New WMATA Buses

[Tristan]

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

There's already one installed on 2674

[79MetroExtraMD]

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

There's already one installed on 2674

Sweet. Maybe Metro can pull in some revenue from ads. As for those 60 plus inch screens that are supposed to be installed in the Metro stations, when are they going to come in? I remember watching a board meeting demoing one of them and I was impressed.

[Tristan]

You'll have to keep watching board meetings to find that out.  Let us know.

[WayneNYC]

I spotted 5401 at Bladensburg today.  5311 is also still there, but both buses are not in a position for photos.

[WES]

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).

Even though these are supposed to be one for one replacements of the older NABIs there is a reason why we call WMATA WhyMATA.  I wouldn't  concrete that statement till all of the NABI artics and DE62LFRs are on the road and no more high floor NABIs are spotted.

Again nothing is guaranteed with WhyMATA.  A few of these might wind up in FMR but again till these buses hit service we'll never know.

[WayneNYC]

I know the NABI 436 don't have many fans (other than me), and although they're certainly showing their age... They don't seem quite ready for Nimco.  I hope they stick around, especially since Catoe has ordered them to not to toss out anything. 

[Tristan]

I liked the 436s pre-repower.  When they got Voithed...boy oh boy.

If they're going to replace them, they need to do so selectively.  I've seen some that should have been gone decades ago (*cough*Northern*cough*), others are working pretty well...

[79MetroExtraMD]

I liked the 436s pre-repower.  When they got Voithed...boy oh boy.

If they're going to replace them, they need to do so selectively.  I've seen some that should have been gone decades ago (*cough*Northern*cough*), others are working pretty well...

I second that. Ours were the same way before some of them were Voithed. A new ZF tranny would have done well, but they're getting replaced in the next year or so.

As for beaten down tics, the 5300s seem more beaten up than the 5200s. They've only been on the fleet for 5 years and they look like they been through hell and high water twice.

[Tristan]

If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Montgomery Ikarus, you're comparing apples to oranges.  If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Northern Ikarus, you're comparing Granny Smith apples to Fuji apples -- I think the former sees a lot more use and on routes like the 70.

How many Ikaruses are at Northern anyway for me to see so few?

[Scrabbleship]

If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Montgomery Ikarus, you're comparing apples to oranges.  If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Northern Ikarus, you're comparing Granny Smith apples to Fuji apples -- I think the former sees a lot more use and on routes like the 70.

How many Ikaruses are at Northern anyway for me to see so few?

Your guess would be correct. The caveat is that the NABIs don't see as much usage out of Northern as the Neos (or, for that matter, their sisters at Bladensburg and Montgomery) and that the ones at Montgomery, at least, are the ones that Northern ran into the ground. It wouldn't surprise me to think that some of those Neos very rarely, if ever, have even gotten off the 70 given how rare until recently it was to see an artic on the S's or 50's.

If the document breaking down the upcoming New Flyer order is any clue, Northern is due to get 11 artics from that order so I'd think that might be their total of NABIs however I'm more than sure I've seen more than 11 based out of Montgomery. Might some of the Neos be heading up to Montgomery post-rehab?

[79MetroExtraMD]

If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Montgomery Ikarus, you're comparing apples to oranges.  If you're comparing a Northern Neo to a Northern Ikarus, you're comparing Granny Smith apples to Fuji apples -- I think the former sees a lot more use and on routes like the 70.

How many Ikaruses are at Northern anyway for me to see so few?

Your guess would be correct. The caveat is that the NABIs don't see as much usage out of Northern as the Neos (or, for that matter, their sisters at Bladensburg and Montgomery) and that the ones at Montgomery, at least, are the ones that Northern ran into the ground. It wouldn't surprise me to think that some of those Neos very rarely, if ever, have even gotten off the 70 given how rare until recently it was to see an artic on the S's or 50's.

If the document breaking down the upcoming New Flyer order is any clue, Northern is due to get 11 artics from that order so I'd think that might be their total of NABIs however I'm more than sure I've seen more than 11 based out of Montgomery. Might some of the Neos be heading up to Montgomery post-rehab?

I did hear something from a couple of operators I know from Montgomery that some of the Neos might head up to Montgomery. Fix up a couple of them and put them on the C4 and the J line, they'll be nice. It'd be nice to see some real power for a change.

[WayneNYC]

The few NABIs at Northern does get plenty of action (like everthing there), but there's just a few of them.  Since the Neoplan AN-460s arrived, Northern has always had less NABIs than both Montgomery and Bladensburg, which made sense to me.  I guess the good part for some of the NABIs are that they have been rotated, between Northern and Montgomery.  Also in fairness to Northern... While their buses are clearly neglected and/or abused, the Neos have yet to go for rehab, but they're the next group due.

[rideonrulez]

Here is the WMATA NABI breakdown as of 4/18/08:

Bladensburg has 18: 5223-5226, 5230-5232, 5235-5245
Northern has 6: 5217-5222
Montgomery has 14: 5202-5214, 5216

Now from a meeting I attended awhile back, Montgomery County has asked WMATA that we get the new artics instead of getting left overs like we have been. Though this is WhyMATA were talking about, there is no gaurentee. In other words I don't think the Neos are coming this way though I personally would like them here. 

[Perry]

The only time they've been in Montgomery are the times that the K6 operated out of Northern on weekends.  That was a treat riding it on New Hampshire Ave.  Probably the only time those buses went above 25 mph.

[RailBus63]

That's a sharp-looking paint scheme - it should look good on the upcoming order of New Flyers.  Hopefully, we'll also see various older buses getting repainted as well.