WMATA Orion VIs Sidelined due to Fire Incidents

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Is it just me or is this not the first time the Orion VIs have been pulled from service for something like this?  How quickly might WMATA want to try getting rid of them, perhaps keeping some of the older Orion Vs around longer instead?

http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5200

[WES]

It's not you they did sideline them before and with this fire I wouldn't be surprised if they might consider getting rid of these and putting some of the 1998 Orion Vs that are being retired back into service.  These buses are about to reach their 12 year lifespan in a few months.  To a point I would hate to see them go so early but the fact they are still catching fire even after the initial problems were thought to have been fixed kinda looks dim for them lasting any further than this year.

If it weren't for the problems these buses seem to keep having they would have retired the 2000 Orion Vs before the Orion VIs, just to try and have an almost low floor fleet (minus the Neo artics of course), but the Orion VIs might be on their death beds.  I like them, they have great speed, but they have been problems from the start and with all of the problems they are having, maybe going with New Flyer might have saved them some heartache, just my opinion.

[WayneNYC]

Bummer.  I really liked the Orion VIs.  They're some fast buses.  This should've happened when WMATA still had Flxibles in storage:-).

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Any idea how many 1998 Orion Vs might already be out of service? 

I've never been a huge Orion VI fan, and while I know the Orion Vs aren't loved much in this group, I wouldn't mind seeing them outlive the Orion VIs.

[WayneNYC]

I've never been a huge Orion VI fan, and while I know the Orion Vs aren't loved much in this group, I wouldn't mind seeing them outlive the Orion VIs.

True.  We didn't dislike the '97/'98 buses too much, but we loved to hate the dreaded 2100/2200s.  That said, we did give them their due respect as they've been workhorses during their time at WMATA.  Also, Fox news shows the Orion VI as #2011.

[RideOn5905]

Any idea how many 1998 Orion Vs might already be out of service? 

Well over a hundred. In fact, I've been keeping track of them (via Nextbus, of course), and there are about 74 units still in service; most of them are 4200s and 4400s.

Incidentally, Metro's website says that there was another fire about a week ago; it was on I-66, and the bus involved was #2028.

[mrpete]

TV news this morning said 94. One caught fire on US 50.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I drove by CET today and the lot that I could see from Veterans Parkway was filled with Orion VIs.

[Transport]

Any idea how many 1998 Orion Vs might already be out of service? 

Well over a hundred. In fact, I've been keeping track of them (via Nextbus, of course), and there are about 74 units still in service; most of them are 4200s and 4400s.

Incidentally, Metro's website says that there was another fire about a week ago; it was on I-66, and the bus involved was #2028.

I saw the Orion VI parked, burned badly, on westbound I-66 near the Vienna Metro.  The fire burned the entire rear half of the bus.

[Transport]

I drove by CET today and the lot that I could see from Veterans Parkway was filled with Orion VIs.

What buses were sent to West Ox, Montgomery, and Landover to replace the Orion VIs?

[DCAreaTransitFan]

I drove by CET today and the lot that I could see from Veterans Parkway was filled with Orion VIs.

the retired 42/43/4400s

What buses were sent to West Ox, Montgomery, and Landover to replace the Orion VIs?

the buses that were retired 42-43-4400s and and some sended buses to them

[Chargerdodge9]

It's been almost a year since the Orion VIs retired. I wonder if they plan on keeping any as a museum bus (these were WMATA's first true low floors, not counting the Orion IIs of course).