wow 2012 already...
so I walked past Montgomery Division today, I'm sad to say that there were at least a dozen retired Orion Vs in the back, all with their numbers scratched off. I think among those were 4310 and 4365. Such a sad sight to see.
Also I saw 2082 and 2086, both had blue tarps over the front, it's like they didn't even try to fix them. Now that 6206 is gone, there may be a chance that 2082 will finally come back? who knows...
Among the graveyard of Orion Vs were a couple of other buses, such as 6459, 6375, 2077, 6023, and an unidentified 61/6200.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on January 03, 2012, 05:51:55 AM
The 1997 Orion Vs have (had) the distinction of the first buses to be painted with the paint scheme they sported upon delivery (someone else is going to have to offer the correct name for it), and the first buses to have CleverDevices (now installed on every bus in service if the Flxibles are all retired). Also, their LED signage was readable for about 5 minutes after delivery. Anything else noteworthy about these buses? Aside from marking several "first" in terms of the bus fleet, I don't think they were terribly exceptional or unexceptional either way.
Folks - I split this topic to keep Observations "clean", and since this topic will certainly continue for some time now that the '97 Orion Vs are starting to be retired. Of course you can continue to list observed retired units in the Observations thread, but let's have the discussion(s) in the new thread.
7110 on the 31 at approaching Friendship Heights station.
7115 in service southbound along Wisconsin Ave with NIS on the sign board.
2823 on the H4.
7098 on the D6
7025 on the 79
(What is going on at Bladensburg?)
7128 on the 64
6444 on the 63
#3906 On the F4
2812 on the D6.
7115 on the 31.
7103 and 7108 driving down Western Avenue from Chevy Chase Circle, towards Western Division.
6179 on the Z6 (they just keep coming).
2149 on the 79.
5708 on the 55; this bus has a higher-pitched *ding*, like what 5812, the Voithed Orion VIIs, and the C40LFs have.
January 4, 2012: MTA D4500 coach #178C in ICC wrap at the bus staging area at Montgomery Mall preparing to operate new Route 203 ICC Express service to Columbia that originates at the Medical Center/NIH station on the Red Line in Bethesda.
7103 on the D5
Interesting Saturday
Rode WMATA Neoplan #5309 on the 70.
Saw 3 WMATA New Flyer DE62LFA's (5438,5440,5444) on the Y line at Silver Spring.
Also finally got the unit number on the mystery Ride On Gillig Phantom with the Orange LED sign #5415.
WMATA: New Flyer 40 foot BRT #6456 in Metrobus Express Livery with the pleasing green led destination signs operating southbound J7 I270 express service to Bethesda at Russell Avenue and Montgomery Village Avenue in Gaithersburg about 5:00pm.
I think I just saw another Ride On Gillig Phantom with an orange LED sign #5417. I'm not 100% sure since it was dark and moving.
2147 was seen on the H8 this morning.
5828 on the 75 leaving Germantown Trans. Center empty-handed yesterday. After three months, I am still baffled by the decision to move the 75 to Gaithersburg; this is such a waste of bus.
2047 on the 39 @ Farragut Square
6438 on the 43 @ Farragut Square
7091 on the 42 signed as H1 POTOMAC PARK @ Farragut Square (I'm sure those along Columbia Road were confused)
2819 on the 80 signed as 80 TAFT JR HIGH SCH @ Farragut Square
Two bits of news from Ride-On:
5008 is back in service; saw it on the 97 today.
Ride-On also introduced a new route; the 94, which is a shuttle from Kingsview P&R to Germantown MARC Station. I must say, they did a good job of keeping that last one under wraps, because I never knew about it until just a few minutes ago; I got off the 61 at my stop (Germantown Road & Dawson Farm Road), and that's where I saw the marker for the 94.
Quote from: RideOn5905 on January 31, 2012, 01:22:53 PM
Two bits of news from Ride-On:
5008 is back in service; saw it on the 97 today.
Ride-On also introduced a new route; the 94, which is a shuttle from Kingsview P&R to Germantown MARC Station. I must say, they did a good job of keeping that last one under wraps, because I never knew about it until just a few minutes ago; I got off the 61 at my stop (Germantown Road & Dawson Farm Road), and that's where I saw the marker for the 94.
heh, i saw 5007 yesterday on the 45 and was wondering if 5008 ever made it back. guess it did then...
as for the 94, seems like a pretty short route, though a good idea for Germantown commuters especially since the Germantown Transit Center parking for commuters is very small.
FFX Connector's new 77xx series buses are now in service. They are similar to the 96xx Xcelsiors but with different tail lights and a white LED side destination sign mounted in the second standee window from the door (vs the first like on most buses).
Connector route 335 was shifted from West Ox to Huntington and the 306 and 395 were shifted from Huntington to West Ox.
Quote from: Transport on January 31, 2012, 09:50:09 PM
FFX Connector's new 77xx series buses are now in service. They are similar to the 96xx Xcelsiors but with different tail lights and a white LED side destination sign mounted in the second standee window from the door (vs the first like on most buses).
Connector route 335 was shifted from West Ox to Huntington and the 306 and 395 were shifted from Huntington to West Ox.
So they have the same sign setup as MTA's Xcelsiors. Also, I'm curious as to why the 395 was shifted to West Ox from Huntington. Seems reasonable that it would operate out of Huntington since it's a shorter deadhead than going all the way to West Ox. I can understand why the 306 was shifted to West Ox but boggled about the 395.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on February 01, 2012, 07:54:35 AM
Quote from: Transport on January 31, 2012, 09:50:09 PM
FFX Connector's new 77xx series buses are now in service. They are similar to the 96xx Xcelsiors but with different tail lights and a white LED side destination sign mounted in the second standee window from the door (vs the first like on most buses).
Connector route 335 was shifted from West Ox to Huntington and the 306 and 395 were shifted from Huntington to West Ox.
So they have the same sign setup as MTA's Xcelsiors. Also, I'm curious as to why the 395 was shifted to West Ox from Huntington. Seems reasonable that it would operate out of Huntington since it's a shorter deadhead than going all the way to West Ox. I can understand why the 306 was shifted to West Ox but boggled about the 395.
Buses on the a.m. 395 trips become the 306 buses which then become the 395 again for p.m. peak. There are two 395 buses that pull back to West Ox and deadhead along 110 and 66 back to West Ox like the WMATA buses from the Pentagon going home to West Ox.
I believe Huntington Division is at capacity... that division runs ALL 100 and 200 routes, most all 300 routes (except the weekday 310, 306, and 395), the frequent 371, and all runs on the 401/402.
January 25, 2012: the number of riders on route 201 seems to be increasing. I rode D4500 coach 172C in ICC wrap on the 3:00 pm departure to BWI Thurgood Marshall from Gaithersburg P&R: 2 passengers boarded at Gaithersburg P&R, 3 passengers boarded at Shady Grove Metro, 1 passenger boarded at Norbeck P&R, 2 passengers alighted at Burtonsville P&R, no passengers boarded or alighted at Dorsey MARC station, the remaining 4 passengers alighted at BWI Thurgood Marshall airport. There were six passengers in total.
Has the route changed at all now that more of the ICC is open?
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on February 03, 2012, 08:30:49 AM
Has the route changed at all now that more of the ICC is open?
Oren: Yes the route has changed. After the Norbeck P&R stop the bus returns to the ICC to reach route 29 and the Burtonsville P&R stop instead of following route 198 to route 29. The last six trips to BWI in the afternoon (departures from Gaithersburg at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 pm) now stop at the Dorsey MARC station.
Nice. Maybe someday I'll fly into or out of BWI and try it out, since I think it would be faster to take that from the airport to Shady Grove and get to my parents' home from there when compared to the B30/Green Line combo. My next visit to the states takes me through IAD however.