New WMATA Buses

[Perry]

The new NABI's are in!! Look at this pic on the Post website.

Now I do need to come back to DC. LOL

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/21/AR2008072101235.html?hpid=artslot

[WMATAGMOAGH]

WTOP has a story, too: http://wtopnews.com/?nid=25&sid=1444147

Interesting how they mention they could run on the 5A.  I guess they would finally put FMR's artic capabilities to use, though I suspect they wind up on the X2.

[79MetroExtraMD]

Now that's a sexy bus. My guess would be the X line and the 79. There is no way the 5A, 70, or the S line is going to get these. Northern has way more than enough tics for the 70 and the S line, and FMR isn't getting tic (although these would be nice on the 5A). Can't wait to ride these.

[Tristan]

and FMR isn't getting tic (although these would be nice on the 5A).

Do you have a source for that conjecture other than pessimism?  FMR had artics back in the day for the 8 line, it could happen again.  Have faith!

[Scrabbleship]

If that bus was a woman...

The logical choice to put them on would be the X2, but would the X2 chew them up and spit them out and leave them looking raggedy a year in. Seeing them on the 79 in MetroExtra paint, however, would be...YOW!!

Why do I have an odd feeling that these might end up on the Bladensburg sections of the 30s? And if they do, would the outside boarding areas at Friendship Heights be able to handle an artic or would it be another evidence of WhyMATA shortsightedness like the too-low ceiling?

[rideonrulez]

Check out the WMATA website, they have all sorts of pics!!

http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/story.cfm?id=1993

[btconet]

I seriously doubt they'll run the #79.  Note the word LOCAL prominently showing behind the artic hinge.

Heck, I'd be happy to see them on the Y and the low F's.  How about the 80?

[Scrabbleship]

That artic specifically on the 79? No. Some 60-BRT's on the 79? Quite possibly since it wouldn't surprise me if a few end up in the MetroExtra scheme. However, those seats look like a downgrade vs. the ones in the C40LFR's (and DE40LFR's).

Artics on the 80 would be interesting. Outside of the X routes (I've seen artics on the X3 a couple times in the past), do any Bladensburg routes regularly run artics? The 83/86 might work too though there's no chance the Y's would see them given the long deadhead and the F's only would see them if Bladensburg got some blocks from Landover.

[79MetroExtraMD]

I seriously doubt they'll run the #79.  Note the word LOCAL prominently showing behind the artic hinge.

Heck, I'd be happy to see them on the Y and the low F's.  How about the 80?

Montomgery is getting DE62LFAs next year, so they most likely see some time on that line. If you're talking about the F1 F2 or F4 F6, that won't happen. The 80 isn't really too busy to warrant artics. I've ridden it a few times at different times of the day and I haven't really seen full loads. Most likely the tics will be on the X line. As for the LOCAL part, that wouldn't stop them from assigning a bus to the 79. I've seen a Flx and even a regular C40LFR on that line.

[79MetroExtraMD]

That artic specifically on the 79? No. Some 60-BRT's on the 79? Quite possibly since it wouldn't surprise me if a few end up in the MetroExtra scheme. However, those seats look like a downgrade vs. the ones in the C40LFR's (and DE40LFR's).

Artics on the 80 would be interesting. Outside of the X routes (I've seen artics on the X3 a couple times in the past), do any Bladensburg routes regularly run artics? The 83/86 might work too though there's no chance the Y's would see them given the long deadhead and the F's only would see them if Bladensburg got some blocks from Landover.

I doubt the 83/86 will get any artics. Most people pretty much ride up to Mt. Rainer and that load gets off there. Another load gets on to just go up Baltimore Avenue. Most of the time from Mt. Rainer to College Park, the bus is half empty. A little load gets on at College Park Station but it's not too much. Bladensburg might just assign the 60BRTs to the X line or some other lines. Metro will tell us the lines come next month.

[WayneNYC]

OK - I'll be making my photo run tomorrow at lunch time if time permits.

[Perry]

Bladensburg is going to get inundated now! LOL  The X2 alone could handle a lot of the artics, but maybe they'll re-assign some of the other division blocks to take them on too, such as some of the S's or maybe even the 42? 

[WMAveteran]

Very nice indeed, thanks for the preview!!  I rode this type NABI in Los Angeles on the Orange Line and they really kick some serious ass!!  The LA busses have front and rear video screens that display news and advertisements and they operate at relatively high speeds on the busway.

The new NABI's are in!! Look at this pic on the Post website.

Now I do need to come back to DC. LOL

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/21/AR2008072101235.html?hpid=artslot

[79MetroExtraMD]

Metro might install screens in their buses one day. I just hope these are kept in very good condition.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Bladensburg is going to get inundated now! LOL  The X2 alone could handle a lot of the artics, but maybe they'll re-assign some of the other division blocks to take them on too, such as some of the S's or maybe even the 42? 

Isn't this just a 1 for 1 replacement for the existing NABI fleet?  While Catoe says every running bus is going to be kept in a reserve fleet until further notice, I doubt there is going to be additional articulated service as a result of this delivery (no matter how much a larger articulated fleet is needed).