applying for 25 electric buses, even if CMAP staff shot down the current request. Maybe they think they will reapply or will appeal to somewhere higher in the bureaucracy.

[BusHunter]

According to Rahm (in the Press Release), there are no old New Flyers. Especially with BusHunter saying that they are rehabbing 1000s and 2000s at the same time.

But these 125 are undoubtedly going to FG. As I said before, allocations before were based on the entire contract.

I just love how they are saying that the fleet is so modern and the nw side bus fleet is stuck in 2001, rail in the 80's. Maybe this part of town is not chicago, but cuba.

[Mr.cta85]

I just love how they are saying that the fleet is so modern and the nw side bus fleet is stuck in 2001, rail in the 80's. Maybe this part of town is not chicago, but cuba.

lol Well despite the locations of the new equipment, technically he's absolutely right about it. It's unfortunate to those who care and are affected by lack of newer buses and trains on the nw sides but the 2600's on the blue line are still in great shape for the most part and when they're retired completely those trains will go down as some of the best equipment cta has ever had along with the classic 6000 series. As far as the 6400's they're still in decent enough shape. A few operators i know out of Chicago said they run better than the 7900's loool!! I personally don't think that many people really care about lack of new buses and trains cause im quite sure voices would have been heard concerning that matter. Cta will continue to run how they're running on that side until more people began to speak up. I'm also sure most people would still choose a  2600 and 3200 over a 5000 anyway lol.

[Busjack]

... but the 2600's on the blue line are still in great shape for the most part ...

I guess that's why, when they are on the layover track on a repair hold, they take off by themselves and crash into others.

[artthouwill]

According to Rahm (in the Press Release), there are no old New Flyers. Especially with BusHunter saying that they are rehabbing 1000s and 2000s at the same time.

But these 125 are undoubtedly going to FG. As I said before, allocations before were based on the entire contract.

Wouldn't it be cruel to send the 125 to 77th or 103rd and let them send New Flyers to FG.

[andrethebusman]

8/10 up to 8142 at SS

[Guest]

Yeah but they have to wait until May at the earliest. That's like another year!! Hopefully they do get some NF's, I'm starting to wonder about that or it will be a long winter.

Yes, Knowing CTA, they will let FG and the riders they serve suffer one more winter!!  

[Mr.cta85]

I guess that's why, when they are on the layover track on a repair hold, they take off by themselves and crash into others.

That's why I said for the most part, it's not like they're breaking down every week let's not forget they're also on the Orange Line and yea I know so are the 3200's but it's majority 2600's they're running and people aren't complaining about it. 

Edited August 11, 2015 by Mr.cta85

[NewFlyerMCI]

That's why I said for the most part, it's not like they're breaking down every week let's not forget they're also on the Orange Line and yea I know so are the 3200's but it's majority 2600's they're running and people aren't complaining about it. 

That's because people prefer the possiblity of a window seat and only having to sit next to one person than the increased chances of standing, having to look down, up or at other people and being squished between two people. I expect less complaints about the 3200s, they are set to be rehabbed and there is the chance of getting the single seat to yourself (if i'm not confusing that for the ones on the TMC RTS)

[garmon757]

#8137 #8138 #8139 #8140 and #8142 have arrived. Don't know where's #8141 though. #8124-36 are still here (What are they doing?).

[sw4400]

Yeah but they have to wait until May at the earliest. That's like another year!! Hopefully they do get some NF's, I'm starting to wonder about that or it will be a long winter.

It depends on when the funds start to be sent to Nova Bus for the 125. The contract is already written with the option for up to 150 clean diesel buses. As soon as funding is allocated, buses should start to be built within 8 weeks of allocations reaching Nova. So for example, if first funding allocations reach them by September, operable buses should be ready for inspection and transport by November.

[sw4400]

I noted above that the 25 probably are going to hang around a while so long as CTA thinks they are justification for applying for 25 electric buses, even if CMAP staff shot down the current request. Maybe they think they will reapply or will appeal to somewhere higher in the bureaucracy.

This current contract can't be amended for 25 all-electric buses, as a clean diesel bus costs $500,000, a all-electric bus costs at least $1.1 million(cost of a New Flyer XE40, a Nova LFE might be more). What money remains in the contract wouldn't be enough to cover 25 all-electric buses. That, plus the fact that electric buses are so new to markets across the U.S and Canada, most TA's* are reluctant to do large quantities of them until test results through summer and winter climates and varying traffic conditions are satisfactorily met. And 25 electric buses may not seem like much, but that's $25,000,000 the CTA may be throwing away if the buses suffer catastrophic failures.

*=I know there is one that has ordered a large quantity of all-electric buses out there, but they are the pioneers for a large order.

[jajuan]

This current contract can't be amended for 25 all-electric buses, as a clean diesel bus costs $500,000, a all-electric bus costs at least $1.1 million(cost of a New Flyer XE40, a Nova LFE might be more). What money remains in the contract wouldn't be enough to cover 25 all-electric buses. That, plus the fact that electric buses are so new to markets across the U.S and Canada, most TA's* are reluctant to do large quantities of them until test results through summer and winter climates and varying traffic conditions are satisfactorily met. And 25 electric buses may not seem like much, but that's $25,000,000 the CTA may be throwing away if the buses suffer catastrophic failures.

*=I know there is one that has ordered a large quantity of all-electric buses out there, but they are the pioneers for a large order.

I think you misread what Busjack was alluding to. He's not talking about amending the 7900s contract to get 25 electric buses. He was referring the recent application to CMAP to fund an entirely different possible contract to purchase 25 electric buses to add with 700 and 701. That application got rejected and Busjack was saying that maybe CTA believes it can successfully appeal to have rejected application reinstated or that they can make a different application that's more successful. Getting back to the 7900s themselves though, the announcement of the plan for buying 125 more should put to rest all the cries that FG won't get any at all and that the northwest side is being treated as some wayward stepchild, especially as has been said several times over beyond being able to count that the Blue Line and FG's routes don't operate in some impenetrable bubble. The west and north sides as well as the downtown area has also had to contend with that very same equipment these past 18 months.

 

[garmon757]

Shots of #8122 on #74.

[BusHunter]

Shots of #8122 on #74.

Encore!! Some more photos of #8122....

#8122:

I don't know why but these last few new releases have been stuck at the garage. I haven't seen #8109 for 2 weeks. #8118, #8119 haven't been out since friday. #8121 seems to have been skipped for now. The first 10 buses seem to be running pretty regular though barring #8109.

 

Edited August 12, 2015 by BusHunter

[sw4400]

Getting back to the 7900s themselves though, the announcement of the plan for buying 125 more should put to rest all the cries that FG won't get any at all and that the northwest side is being treated as some wayward stepchild, especially as has been said several times over beyond being able to count that the Blue Line and FG's routes don't operate in some impenetrable bubble. The west and north sides as well as the downtown area has also had to contend with that very same equipment these past 18 months.

 

I'll wait for #8200 to appear and get assigned to see where they go..... Kedzie didn't get anything yet, nor did 103rd.... Forest Glen may still get shafted.