1000-series D40LF - Updates & Retirements

[YoungBusLover]

23 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

Has 1980 been seen out there?

It's at SS under "HAS" which is short for Hold at Shop. The reasons can be a variety of things. Sourcing parts, inspections, preforming routine maintenance, prepping the bus for retirement etc etc.

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

51 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

It's at SS under "HAS" which is short for Hold at Shop. The reasons can be a variety of things. Sourcing parts, inspections, preforming routine maintenance, prepping the bus for retirement etc etc.

Oh ok I see now

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

1653 is successfully back in service. Are 1804 1726, or 1867 spotted at SS, boneyard, or FG?

[jtrussel]

If cta doesn't get the state funding it needs, will this be the final nail in the coffin for the newflyers

Without funding I don't think cta will put the money into those supposed 400+ newflyers. Kinda like the 2010 cuts when the flxibles were retired with many still having alot of life left in them due to having been refurbished a year or 2 prior

[YoungBusLover]

7 hours ago, jtrussel said:

If cta doesn't get the state funding it needs, will this be the final nail in the coffin for the newflyers

Without funding I don't think cta will put the money into those supposed 400+ newflyers. Kinda like the 2010 cuts when the flxibles were retired with many still having alot of life left in them due to having been refurbished a year or 2 prior

The difference is the #1000s and #4000s came in together between 2006-2009 to replace the entire fleet of #4400s, #5300s, #5800s and #6000s.#7500s saved the #6000s from getting knocked off sooner. The #6000s would of gotten retired initially by 2014 as the #7900s came in along with the first few batches of #6400s had the budget cuts not taken place. Fast forward to now the 600 #8350s were ordered to replace the last remaining #6400s which before the fall of 2019 was still around 70-75 or so and the first 500 or so #1000s depending on there condition because as always the worst buses get knocked off mixed in with mileage, warranty, and overall age. That process was fast tracked to the seemingly younger 3rd/ 4th option #1000s due to rotting of there carbonated steel frames. Currently about 320 #1000s have been retired  with another 70 - 100 slated for retirement in the next 12 - 18 months. So long story short budget cuts would of sideline the oldest equipment anyway regardless if the funds were acquired for a 2nd overhaul of the #1000s. I wouldn't put it past CTA to sideline another 220 buses within the next 7 months barring the budget cuts. 

[jajuan]

Budget cuts or no, their consistent stated plan was to keep no more than 430 New Flyer D40s. I don't see how state funding from either side of the coin changes that by much. Plus folks keep pressing against that panic button regarding what the state might do when we don't even know what the veto session holds. Yes, it's going to be a bit tougher because of the higher vote threshold, but the Illinois legislature has still shown a willingness to address the issue. That's the huge difference between us and what's facing SEPTA and the other Pennsylvania TAs. PA's state senate is showing close to zero interest to even meet to address the transit shortfall there on the premise that SEPTA is bad with its money, when the truth of the matter is that agency is a hell of a lot better on that front than CTA, Metra and Pace when comparing the numbers. 

Now getting back to Illinois, the legislature's clear and consistent position has been that cracking down and reforming the governance of Chicago area transit had to be a part of any solution that they hash out. They've hammered out a direction on the governance part. They just need to get it passed into law. Now I'm ready to give them space to attempt to crack the financial part and see if they can accomplish it within the span of the veto session before I hit the panic button just yet. 

[Bus1883]

23 hours ago, jtrussel said:

If cta doesn't get the state funding it needs, will this be the final nail in the coffin for the newflyers

Without funding I don't think cta will put the money into those supposed 400+ newflyers. Kinda like the 2010 cuts when the flxibles were retired with many still having alot of life left in them due to having been refurbished a year or 2 prior

I don’t think the budget shortfall will hinder the CTA from sinking money into rehabbing the 400 remaining 1000s they keep. But the upcoming cuts are way worse to ever imagine compared to how the cuts forced CTA to retire the 6000s 15 years ago along with eliminating a few bus routes and reducing train service by 25%. However there is a strong possibility that lawmakers will return for a special session in the summer or the fall veto session to address the issue but it will be much harder as it will require a 3/5ths vote instead of a majority. If they would had rushed to the table at the end of March after this was first issued, they could have had a higher chance of securing the funding by May 31st to defeat the fiscal cliff.