WMATA Awards 51 Buses to....

[Vintage Soul]

Daimler Buses North America for 51 30-Foot Orion 07.503s. 26 Hybrids and 25 BRT-style Diesels. Stay Tuned... (Thanks to my boy for the inside scoop!)

[79MetroExtraMD]

Figured that would happen soon. Those 3900s are being run to the ground.

[OrionFlyer]

So they're going to be BRT style after all, huh? I honestly didn't think they would go with that option.

[Scrabbleship]

So they're going to be BRT style after all, huh? I honestly didn't think they would go with that option.

The Orion VII BRT isn't as frivolous as its New Flyer (and Gillig) counterparts. My guess is the BRT-styled buses end up at Annex and the hybrids end up at Western/Landover(/Northern?) unless Annex decides to dip its toes in the hybrid lake.

[79MetroExtraMD]

So they're going to be BRT style after all, huh? I honestly didn't think they would go with that option.

The Orion VII BRT isn't as frivolous as its New Flyer (and Gillig) counterparts. My guess is the BRT-styled buses end up at Annex and the hybrids end up at Western/Landover(/Northern?) unless Annex decides to dip its toes in the hybrid lake.

They'll mainly replace the 99 Orion 5 30 footers. I can probably see them going mainly to Western, Landover and Annex. Northern already has the 3700s so that'll mainly be enough. Also, it would be ironic if some might go to Montgomery if perhaps Ride On gives the T2, L8, and Z2 back to Metro.

[RailBus63]

Glad to see that WMATA will continue to field a diverse fleet from a bus fan's perspective.  Hopefully this will lead to some 40-foot O7's as the remaining Orion V's and the VI's come due for replacement. 

[Scrabbleship]

So they're going to be BRT style after all, huh? I honestly didn't think they would go with that option.

The Orion VII BRT isn't as frivolous as its New Flyer (and Gillig) counterparts. My guess is the BRT-styled buses end up at Annex and the hybrids end up at Western/Landover(/Northern?) unless Annex decides to dip its toes in the hybrid lake.

They'll mainly replace the 99 Orion 5 30 footers. I can probably see them going mainly to Western, Landover and Annex. Northern already has the 3700s so that'll mainly be enough. Also, it would be ironic if some might go to Montgomery if perhaps Ride On gives the T2, L8, and Z2 back to Metro.

Seeing how the weekend L8/Z2 have never had 30' buses and how they were packed when the weekend T2 ran them, I wouldn't think Metro would take a step backward if they took them back. Back when I rode the weekend L8 a few years back on a regular basis, the ridership they had then on 35' high floors was more than a 30' low-floor could take.

[79MetroExtraMD]

So they're going to be BRT style after all, huh? I honestly didn't think they would go with that option.

The Orion VII BRT isn't as frivolous as its New Flyer (and Gillig) counterparts. My guess is the BRT-styled buses end up at Annex and the hybrids end up at Western/Landover(/Northern?) unless Annex decides to dip its toes in the hybrid lake.

They'll mainly replace the 99 Orion 5 30 footers. I can probably see them going mainly to Western, Landover and Annex. Northern already has the 3700s so that'll mainly be enough. Also, it would be ironic if some might go to Montgomery if perhaps Ride On gives the T2, L8, and Z2 back to Metro.

Seeing how the weekend L8/Z2 have never had 30' buses and how they were packed when the weekend T2 ran them, I wouldn't think Metro would take a step backward if they took them back. Back when I rode the weekend L8 a few years back on a regular basis, the ridership they had then on 35' high floors was more than a 30' low-floor could take.

Ride On did propose giving those routes back to Metro a couple years back. I've ridden the T2 on the weekends and mainly a 30 footer can suffice since the ridership is much lower than on weekdays. The L8 of course is a different story.

[Tritransit Area]

Oh, this is fantastic news!  I'll miss those itty bitty Orion Vs, though!

[DCT S9Z4Z6]

Back when Ride-On first took over the L8, T2, & Z2, all we had were the 30' Orions, Gilligs & TMC's

[RideOn5905]

I think we all know which divisions they're bound for. What I am curious about, though, is A) their powertrains, B) when they're scheduled to enter service, and C) their numbering.

[C40LF_2464]

Landover, Southern Ave and IIRC Western are getting these buses...Powertrains for the Diesels ISL-Allison Transmission, and Hybrids will have ISB-BAE Systems Hybrid drive, Im sure the first one will be here by June 2012, idk about the numbering!

[79MetroExtraMD]

Landover, Southern Ave and IIRC Western are getting these buses...Powertrains for the Diesels ISL-Allison Transmission, and Hybrids will have ISB-BAE Systems Hybrid drive, Im sure the first one will be here by June 2012, idk about the numbering!

I wouldn't be surprised if they numbered them in the 3000 series. I'm guessing either 3600 or 3800.

[Tritransit Area]

Interesting...we're going back to Allison Transmissions, eh?  I wonder why they are going with BAE and not Allison for the hybrids...I thought Allisons are available on Orions now!

[79MetroExtraMD]

Interesting...we're going back to Allison Transmissions, eh?  I wonder why they are going with BAE and not Allison for the hybrids...I thought Allisons are available on Orions now!

Apparently, I heard BAE's system was better than Allison. BAE is series hybrid as opposed to Allison which is parallel. I do wonder if BAE's system costs more or less than Allison either way, after riding a BAE hybrid in NYC, I'm excited to hear how the 7100s and the new Orion HEVs sound like.