Messages

My last question is about MTA - I'm considering a day in Baltimore but I'm not sure of where to look for some of the buses that eluded me last time I went. I never got any shots of their MCIs, but I know they run in DC and I know where to get them there. Their Opus and DE60LFR buses were nowhere to be found in 2010 and now I see that they have DE60LFs and Xcelsiors. Any help spotting these bus types is appreciated.

In Baltimore, the MCI's can be found on the 300s/400s commuter routes mostly between Johns Hopkins Hospital or the State Office Complex and downtown. Dillon's Bus Service runs these routes and they use a mix of their buses and MTA buses. They can also be found around Annapolis for the routes coming to/from DC.

The DE60LFRs can always be found on the 8, 91 and the 77 as well as on scattered other routes. The MTA no longer runs the Opus buses but some can be found in Annapolis. The Xcelsiors are at all four bases. The Kirk Division has about half of them and you can always find them on the 120 express bus (during rush hours) as well as the 19, 3 and 9.

Will the B30 be next with service to/from Arundel Mills and MD Live Casinos?

Just heard on the news (in Baltimore) that there was an accident involving a Metrobus by NIH. According to the video footage the bus involved was 6206 and the reporter mentioned the bus as mangled and involved "a lengthly extracation process".

6212 on the B30 on I-495 outer loop near Exit 25 (US Route 1), headed to BWI via I-95 (instead of MD 295).

I went to Northern VA yesterday via 295 had a 15-20 mile backup northbound yesterday afternoon. On the way back it was backed up coming out of DC, so we came back up on 95.

I also saw 5441 on several occasions and I think I saw 5444 at BWI

probably xx10

The 1st phase will be to run the X9 every 10 mins during peak hours, and the 2nd phase will be to run every 15 mins during non-peak hours, nights, and weekends.

What would put the X9 at the front of the line for night/weekend service before the 79, 37/39, and S9? I think that if they go to Phase 2 on there first that the other Express/MetroExtra/On The Move routes should at least get their crack at it first.

I'll look to provide more info. My money is that Blade will paint all the C40LFRs in the Express scheme, or some of the new DE40LFAs will be put on the X9.

Sounds about reasonable, though at the same time I could see the Express scheme Orion VII's at FMR being moved to Bladensburg as well.

I haven't been to DC in quite a while, but besides 2665, are there any other Orion Viis with the latest paint scheme?

I'll stop by BWI and see what comes this way

The optimas are hit or miss at best, in my observations. They aren't in use everyday.

Looks like Metro is capitalizing on ad space, with the ad on the roof.

I'm not really feeling the aerodynamic look of the LFAs, but I do like the D40LF, and even the CNG counterparts. Seems like Philly will be the new Flyer country, but surely Baltimore, DC and other TAs will surely have an abundnt supply of them.

Montgomery (since its becoming Gillig country with the ones Ride-On has) and probably West Ox.

I had never seen the 9600 series Orions in the second paint scheme (had to do a double take at first). In my travels to DC, I did remember seeing the RTS and the 5000 and 5100 series MANs. I didn't recall seeing the Phantoms.

There is a block of the 1 that interlines with the 8, and usually has a tic on it (in the evening, around 7-8pm). BTW, there was a tic (8028) on the 5 this afternoon, another route i rarely see tics on.

Spotted Ride-On bus 5003 (shorter Gillig with frameless window) in Baltimore around 5pm Thursday (at MLK and Rt. 40). Sign said "SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION".