Just came in from a meeting here is the news guys all flexible buses will be or should be phase out by summer of 2009 .Northern is getting 20 (blue and silver hybrid express buses) the 9700's from that garage will be retired per Mr.Catoe. All metro bus divsions will recieved new buses .
Arlington Bus Garage will close on Friday March 27 when the last block comes off the street, on saturday all Arlington div. metro operators will work overtime on Saturday March 28th to move equipment assigned to West Ox Garage. They will open full service on March 30th(monday) a number of routes will me moved to other divisions .
West OX will do some runs that arlington had in the area but be more focus on the northern fairfax area we are very please of the new site its a very big site when operators toured the area on tuesday they were very please of the opearators lounge,showers and new parking lot areas. There will be another tour on next week when all metro staff will be on site,5O New buses will be deliverd to this garage.
***** THERE ARE NO RESPONSE TO WHAT THE FIRST LETTER BLOCK WILL BE.**********************
You say "All Flxible buses will be phased out by summer of 2009" but only address the 20 at Northern division, so I'm a bit confused.
Are these blue/silver Hybrid buses going to be the same style as the Metro Extra buses or the Local buses? Metro Extra having a slanted style; Local having a curved style.
at this time sir Northern will be getting 20 new buses the 9700's at that garage will be retired. All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Quote from: Tristan on February 13, 2009, 05:34:56 PM
You say "All Flxible buses will be phased out by summer of 2009" but only address the 20 at Northern division, so I'm a bit confused.
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 12:14:50 AM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
On the contrary, this is a great opportunity for you because you always wanted to buy a Flex so now is your chance. There will be a lot of them on the market.
I think I'll start collecting state quarters again.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 12:14:50 AM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
I think the 4000/4100's are going a little soon. They're still in good shape and I think that unless WMATA wants to deal with a bus shortage it makes little point to dump them. Isn't the incoming order the replacement for the 9300/9400/9600's?
It'd be wise to have held onto the remaining Flxibles until the next order of hybrids comes in, but if WMATA wants to be short buses on some dumb Catoe directive, so be it >:(
Quote from: Scrabbleship on February 14, 2009, 06:40:46 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 12:14:50 AM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
I think the 4000/4100's are going a little soon. They're still in good shape and I think that unless WMATA wants to deal with a bus shortage it makes little point to dump them. Isn't the incoming order the replacement for the 9300/9400/9600's?
It'd be wise to have held onto the remaining Flxibles until the next order of hybrids comes in, but if WMATA wants to be short buses on some dumb Catoe directive, so be it >:(
If they are cutting as much bus service that is proposed, they can retire the rest of the Flx's this summer with the New Flyer Hybrids coming in.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 08:24:03 AM
Quote from: Scrabbleship on February 14, 2009, 06:40:46 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 12:14:50 AM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
I think the 4000/4100's are going a little soon. They're still in good shape and I think that unless WMATA wants to deal with a bus shortage it makes little point to dump them. Isn't the incoming order the replacement for the 9300/9400/9600's?
It'd be wise to have held onto the remaining Flxibles until the next order of hybrids comes in, but if WMATA wants to be short buses on some dumb Catoe directive, so be it >:(
If they are cutting as much bus service that is proposed, they can retire the rest of the Flx's this summer with the New Flyer Hybrids coming in.
WoW i gotta get a ride Ive only rode one Flx in my short life and that was 9782 on the S2 it was a great first experience that L-10/Voith Combo is Amazing on Wmata's Flx D's..I love the rattling when we would come to a stop light..lol
There are getting rid of the 4000/4100's? Why? They're in excellent shape. I think they have a few years left.
At this point it's probably becoming cost prohibitive to keep working with 15 year old buses. With the onslaught of new vehicles, plus the proposed service cuts, it's just not worth it. As much as we bus fans love these buses, we don't know what's going on with upkeeping them. They may look ok on the outside, but once they get to the garage, who knows what the level of TLC they need.
Plus, parts are probably becoming few and far between.
We should just let them rust in peace and make nice with the new equipment.
Quote from: Scrabbleship on February 14, 2009, 06:40:46 AM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 14, 2009, 12:14:50 AM
Quote from: wmata employee on February 13, 2009, 06:24:36 PM
All 97,98,40,4100 buses will be retired.
Wow this hobby is starting to suck.... :'(
I guess all good things must come to an end.
I think the 4000/4100's are going a little soon. They're still in good shape and I think that unless WMATA wants to deal with a bus shortage it makes little point to dump them. Isn't the incoming order the replacement for the 9300/9400/9600's?
It'd be wise to have held onto the remaining Flxibles until the next order of hybrids comes in, but if WMATA wants to be short buses on some dumb Catoe directive, so be it >:(
Well thats what we said in the meeting but the fleet director said that metro will recieve 550 new hybrid buses threw 2009-2013 .But we are hoping that they will store the 4001-4104 bash at Carmen lot just wait and see.
There are no parts for flexible buses at all so if a bus gets in a accident they are scraped
Quote from: Perry on February 14, 2009, 10:06:12 AM
At this point it's probably becoming cost prohibitive to keep working with 15 year old buses. With the onslaught of new vehicles, plus the proposed service cuts, it's just not worth it. As much as we bus fans love these buses, we don't know what's going on with upkeeping them. They may look ok on the outside, but once they get to the garage, who knows what the level of TLC they need.
Plus, parts are probably becoming few and far between.
We should just let them rust in peace and make nice with the new equipment.
Quote from: Perry on February 14, 2009, 10:06:12 AM
At this point it's probably becoming cost prohibitive to keep working with 15 year old buses. With the onslaught of new vehicles, plus the proposed service cuts, it's just not worth it. As much as we bus fans love these buses, we don't know what's going on with upkeeping them. They may look ok on the outside, but once they get to the garage, who knows what the level of TLC they need.
Plus, parts are probably becoming few and far between.
We should just let them rust in peace and make nice with the new equipment.
Yeah. I guess its time to move on.
So which buses is Royal getting now? I remember wmata employee saying that Royal was going to get all the 97s and 98s.
Hmmm, my guess would be.....
maybe ex-Northern 2100's?
Cant they just overhaul those buses and repaint them in the new scheme :( but i agrre with rideonrulez this hobby is starting to suck lol
Overhaul the Flxibles? Why? Why would anyone spend anymore money on an old bus like that. By the time you're done with it, you may as well buy a new bus.
hey wats going on with these neon jackets operators have to wear while drivin
hey wats going on with the off-topic question that's already been answered here
http://www.dctransit.info/forums/transit-today/metro-bus-operators-wearing-visivests/msg4353/#msg4353
So which older buses will West Ox receive? According to wmata employee Arlington is supposed to be getting some Orion VI's. So its safe to assume they'll be moved to West Ox?
That explains why I saw 2056 last week on the 25A...
Evening to all
No Tristan it was no answered that was only going by hear say i wanted to know if anybody knew the real reason why it was being done so dont get smart ight if you cant come correct
Quote from: BladensburgB2 on February 16, 2009, 07:51:45 PM
Evening to all
No Tristan it was no answered that was only going by hear say i wanted to know if anybody knew the real reason why it was being done so dont get smart ight if you cant come correct
Maybe you should ask John Catoe the next time he does an online
chatinfomercial and report back here if you don't like the answer that has already been provided (and seems logical enough to me). The truth of the matter is that official info is almost never "officially" posted on websites like these because those who actually know the official reasons/decisions are not allowed to discuss them, and people would rather keep their jobs than please transit fans.
Quote from: BladensburgB2 on February 16, 2009, 07:51:45 PM
Evening to all
No Tristan it was no answered that was only going by hear say i wanted to know if anybody knew the real reason why it was being done so dont get smart ight if you cant come correct
So why didn't you just ask
in that topic, instead of taking another thread off key?
Wow WMATA without Flxes just doesn't seem right to me. WMATA has been running Flxibles as long as I have been alive! I shall surely miss them.
I just REALLY hope that WMATA's new hybrids aren't like SEPTA's new hybrids. It's hard for me to truly not like a bus, especially a New Flyer, but WOW, I've never ridden such bland buses before...
Quote from: Perry on February 15, 2009, 04:30:18 PM
Overhaul the Flxibles? Why? Why would anyone spend anymore money on an old bus like that. By the time you're done with it, you may as well buy a new bus.
Oh Perry, stop being so reasonable and protest with us! ;)
Keep the Flxibles! Bring back the New Looks and run them on the K6 again now! Keep the Orion Is on Ride-On routes. Bring back Orion Is on the AT8, and bring back TMC City cruisers on the Ride-On's route 16! Bring back the Eagles on PRTC's routes! Bring back PG's.....well, wait, PG's new equipment is actually better than the stuff that was running was back in the day. lol.
Yes, the sad truth is that buses eventually become cost prohibitive to maintain, and it's better to let them retire than to keep them running. Besides, if you think of a "bus year" as 5 human years, those Metro Es are pushing 75 now.
I know, I know!! If only each agency could hang on to some of these old buses and run a historic bus day like NYCT does. :-)
Here's what I think is going on:
Metro is trying to save money and energy. Maybe letting the Flxibles go is a good decision (for them). I would personally hate to see them go. But if it saves Metro money and it's better for the environment, then they have to do what's best.
Quote from: Perry on February 17, 2009, 09:36:55 AM
I know, I know!! If only each agency could hang on to some of these old buses and run a historic bus day like NYCT does. :-)
I'd like to see a Flxible Metro added to the historic fleet. I'd rather it be a Metro-B than one of the others, but any bus will do in this case.
I wonder if there are plans to keep the Metro-Es and possibly some Metro-Ds around as a contingency fleet.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on February 17, 2009, 01:27:06 PM
Quote from: Perry on February 17, 2009, 09:36:55 AM
I know, I know!! If only each agency could hang on to some of these old buses and run a historic bus day like NYCT does. :-)
I'd like to see a Flxible Metro added to the historic fleet. I'd rather it be a Metro-B than one of the others, but any bus will do in this case.
I wonder if there are plans to keep the Metro-Es and possibly some Metro-Ds around as a contingency fleet.
Probably. Let's hope so. It's better to let Royal have all the D's, Annex and Montgomery with the E's etc. than to retire them. it's going to suck when they leave.
Some (Or all) of you guys might hate me for hating the Flx's even though i grew up with them i just hated them!!! I was even happy when we had the Orion 5 coaches but the only Flxible bus model I personally like is the D!!! I just love hearing her screech!!! God knows if I wish Flxible was still in business!!!!
We won't hate you. You may know that a few of us barely tolerate Orion V, VIIs and we absolutely hate WMATA's 21/2200s.
We just have to accept that Flxible Metro era is fading away.
Although, I'm no fan of the wheel covers on the new stuff, I'm ready to embrace the new.
I agree with Wayne about the wheel covers, but look at the buses themselves. The wheel covers may be the worst thing about them. Other than that, the buses are sexy. I love them 2100s though.
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 08:49:44 AM
I agree with Wayne about the wheel covers, but look at the buses themselves. The wheel covers may be the worst thing about them. Other than that, the buses are sexy. I love them 2100s though.
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 08:49:44 AM
I agree with Wayne about the wheel covers, but look at the buses themselves. The wheel covers may be the worst thing about them. Other than that, the buses are sexy. I love them 2100s though.
I want to know how many drivers are actually lifting those things up to pre-trip their buses properly.
Landover, I have to admit, when you get a clean-sounding 2100 that does that roaring from the exhaust like they did when they were new, I think they sound pretty cool. It's the radiator fan howl/moaning/engine-about-to-fall-out-and-run-away sounds that they make at times that turn me off from them.
Now that's something I can agree on. Like the 3900s. Cool buses and all, but they have this "you feel like you're cramped" type feeling and that "this bus is way too bumpy" feelin'.
Back to the subject. Did you guys actually see the inside of the LFAs? Man those seats spell awesome with a capital AWESOME! Something doesn't seem right though. I don't think WMATA is retiring all of the Flxs. They are trying to increase the number of buses and trains they have. Why would they want to retire ALL Flxs? Something tells me that's not true.
I'm also thinking that all of those Flxibles won't disappear so quickly. Seems to me like some of the best may be retained at the least in the contingency fleet.
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 09:40:44 AM
I don't think WMATA is retiring all of the Flxs. They are trying to increase the number of buses and trains they have. Why would they want to retire ALL Flxs? Something tells me that's not true.
I think it is true considering the service cuts that WMATA is considering this summer. I think the 4000's might be kept but for contingincy only.
I can only imagine what exactly will happen with the March and June picks. It's nice to see the Orion VIs coming back to VA. At least for now until the 42LFAs come in, there will be some low floors on the Arlington/West Ox routes. Now, as for Royal St.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 18, 2009, 11:08:56 AM
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 09:40:44 AM
I don't think WMATA is retiring all of the Flxs. They are trying to increase the number of buses and trains they have. Why would they want to retire ALL Flxs? Something tells me that's not true.
I think it is true considering the service cuts that WMATA is considering this summer. I think the 4000's might be kept but for contingincy only.
I realize you may not be able to share the answer to this question if you know the answer, but when might WMATA officially announce proposed cuts and changes?
How many Flxibles are still active?
Off the top of my head, I'd guess about 250ish. All Metro-Ds (9701-9785, 9801-9835, nearly all Metro-Es (4001-4104) and assorted 93/9400 Metro-Bs.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on February 18, 2009, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 18, 2009, 11:08:56 AM
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 09:40:44 AM
I don't think WMATA is retiring all of the Flxs. They are trying to increase the number of buses and trains they have. Why would they want to retire ALL Flxs? Something tells me that's not true.
I think it is true considering the service cuts that WMATA is considering this summer. I think the 4000's might be kept but for contingincy only.
I realize you may not be able to share the answer to this question if you know the answer, but when might WMATA officially announce proposed cuts and changes?
Not sure, I think it still is in the mist of being approved by the WMATA board members and there waiting on the budgets from each jurisdiction to get a feel on how bad it really is. If it is approved I heard a end of June/early July implementation.
Quote from: WayneNYC on February 19, 2009, 12:22:20 AM
Off the top of my head, I'd guess about 250ish. All Metro-Ds (9701-9785, 9801-9835, nearly all Metro-Es (4001-4104) and assorted 93/9400 Metro-Bs.
That's what I thought. I don't get the rush to junk all the Flxibles before they have sufficient replacement buses - any talk about a lack of spare parts is nonsense because they'll have plenty of retired Metros to cannibalize. There's no reason they can't keep the best 50 or so of the 4000's going for a few more years.
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 19, 2009, 12:55:04 PM
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on February 18, 2009, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on February 18, 2009, 11:08:56 AM
Quote from: landoverdivision on February 18, 2009, 09:40:44 AM
I don't think WMATA is retiring all of the Flxs. They are trying to increase the number of buses and trains they have. Why would they want to retire ALL Flxs? Something tells me that's not true.
I think it is true considering the service cuts that WMATA is considering this summer. I think the 4000's might be kept but for contingincy only.
I realize you may not be able to share the answer to this question if you know the answer, but when might WMATA officially announce proposed cuts and changes?
Not sure, I think it still is in the mist of being approved by the WMATA board members and there waiting on the budgets from each jurisdiction to get a feel on how bad it really is. If it is approved I heard a end of June/early July implementation.
Thanks Chris. I guess it is time to sit back, wait, and look for headlines on Thursday afternoons until further notice...
I'm sure some duct tape and wire hangers will work for a few more years with whatever parts they can salvage from other vehicles. They should just get rid of as many as they can as soon as they can rather than spending the time and labor to keep these clunkers running.