It's Official-WMATA's Orion 6s will be retired

[WES]

According to Bus Talk(whatever number it is), the WMATA's Orion 6s have picked up their last passenger as now are due to be retired and scrapped by the fall, replaced by New Flyers (that's if the 2013 fiscal budget is approved), I would link it but I'm not gonna.  I had a feeling that they would have been retired, number one they are approaching 12 years of service and they have always had problems, practically from the get go, anyone remember how the rear doors misfunctioned on most of them. 
They were the first heavy duty low floor buses purchased by metro and though they have had their problems were fast, somewhat smooth riding and had the "conference" seating.  They did have their problems.  Other than the rear doors and the braking, hydraulic problems, they also had severe leaks in the A/C system (never ride one of them after a heavy rainstorm unless you wanted another bath or experience a bus waterfall.
Though they needed to be retired, in a way it's sad that they are retiring, I liked them.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

I will miss them immensely, they had that sweet DD50 sound only the Orion VIs had. It's a shame they had so many problems and terrible legroom for the most part, otherwise they ran very nice. RIP

Here's a link, it's such a heartbreaker to see 2011 on fire and burnt out like that, it's a good thing no one was on the bus besides the driver

[rideonrulez]

I too liked them but they were plagued with problems. Oh well I guess we have to deal with more Xcelsiors....

[DCAreaTransitFan]

I too liked them but they were plagued with problems. Oh well I guess we have to deal with more Xcelsiors....

get diesels or cng xcelsiors

[WayneNYC]

I always liked WMATA's Orion VIs as they were fast as heck.  They will be missed.

[79MetroExtraMD]

It took me a while to get used to them but I loved how fast they were. My last ride on them was on the 36 from Naylor Road to Friendship Heights.

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

Looks like we gotta be careful what we wish for, I'm sure the majority of us (including me) were wishing that the 42-4400s weren't retiring, and looks like a bunch of them will be given an extended lifespan but at the cost of the Orion VIs retiring

[Flxible]

I too liked them but they were plagued with problems. Oh well I guess we have to deal with more Xcelsiors....

"Deal"?  I thought the Xcelsiors were good buses, and I love the way they look.  Is WMATA having problems with them already?

[Flxible]

According to Bus Talk(whatever number it is), the WMATA's Orion 6s have picked up their last passenger as now are due to be retired and scrapped by the fall, replaced by New Flyers (that's if the 2013 fiscal budget is approved), I would link it but I'm not gonna.   

Though they needed to be retired, in a way it's sad that they are retiring, I liked them.

That is sad news.  Just think- the Flxible and GM New Looks they replaced dated back to as early as 1962, and had much longer service lives!  IIRC, the main reason they were all retired (along with the RTS fleet) was for ADA compliance, which the VIs certainly satisfied, but wow...what a gap in longevity.

I really liked the VIs as well, and felt they had an "old school" feel.  The seats were reminiscent of those found in early Grumman 870s, and the back window gave it a New Look feel.  And yes....their DD50s even had a distinctive retro sound.  I hate to see them go too.

[C40LF_2464]

I too liked them but they were plagued with problems. Oh well I guess we have to deal with more Xcelsiors....

"Deal"?  I thought the Xcelsiors were good buses, and I love the way they look.  Is WMATA having problems with them already?

No. Just that they are every where now. They are  nice buses though.

[rideonrulez]

and you will see even more Xcelsiors in September.

[Tritransit Area]

Wow, there are already so many Xcelsiors on the road? I'd rather have them than the LFAs anyway (I dislike those buses quite a bit, honestly). I managed to grab a ride on one on route 64...with the BAE hybridrive system, and it was quite nice and fast although somewhat loud.

[RailBus63]

Saw some photos of several ex-WMATA Orion VI's at a private operator in Brooklyn NY - supposedly they will be converted to double-deck tour buses as various other second-hand Gillig, Orion and New Flyer transit buses have been. 

[Chargerdodge9]

Really? Is there a link?

[Chargerdodge9]

Also, does CET have any Orion VIs left? I hope they atleast save one for the Museum fleet.