Pace New Flyer buses

[WCR]

17 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

yay!!! But looks like they are just training. But I thought they did say they would be on the streets by March. Well I guess the NABIs will not be around to much longer.  

Production deliveries slated to begin "mid-march". Maybe we'll be able to ride them by the end of the month.

[TaylorTank1229]

2 hours ago, BusHunter said:

yay!!! But looks like they are just training. But I thought they did say they would be on the streets by March. Well I guess the NABIs will not be around to much longer.  

Any word on which Pace division will get them first?

[cta5658]

49 minutes ago, TaylorTank1229 said:

Any word on which Pace division will get them first?

Like I've guessed before, my guess is West

[Tcmetro]

According to the Pace meeting minutes all of the base 75 bus order are going to West. I don't believe they've said where the 10 additional are going, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's also West. 

[artthouwill]

12 hours ago, Tcmetro said:

According to the Pace meeting minutes all of the base 75 bus order are going to West. I don't believe they've said where the 10 additional are going, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's also West. 

If those 10 were to go to West, then I would look for 10 Eldorados to move to NW, possibly for Pulse Dempster.  I wouldn't be surprised if the 10 New Flyers ended up at NW for Pulse either.  

A longshot. but West could get the other 10 with the possibility of a rollout of Pulse Harlem in mind, though no date was set yet. 

[BusHunter]

That bus I  linked above is still the pilot. I dont know if this means the others are coming or starting to appear. When was the Dempster pulse startup. You know they have to put purple interior lights and other amenities in those buses. It is unclear if the order will have multicolored route displays but if the last 10 are for Pulse theyll have it. Seems still a little early. 

[BusHunter]

Did some investigating. Yeah those 10 buses should be for Dempster pulse. The timeline states delivery of vehicles in 2019-20 and the startup in 2020. They probably will start it without kiosks. Milwaukee pulse kiosks opened in December and we know the pulse milwaukee startup was way before that. I think Dempster pulse is going to be a hit. 

[WCR]

6 hours ago, BusHunter said:

It is unclear if the order will have multicolored route displays but if the last 10 are for Pulse theyll have it. Seems still a little early. 

 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, WCR said:

 

I don't know how other drivers and former drivers feel,  but I personally don't like how the driver side mirror is mounted on this bus.  Hopefully this is just a demo and the mirrors will be mounted lower.   I never cared for the high mounted mirrors on the right side either, but that is standard for transit buses.  Most motor coaches have the lower mounted mirrors in the right side also.

[BusHunter]

My mirrors are that height. With having a mirror that high your only going to see the top of the bus but maybe you can adjust it down. They should be all powered heated  mirrors so you dont physically have to do much. I have dual mirrors so one I can see the bottom and one the top. The traffic is mostly below you not above you. 

[WCR]

Deliveries should commence sometime this month, anyone know if they'll be delivered to Pace HQ or West?

[artthouwill]

19 minutes ago, WCR said:

Deliveries should commence sometime this month, anyone know if they'll be delivered to Pace HQ or West?

My guess would be West, since that is where the buses will be assigned.   West already has the prototype 20400.  I'm pretty sure it has already been to Pace HQ or Pace execs have been out to West to see the bus already.

I'm looking forward to seeing these buses entering service.   I am definitely on the lookout and hope to take pictures and post them when possible.   The only question is if 20400 will remain or return to New Flyers?  Based on the number of the bus,  I think it stays.   This should be different than the Eldorado Axxess prototype which was numbered 2010, then the first one delivered was 6323.  That prototype had flush mount windows but the deliveries didn't .

[WCR]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

My guess would be West, since that is where the buses will be assigned.   West already has the prototype 20400.  I'm pretty sure it has already been to Pace HQ or Pace execs have been out to West to see the bus already.

I'm looking forward to seeing these buses entering service.   I am definitely on the lookout and hope to take pictures and post them when possible.   The only question is if 20400 will remain or return to New Flyers?  Based on the number of the bus,  I think it stays.   This should be different than the Eldorado Axxess prototype which was numbered 2010, then the first one delivered was 6323.  That prototype had flush mount windows but the deliveries didn't .

Yeah, I'm definitely gonna be riding and shooting these often when they show up. Until then the closest Xcelsiors are in Milwaukee. Crazy to think about how the NABIs I grew up with have mere months left in service though.

[artthouwill]

Here's hoping that these new buses don't come with the annoying loud turn signals and 4 way flashers, the super annoying announcements "bus is turning " and "look both ways."   CTA buses don't have these annoyances,  but somehow I fear that Pace will keep them for the Flyers and possibly the next batch of EZ Riders. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Here's hoping that these new buses don't come with the annoying loud turn signals and 4 way flashers, the super annoying announcements "bus is turning " and "look both ways."   CTA buses don't have these annoyances,  but somehow I fear that Pace will keep them for the Flyers and possibly the next batch of EZ Riders. 

I mean, it might be annoying, but its a necessary evil. People don't pay attention and are also often listening to music or otherwise distracted

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

On 3/12/2020 at 11:57 AM, NewFlyerMCI said:

I mean, it might be annoying, but its a necessary evil. People don't pay attention and are also often listening to music or otherwise distracted

 

On 3/12/2020 at 9:01 AM, artthouwill said:

Here's hoping that these new buses don't come with the annoying loud turn signals and 4 way flashers, the super annoying announcements "bus is turning " and "look both ways."   CTA buses don't have these annoyances,  but somehow I fear that Pace will keep them for the Flyers and possibly the next batch of EZ Riders. 

I actually like the turn signal noises for some reason, that is something that reminds me of Eldorados and without them, I wouldn't have as much memories as I would have used to once these retire or when I move out of the Pace area. I have been making videos of buses for nearly a year and I will start remembering everything better, and their engines sounding brand new and bassy like 6354, 6355, and 6359.

[artthouwill]

On 3/12/2020 at 11:57 AM, NewFlyerMCI said:

I mean, it might be annoying, but its a necessary evil. People don't pay attention and are also often listening to music or otherwise distracted

CTA doesn't have these "necessary evils," though I think that would be overkill to have those announcements on top of every street announcement and other PSAs.  It's a much more enjoyable ride on the NABIs, suspensions aside .

[NewFlyerMCI]

14 hours ago, artthouwill said:

CTA doesn't have these "necessary evils," though I think that would be overkill to have those announcements on top of every street announcement and other PSAs.  It's a much more enjoyable ride on the NABIs, suspensions aside .

They don't, but I think they need them, especially on any bus that uses State or Michigan, and especially the Mag Mile. It'd probably get drowned on on the CTA tho, since unlike any other agency I know, they announce the full route and destination, instead of just "Route # to Place"

[artthouwill]

6 hours ago, NewFlyerMCI said:

They don't, but I think they need them, especially on any bus that uses State or Michigan, and especially the Mag Mile. It'd probably get drowned on on the CTA tho, since unlike any other agency I know, they announce the full route and destination, instead of just "Route # to Place"

With the ding just before each street announcement,  some CTA drivers pass a requested stop because the chime sounds are very similar.   With so many announcements,  it would be easy for a driver to tune out everything.  So I don't think CTA needs them.  In fact,  Pace did well without them before the Eldorados came.  So far,the Eldorados are the only make with it in this area.   Hopefully it stays that way. 

[artthouwill]

20 minutes ago, Shannon CVPI said:

Nice catch broham 

 

24 minutes ago, WCR said:

Managed to get 701 on the 79 this morning. His last eastbound trip terminated at the Red Line then he went back to 77th. This thing still rides flawlessly.

This will serve as a nice comparison to the Pace New Flyers when they arrive.   If course Pace's aren't electric,  but still will be a nice comparison.   

[Shannon CVPI]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

 

This will serve as a nice comparison to the Pace New Flyers when they arrive.   If course Pace's aren't electric,  but still will be a nice comparison.   

I haven't seen em yet 

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

20401 is officially in service, right now on the 307!

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

4 minutes ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

20401 is officially in service, right now on the 307!

More are out too, 20400, 20405, 20407, and 20403.

[BusHunter]

6 hours ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

More are out too, 20400, 20405, 20407, and 20403.

And here they are hot off the presses, I was surprised they actually have a rear window. I don't think I ever saw an Xcelsior with a rear window!! But wow the buses are nice, I'm happy they seem to be retaining the flush tinted windows feature, that's something we haven't seen on a standard bus since the grummans, ironically out of the same garage. (of course they exist on the highway buses, but it makes the bus look more luxurious, like you want to ride it versus something that is so municiple standard equipment. ) They seem to need programming on the destination signs and the plates are applied for. Surprised they are running without plates but I thought I remember the I-90 buses debuting the same way. My company got new buses but they didnt leave the yard without plates. So without further adeau lets see some shots!!! ?

 

[NewFlyerMCI]

3 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

And here they are hot off the presses, I was surprised they actually have a rear window. I don't think I ever saw an Xcelsior with a rear window!! But wow the buses are nice, I'm happy they seem to be retaining the flush tinted windows feature, that's something we haven't seen on a standard bus since the grummans, ironically out of the same garage. (of course they exist on the highway buses, but it makes the bus look more luxurious, like you want to ride it versus something that is so municiple standard equipment. ) They seem to need programming on the destination signs and the plates are applied for. Surprised they are running without plates but I thought I remember the I-90 buses debuting the same way. My company got new buses but they didnt leave the yard without plates. So without further adeau lets see some shots!!! ?

 

WMATA's first batch of XDE40s have rear windows but none of the later models. This is the first time I've seen left-side route displays. I was also about to be upset at the lack of rear-facing route number displays and then I realized the setup, which is so unusual. These look good, excellent photos!