The Jury's In: The DE42/62LFAs-Love Em' or Hate Em'?

[Tritransit Area]

What do you have against the 416? It's a nice sturdy bus that's had a long history in Europe.

See SEPTA and B-more for reference.

If anything, B-more would be a testament to how well they perform in adverse environments. Seeing that they've been able to hold up that well despite the potholes, sinkholes, gunshots, and riders, I'd say that they're some pretty solid buses.

Perhaps you could add Oakland (AC Transit) or San Fransisco (MUNI) to that list??

Touché!  How are the NABIs over there doing, anyway?  I don't hear much about them. 

I'm wondering if high floors are just sturdier in general than low floor buses.  All of the problems with the Neoplans and New Flyers weren't there with the Flxes and NABIs to my knowledge.

[MetroLinerXLZ]

What do you have against the 416? It's a nice sturdy bus that's had a long history in Europe.

See SEPTA and B-more for reference.

If anything, B-more would be a testament to how well they perform in adverse environments. Seeing that they've been able to hold up that well despite the potholes, sinkholes, gunshots, and riders, I'd say that they're some pretty solid buses.

Perhaps you could add Oakland (AC Transit) or San Fransisco (MUNI) to that list??

Touché!  How are the NABIs over there doing, anyway?  I don't hear much about them.

From what I understand, they are either in the process of receiving (or have received) several exhaust modifications, which were required per recently amended (and highly ridiculous, IMO) CARB regulations. Other than that, they're running pretty decent. It does make me glad that I live in a state that doesn't have such ridiculous air quality standards/regulations/laws.

I also have a gut feeling that high-floor buses are better suited for adverse environments than low-floors, granted the ground clearance.

[It is my theory that] Low floor buses tend to have a lower ground clearance than that of a standard-floor bus. You will DEFINITELY notice that difference between a New Flyer LF model and a Metro, especially seeing that Metros tend to be higher up in the rear than (basically) any other bus model built.

[aznboy4305]

I'm wondering if high floors are just sturdier in general than low floor buses.  All of the problems with the Neoplans and New Flyers weren't there with the Flxes and NABIs to my knowledge.

Well low floors are a completely different design and construction from high floor buses. The typical modern high floor bus is a body on chassis design, with the chassis running the full length of the bus. However, with low floor buses, the chassis/main frame extends only from the rear of the bus to about where the rear axle is, to support the powertrain. From the rear axle forward, it is a unibody design consisting of crossmembers, but no chassis (at least that is the case with Gillig Advantages).

[Tritransit Area]

Ah - that could explain a lot of things!  I also agree with the ground clearance issue.  Back in the SEPTA world, it was said that Frontier district only received such a small batch of New Flyers initially (and part of the last batch at that) because in Norristown, coming into the transportation center, they would bottom out coming down from the hill on Swede Street and crossing Main Street to access the center.

I think that problem has been fixed now, but it is certainly food for thought.

PG is has a great example of low clearance on low floors - check out this Thomas:

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Just for my quick late response i love the DE62LFA's and the NABI BRT's but i hate the DE42LFA's.

then why is your name DE42LFA???

imo I love all of these new buses...disregarding the fact that they might have taken a large toll on WMATA's budget, but idk I just like them.

[LandoverDivision]

Just for my quick late response i love the DE62LFA's and the NABI BRT's but i hate the DE42LFA's.

then why is your name DE42LFA???

imo I love all of these new buses...disregarding the fact that they might have taken a large toll on WMATA's budget, but idk I just like them.

Agreed George. I really don't know what it is about some of WMATA's buses that just gets everyone to hate them. I love all of our buses.

[C40LF_2464]

Just for my quick late response i love the DE62LFA's and the NABI BRT's but i hate the DE42LFA's.

then why is your name DE42LFA???

imo I love all of these new buses...disregarding the fact that they might have taken a large toll on WMATA's budget, but idk I just like them.

Agreed George. I really don't know what it is about some of WMATA's buses that just gets everyone to hate them. I love all of our buses.

Before they came into service i was all hyped. Now they in service and i hate em. Besides i tried changing my name before but its some bug,glitch thing wont let me. *Calls Tristan*

[Tristan]

Presto, change-o.

@Landover, it's from a practicality perspective that we jab at these vehicles (which I think has been adequately explained here several times).  I think all of us like the fact that there is variety, but from a PRACTICAL, BUDGETARY, OPERATIONAL standpoint, they present problems that we think could have been avoided.  Don't take it so personally.

[Tritransit Area]

Isn't this the largest single order of vehicles with one specific specification?  I think the 4200 order came close, but no cigar with all of the "WMATA rejects" out there.

[OrionFlyer]

Have all the LFAs been delivered?

[Annex4421]

Have all the LFAs been delivered?

When will the new ones arrive?

[OrionFlyer]

Have all the LFAs been delivered?

When will the new ones arrive?

Oh yeah. I forgot about the second order of LFAs. According to the link below they won't be delivered until around June. So there is still a lot of time left for the Flx E and Bs.

http://www.wmata.com/stimulus/project_details.cfm?P=Replacement%20of%20Oldest%20Buses

[Annex4421]

Must be more because there are likee 100+ Flxibles left.

[Tritransit Area]

That's what I was thinking....How many Bs are left?

[WayneNYC]

There's probably about 120 or so Flxibles left.  Most of the 104 E's are still on the road with a few D's and maybe 15-20 B's.

I dread seeing more LFAs come, but I guess it could be worse.