Petersburg Station nears finishing....

[MetroLinerXLZ]

This is from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The article can be read here:

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/TRAN27_20090726-210405/282322/

This is about the new Petersburg Station. It's supposed to open in September seeing that it's on the fast track.

And yes, I do plan to be there the day it's open for service.

[WES]

Hopefully it will revive that downtown region.  I went there last year, that downtown region looked pitiful.  Of course I got there after the Flxes were long gone, and there are nothing but Gilligs.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

The last two Flxes (103 and 110) were retired around late 2007/early 2008. The other Flxes in the PAT fleet were retired maybe a year and a half earlier.

You probably saw the Phantoms with the GRTC "swoosh" paint on the back right?!? Yeah, cuz that's what the Flxes got replaced with; GRTC's Gilligs #403-409 (which are under lease).

[WES]

Can't remember, but I probably did.  I know I saw some GRTC Gilligs down there, I think on route 99 or something.  They might be in the pics I took over a year ago.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

Yep, the GRTC runs into Petersburg. That's the Route 95 Express, which runs between Downtown Richmond and Petersburg. The fare on that sucka is $2.50 for a one-way ride (it used to be $1.50). You'll find almost any bus on that route. I can guarantee you'll find at least 1 1500-series MCI on that route.

But PAT did retire the Flxes and replace them with some of GRTC's Phantoms, which the GRTC leased (and is still leasing) to PAT. Those are still in service along with the Gillig Low Floors that PAT got last year.