8350-series Nova LFS - Updates

[Erin Mishkin Jr.]

9 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

49 actually this is my list 

Updated (6/3/22) (49 total)

#8350 delivered 8/11/22
#8351 delivered 3/28/22
#8352 delivered 5/5/22
#8353 delivered 4/10/22
#8354 delivered 3/21/22
#8355 delivered 5/13/22
#8356 delivered 5/5/22
#8357 delivered 5/5/22
#8358 delivered 5/23/22
#8359 delivered 5/2/22
#8360 delivered 3/26/22
#8361 delivered 3/21/22
#8363 delivered 3/26/22
#8364 delivered 3/28/22
#8366 delivered 4/6/22
#8368 delivered 4/6/22
#8369 delivered 4/6/22
#8370 delivered 5/5/22
#8371 delivered 4/11/22
#8372 delivered 5/10/22
#8373 delivered 5/10/22
#8374 delivered 4/11/22
#8375 delivered 5/2/22
#8376 delivered 5/23/22
#8377 delivered 5/23/22
#8378 delivered 5/10/22
#8379 delivered 5/4/22
#8380 delivered 5/2/22
#8381 delivered 5/12/22
#8382 delivered 5/24/22
#8383 delivered 5/12/22
#8384 delivered 5/12/22
#8385 delivered 5/13/22
#8386 delivered 5/5/22
#8387 delivered 5/17/22
#8388 delivered 5/29/22
#8389 delivered 5/17/22
#8390 delivered 5/27/22
#8391 delivered 5/22/22
#8392 delivered 5/19/22
#8393 delivered 6/3/22
#8395 delivered 6/3/22
#8396 delivered 5/27/22
#8397 delivered 6/1/22
#8398 delivered 6/3/22
#8399 delivered 6/3/22
#8401 delivered 6/1/22
#8403 delivered 6/3/22
#8404 delivered 6/…/22

8350 was delivered in 2021 not 2022

[Busjack]

26 minutes ago, Erin Mishkin Jr. said:

8350 was delivered in 2021 not 2022

Depends which one, As documented in this topic, 8350 was first sighted in Aug. 2021, but as @Lothian pointed out, it is not the same 8350 as is now at SS, which was sighted in March 2022. So, you're right about 8/11/21, but that's probably not correct. May need a separate entry for the pilot.

[BusHunter]

47 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

Supposedly these buses should be running as of the start of summer pick which should be starting soon.  I don't know the exact date except that it's this month.

@BusOpsnoted, FG is undergoing training as these buses are equipped with a new Collision Avoidance System which was iretrofitted.  On 7900.  What isn't known is whether 103rd drivers are training or have been already trained on the system.  Perhaps eventually all drivers will get the training.  Maybe it's possible that all 7900s and 8325s get retrofitted as well.

I believe he said 103rd was done they were the first garage. 

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, BusHunter said:

I believe he said 103rd was done they were the first garage. 

If that's the case,  why not send the few 8350s that are ready over there?  I'm sure if those buses that are only lacking Ventra card readers can get the ones from the 6400s that aren't going anywhere.  St least there will be some room made available for more deliveries. 

[Bus1883]

5 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

If that's the case,  why not send the few 8350s that are ready over there?  I'm sure if those buses that are only lacking Ventra card readers can get the ones from the 6400s that aren't going anywhere.  St least there will be some room made available for more deliveries. 

My best bet is that they need to just send the ones ready to go over to 103rd since they are done. This can easily alleviate overcrowding at SS so they have enough room for incoming deliveries.

[Bus1883]

2 hours ago, artthouwill said:

Supposedly these buses should be running as of the start of summer pick which should be starting soon.  I don't know the exact date except that it's this month.

@BusOpsnoted, FG is undergoing training as these buses are equipped with a new Collision Avoidance System which was iretrofitted.  On 7900.  What isn't known is whether 103rd drivers are training or have been already trained on the system.  Perhaps eventually all drivers will get the training.  Maybe it's possible that all 7900s and 8325s get retrofitted as well.

In my very honest opinion they should install them throughout the entire bus fleet that’s still running. The only series of buses that won’t see it is the #6400’s since they are overdue for retirement and won’t see the rest of 2022. I don’t think the system is also compatible with the #1000’s, #4000s and the #4300’s but the rest of the Novas along with the #8350’s have a high chance.

[artthouwill]

7 minutes ago, Bus1883 said:

In my very honest opinion they should install them throughout the entire bus fleet that’s still running. The only series of buses that won’t see it is the #6400’s since they are overdue for retirement and won’t see the rest of 2022. I don’t think the system is also compatible with the #1000’s, #4000s and the #4300’s but the rest of the Novas along with the #8350’s have a high chance.

I'm not sure, but I think that Collison Avoidance System is proprietary to Volvo so only Volvo, Prevost, and Nova buses would have them.  Even if the system isn't proprietary,  I wouldn't install them in any New Flyers given their age.  As for the Proterras  I don't know if the system is compatible with electric buses.

[Busjack]

1 hour ago, Bus1883 said:

In my very honest opinion they should install them throughout the entire bus fleet that’s still running. The only series of buses that won’t see it is the #6400’s since they are overdue for retirement and won’t see the rest of 2022. I don’t think the system is also compatible with the #1000’s, #4000s and the #4300’s but the rest of the Novas along with the #8350’s have a high chance.

 

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

I'm not sure, but I think that Collison Avoidance System is proprietary to Volvo so only Volvo, Prevost, and Nova buses would have them.  Even if the system isn't proprietary,  I wouldn't install them in any New Flyers given their age.  As for the Proterras  I don't know if the system is compatible with electric buses.

Like just about every bus part, I don't think collision avoidance systems are proprietary to the bus assemblers, leading suppliers are Mobileye (which I believe Pace uses), and ZF.

Mobileye says they can be retrofitted, and such incidents as the child being crushed by the rear wheel of a CTA bus and the bus that ran into the plaza at 205 N. Michigan indicate that CTA needs it.

[YoungBusLover]

#8400 and #8404 are at SS.

[NovaHater]

9 minutes ago, YoungBusLover said:

#8400 and #8404 are at SS.

Did you see the plates on 8474?

[YoungBusLover]

2 minutes ago, NovaHater said:

Did you see the plates on 8474?

#8474 or #8404?

[NovaHater]

7 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

#8474 or #8404?

8374. My bad. It was a long day!

[YoungBusLover]

44 minutes ago, NovaHater said:

8374. My bad. It was a long day!

Haha no worries, I remember posting about #8374 having license plates on Friday no other buses outside of #8353 and #8360 have them currently.

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

2 hours ago, YoungBusLover said:

Haha no worries, I remember posting about #8374 having license plates on Friday no other buses outside of #8353 and #8360 have them currently.

how come we didnt get #8362 #8365 and #8367? since we have the rest of em now we jus have #8402 and #8405-8449 to be delivered 

[BusHunter]

26 minutes ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

how come we didnt get #8362 #8365 and #8367? since we have the rest of em now we jus have #8402 and #8405-8449 to be delivered 

Even more incredible is we are just about to the base order of 100 and the buses have not yet went into service. That actually makes Proterra look good. Lol!! 

To answer your question its possible the buses are there we just overlooked them. We need our resident 77th spy detective to have a real good look around. 

[artthouwill]

14 minutes ago, BusHunter said:

Even more incredible is we are just about to the base order of 100 and the buses have not yet went into service. That actually makes Proterra look good. Lol!! 

To answer your question its possible the buses are there we just overlooked them. We need our resident 77th spy detective to have a real good look around. 

Correct me if I am wrong but , Proterra aside, I don't recall seeing any other series of buses getting this stacked before being placed in service.

[Busjack]

5 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

Correct me if I am wrong but , Proterra aside, I don't recall seeing any other series of buses getting this stacked before being placed in service.

There was stuff like holding buses until 74th opened, but nothing this inexplicable.

[Mr.NewFlyer1051]

20 minutes ago, Busjack said:

There was stuff like holding buses until 74th opened, but nothing this inexplicable.

not even the 8325’s went thru this they jus entered as pairs if i remember correctly #8346 was the last one to enter service

[YoungBusLover]

3 hours ago, BusHunter said:

Even more incredible is we are just about to the base order of 100 and the buses have not yet went into service. That actually makes Proterra look good. Lol!! 

To answer your question its possible the buses are there we just overlooked them. We need our resident 77th spy detective to have a real good look around. 

4 hours ago, Mr.NewFlyer1051 said:

how come we didnt get #8362 #8365 and #8367? since we have the rest of em now we jus have #8402 and #8405-8449 to be delivered 

Trust me I've  looked all over the garage for the rest of them. I'm sure they're some where around SS but if not they'll pop up eventually.

[pudgym29]

On 6/4/2022 at 12:11 PM, Bus1883 said:

My best bet is that they need to just send the ones ready to go over to 103rd since they are done. This can easily alleviate overcrowding at SS so they have enough room for incoming deliveries.

Perhaps I am overthinking this slightly, but could it be the reason these buses are not yet in service is because the Authority is short of operators to motor these buses to the intended garages? ?

[artthouwill]

7 minutes ago, pudgym29 said:

Perhaps I am overthinking this slightly, but could it be the reason these buses are not yet in service is because the Authority is short of operators to motor these buses to the intended garages? ?

I don't think that's the case.  There are buses being retired,  so there's really no fleet increase.  

Besides that,  CTA could easily defer or delay deliveries 

Now there could be a staff shortage st SS fixing buses and prepping the new buses for service.   Between the backlog of repairs for the current fleet, learning, repairing and prepping the Proterras  AND prepping the 8350s for service, SS has its hands full.

[pudgym29]

11 minutes ago, artthouwill said:

I don't think that's the case.  There are buses being retired,  so there's really no fleet increase.  

Besides that,  CTA could easily defer or delay deliveries 

Now there could be a staff shortage st SS fixing buses and prepping the new buses for service.   Between the backlog of repairs for the current fleet, learning, repairing and prepping the Proterras  AND prepping the 8350s for service, SS has its hands full.

Let me be blunter.

How is an 8350-series bus going to get from South Shops to 103rd St or Forest Glen Garage?

Somebody has to drive it, correct? Whoever is driving that bus is unavailable to operate a bus on a currently-operating Chicago Transit Authority route. Maybe the Authority perceives it would not look good if a regularly-scheduled run went unfilled | unoperated because a potential fill-in operator for it was engaged in driving a bus from South Shops to its intended service garage? ?

[artthouwill]

1 hour ago, pudgym29 said:

Let me be blunter.

How is an 8350-series bus going to get from South Shops to 103rd St or Forest Glen Garage?

Somebody has to drive it, correct? Whoever is driving that bus is unavailable to operate a bus on a currently-operating Chicago Transit Authority route. Maybe the Authority perceives it would not look good if a regularly-scheduled run went unfilled | unoperated because a potential fill-in operator for it was engaged in driving a bus from South Shops to its intended service garage? ?

I understand what you are saying.  CTA does have hikers that can transfer buses.  If necessary they can give some overtime to p.m. drivers after their scheduled shift to transfer buses.  Most transfers between garages happen late night into the overnight.  Right now. I don't think the shortage is with hikers and drivers as much as it is staff shortage at SS and the high number of buses needing major work.  If I'm not mistaken,  only 3 buses have license plates and might be ready for service IF the Ventra card readers have been installed.  Certainly CTA could move 3 buses..  The travel time between 77th and 103rd is 10 minutes maximum under normal conditions.   Between 77th and 103rd,  in sure CTA can muster 3 drivers.

[YoungBusLover]

1 hour ago, pudgym29 said:

Let me be blunter.

How is an 8350-series bus going to get from South Shops to 103rd St or Forest Glen Garage?

Somebody has to drive it, correct? Whoever is driving that bus is unavailable to operate a bus on a currently-operating Chicago Transit Authority route. Maybe the Authority perceives it would not look good if a regularly-scheduled run went unfilled | unoperated because a potential fill-in operator for it was engaged in driving a bus from South Shops to its intended service garage? ?

Every garage has maintenance hikers for bus transfers that mainly occur during the overnight periods. I work late nights so I see it happen every few days. Whatever returns that don't get picked up by operators from other garages during the pm rush normally get stored for pickups later that evening or for the next day. Once FG and 103rd operators are fully trained we'll see a shift with these buses going into service. It's only a matter of time. Hell just today I saw so much activity at SS with all the #8350s. When #7900-01 pop back up at 103rd it's game over. We'll start seeing the first few #8350s pop up in service.

[BusHunter]

1 hour ago, artthouwill said:

I don't think that's the case.  There are buses being retired,  so there's really no fleet increase.  

Besides that,  CTA could easily defer or delay deliveries 

Now there could be a staff shortage st SS fixing buses and prepping the new buses for service.   Between the backlog of repairs for the current fleet, learning, repairing and prepping the Proterras  AND prepping the 8350s for service, SS has its hands full.

Don't know what to say. To get 50 buses to 103rd that are new is a major shot in the arm to that fleet. Plus they can send over some high 1000s and 1100s to fg so they can get rid of a few problem buses. They should see less buses needing maintenance from that move. 

From what I'm hearing not even doing the registrations yet is making me wonder when they intend for the buses to hit service. Usually summer pick should have more spares than fall cause they would lose the school runs but all this is a big mystery. They almost need a garage to store new buses. That seems nuts to me.