Even More DE42LFAs (6510+)

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Well don't worry everyone after these LFAs 102 Hybrids are gonna be left so the Flx B's or E's are gonna stay until next year.

I think the B's are toast and all that remains will be the E's. Those B's deserve a fair retirement at this point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bs outlast the Es at this point. I mean, all the Ds except the Detroit Diesel ones are retired now, plus many Es (and Bs as well, but they still seem to be running ok like the Es)

[Annex4421]

Well don't worry everyone after these LFAs 102 Hybrids are gonna be left so the Flx B's or E's are gonna stay until next year.

I think the B's are toast and all that remains will be the E's. Those B's deserve a fair retirement at this point.

The B's are toast? where have you been? they are 20 years old and still running strong, they'll probably be the last Flixbles retired from WMATA because most of the E's are retired already.

[OrionFlyer]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

[WayneNYC]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

Yes, after the DE40LF/R and D40LFR came along many of the Metro-Bs went into storage.  I'm sure this is indeed a factor in why they could thurn out to be the last Flxibles standing at WMATA.

[Tritransit Area]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

Yes, after the DE40LF/R and D40LFR came along many of the Metro-Bs went into storage.  I'm sure this is indeed a factor in why they could thurn out to be the last Flxibles standing at WMATA.

I love the Metro Es, but I'd be stoked if the current Metro Bs (my favorite Flxibles!) lasted until the end!

[79MetroExtraMD]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

Yes, after the DE40LF/R and D40LFR came along many of the Metro-Bs went into storage.  I'm sure this is indeed a factor in why they could thurn out to be the last Flxibles standing at WMATA.

I love the Metro Es, but I'd be stoked if the current Metro Bs (my favorite Flxibles!) lasted until the end!

ala NJ Transit.

[WayneNYC]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

Yes, after the DE40LF/R and D40LFR came along many of the Metro-Bs went into storage.  I'm sure this is indeed a factor in why they could thurn out to be the last Flxibles standing at WMATA.

I love the Metro Es, but I'd be stoked if the current Metro Bs (my favorite Flxibles!) lasted until the end!

ala NJ Transit.

  NJTransit Metro-Bs are are gone.  Both transit and suburban Metro-Ds are still rolling, although the huge NABI 416 order will certainly push them out the door eventually.

[Flxible]

Well don't worry everyone after these LFAs 102 Hybrids are gonna be left so the Flx B's or E's are gonna stay until next year.

I think the B's are toast and all that remains will be the E's. Those B's deserve a fair retirement at this point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bs outlast the Es at this point. I mean, all the Ds except the Detroit Diesel ones are retired now, plus many Es (and Bs as well, but they still seem to be running ok like the Es)

I agree.  From what I gather from area fans, the Bs were better buses than either the Ds and Es and are thus being kept for mechanical preference rather than age preference.  That and keeping them in storage didn't hurt.

Is 9310 still in Paralympics configuration?  That could hopefully keep it in service long after the other Flxes are gone.

[mrpete]

There may have been two orders as NFI's web site identifies a WMATA order for 48 having been made in the 3rd quarter of 2009, same time frame as Fairfax Connector ordered their 31 units. The NFI press release is dated Nov. 5, 2009.


http://www.newflyer.com/index/2009_11_05_q3_results

[WayneNYC]

There may have been two orders as NFI's web site identifies a WMATA order for 48 having been made in the 3rd quarter of 2009, same time frame as Fairfax Connector ordered their 31 units. The NFI press release is dated Nov. 5, 2009.

In late 2009 NF was still delivering original group of LFAs (37, 42 and 62 footers).  The 48 bues were purchased with stiumulus funds and they're not more than a couple months old at this point.  My guess is that the LFAs beyond 6509 may be an option that was taken.

Well don't worry everyone after these LFAs 102 Hybrids are gonna be left so the Flx B's or E's are gonna stay until next year.

I think the B's are toast and all that remains will be the E's. Those B's deserve a fair retirement at this point.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Bs outlast the Es at this point. I mean, all the Ds except the Detroit Diesel ones are retired now, plus many Es (and Bs as well, but they still seem to be running ok like the Es)

I agree.  From what I gather from area fans, the Bs were better buses than either the Ds and Es and are thus being kept for mechanical preference rather than age preference.  That and keeping them in storage didn't hurt.
Is 9310 still in Paralympics configuration?  That could hopefully keep it in service long after the other Flxes are gone.

Not saying the Metro-Bs are "better" than the D & Es (or vice-versa).  IMO, the fact that some Bs are outliving some Ds and Es is purely coincidental.  The NFI DE40LF/R, D40LFR and Orion VII made it possible to retire nearly all of the Metro-Bs.  In my mind it made perfect sense for WMATA to retain what was likely some of the 'best" of the newest Metro-Bs.  In regards to the Metro-Ds, those buses were some of the hardest working buses at WMATA.  For most of their time, most of them have always been at WMATA busiest divisions like Montgomery and Northern.  At Northern and Montgomery they pretty much always ran 7-days per week because the artics usually stayed in the house on Sundays.  I have nothing against the Metro-Bs, in fact I was very fond of them, but the way I see it... they didn't quite get run into the ground like the Metro-Ds and Es.   Also, this last bunch did have the benefit of being in storage for a couple of years and they seemed to have gotten a bit of TLC to bring them back into service. 

[SchuminWeb]

That's one reason I'm shocked that WMATA stopped putting those "Natural Gas" and "Hybrid" labels on their buses, especially the LFAs.

Meant to reply to this a while back.  The LFAs do have a hybrid mark, just not the big "RUNNING ON CLEAN HYBRID ELECTRIC" or whatever they say.  It's now a smaller black, white, and green sticker.  I want to say it's on the sides of the buses near the number, and maybe also the back.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Weren't the B's in storage a couple of years ago? Is that why they've lasted as have?

Yes, after the DE40LF/R and D40LFR came along many of the Metro-Bs went into storage.  I'm sure this is indeed a factor in why they could thurn out to be the last Flxibles standing at WMATA.

I love the Metro Es, but I'd be stoked if the current Metro Bs (my favorite Flxibles!) lasted until the end!

ala NJ Transit.

  NJTransit Metro-Bs are are gone.  Both transit and suburban Metro-Ds are still rolling, although the huge NABI 416 order will certainly push them out the door eventually.

Oh they're gone now. Figures since they are already getting their transit 416s. Is the order still that grand 1200 over the next 3 years or so?

[Scrabbleship]

That's one reason I'm shocked that WMATA stopped putting those "Natural Gas" and "Hybrid" labels on their buses, especially the LFAs.

Meant to reply to this a while back.  The LFAs do have a hybrid mark, just not the big "RUNNING ON CLEAN HYBRID ELECTRIC" or whatever they say.  It's now a smaller black, white, and green sticker.  I want to say it's on the sides of the buses near the number, and maybe also the back.

The "WMATA's Going Green" sticker is on the sides near the number and on the back. They also put the stickers on the 6000's even though they still have their original markings.