Greyhound seats and fleet questions

[Swadian Hardcore]

Sure, you can comment on my Flickr photostream or send an e-mail to [email protected]

Surfed Street View for a while looking for Greyhound.

I just spotted this on Street View: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7855908,-96.8136366,3a,15y,159.45h,87.82t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sHXOzDDP7j3VY9Fhwoh37jw!2e0.

Also interesting, a White Americanos DL3 with a LED sign: https://www.google.com/maps/@31.7588474,-106.4911814,3a,15y,60.59h,84.79t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBPE_gHYF3hi8ViqGt4918g!2e0.

DL3s join a burnt-out G at Greyhound's Amarillo Garage, inherited from TNM&O: https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2101768,-101.8442736,3a,57.9y,100h,79.74t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1smtslw-3xouRMduaanEYgHg!2e0.

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.2098325,-101.8430396,3a,53.7y,295.14h,84.09t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sGoe2MvG-0IbiydwlrIx_fA!2e0.

Greyhound Blue Dina Viaggios. No wheelchair lift, but they have the amenity icons on the doors.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Interesting news, Greyhound's Centennial tour was spotted with a brand-new plain white Restyled J4500 that was also opened to display. It appears to be equipped with Amaya A-2TEN, window blinds, and six 15" flat screens monitors, but has the old full-length fluorescent strip interior lighting. However, it does appear to have the new overhead amenity modules on the parcel racks, with parallel reading lights, seat-belt signs, and flap air vents. The original J4500 had the EGJ modules, lined-up turning-knob air vents with small parallel reading lights in between them and no seat-belt signs.

It could be just another "show coach" like MC-12 Funkmaster Flex #3018, or 2008 pilot X3-45 #8882 which was equipped with flat-screens and put on display. But this does show Greyhound is seriously considering the J4500.

 

[rickycourtney]

That is very interesting.

I'm interested to see how the fasten seat belt signs work. I haven't seen any pictures of the sign. I wonder if it's always lit or if the driver can toggle it on and off.

Either way it's a great idea. A nice way to both remind people to use their seat belts and if it can be toggled, keep them seated during stop and go city travel.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The signs appear to quite small. They can be seen in MCI's new J4500 Sales Brochure.

What I also found interesting were the Blue Dina Viaggios with upgraded amenities. I have no idea what kind of seating they would have or what is going on.

Greyhound has a few charter-only Blue DL's in Dallas caught on Street View. They must be rarely used as charters are only 1% of Greyhound revenue. But they'll probably be able to hold down Greyhound charter ops for many years.

Some White DL3s for sale.

 

[railiner]

I checked with my local GL source....he is not aware of any Greyhound interest in the J4500. He asked me where the white J was seen, and he asked me what sense it would make for GL to display a bus in their tour that was not in GL's livery.....I had no anwer for him......

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I checked with my local GL source....he is not aware of any Greyhound interest in the J4500. He asked me where the white J was seen, and he asked me what sense it would make for GL to display a bus in their tour that was not in GL's livery.....I had no anwer for him......

The J4500 was spotted in front of the US Department of Transportation in Washington, DC, in July 2014. It was parked besides Greyhound's Northern Centennial Tour, which consisted of six Greyhound coaches and the white J4500. All were on display on the curb behind a row of traffic cones, tightly parked in a column. The public was invited to enter the X3-45, J4500. and 102DL3 Mobile Museum. Reports say the J4500 had the interior with Amaya A-2TEN seating, window shades, etc. The exterior was plain white except for the black roof cap. It had the new LED exterior lighting but not LED interior lighting.

Apparently the coach was white, but it is unclear whether the coach is plain white. It may have had Greyhound decals applied over the white base paint, which Greyhound has done before. It may have been a leased unit.

 

[rickycourtney]

Maybe it was a demo unit that MCI happened to be showing off at the same time as Greyhound was showing off its X3-45 and the other historic buses. It's not out of the realm of possibility considering it's taking place outside of the DOT's headquarters.

 

[rickycourtney]

I just found the image of that fasten seat belt sign in the brochure. The sign looks similar to the size you would see on a regional jet. That entire passenger service unit looks nice. I always liked that slat style air vent on the X3-45, I'm glad MCI switched to that design.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I finally fixed linking problems and now I am able to show you this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_56waWjzyE.

You can see the J4500 parked at the end of the Greyhound lineup behind the X3-45. It was definitely on display. Notice how the J4500 interior is first shown while the reporter is talking about Greyhound's new amenities. It's possible that MCI would be showing it off as a show coach, but I would've expected a MCI representative to be speaking. Furthermore, I would have expected MCI to post some of their markings on the interior. Every J4500 Demo interior I have seen has a MCI logo at the back. And if MCI wanted to show it off, why wouldn't it have LED interior lights?

All I know right now is that the interior shown in the video is MCI's ubiquitous J4500 interior. It is seen on three separate examples with three separate owners:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/istagelines/14029047206

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thetransitcamera/14313726620

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92286304@N08/10564960805/.

Incidentally, the ISL J4500 lacks the logo at the back, but the aisle is lines with MCI logos, possibly the floor covering of a newly-delivered coach.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

BUS ON FIRE!

Just happened: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Charter-Bus-With-Children-Catches-Fire-277979671.html.

Autobuses Americanos' white G4500 caught on fire in La Jolla, CA, north of San Diego while apparently running Schedule 9486 San Ysidro-Los Angeles.

That is a plain-white G4500 with no markings others than "AMERICANOS".

Formerly an independent operator that was purchased by Greyhound but kept independently-operating until July 2013, when their fleet was merged with Greyhound.

This represents the loss of yet another white G4500, right when Greyhound was retiring/rebuilding them at high rates.

 

[rickycourtney]

Demo buses tend to be very early models (first off the production line) so it wouldn't surprise me if that particular unit was missing the LED overhead lighting.

Has there been any other reports of that J4500 showing up at the other North or South Tour stops?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

You're not wrong about the lighting, but what about MCI's silence on this? Why did MCI not send a rep to speak? How come the coach had no MCI logos? How come MCI was not mentioned in the video?

I doubt it's owned by Greyhound, but at this point, I have no idea what to believe. Maybe it's leased.

Regarding Blue G4500s, I've finally found a shot of one with the engine hood open: https://www.google.com/maps/@32.7853622,-96.8140888,3a,15y,163.66h,84.44t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s0SGwdDyoYDo7N3rCrmIwJw!2e0. #7147 at Dallas Maintenance Center. Looks to be a rebuilt Detroit 60.

 

[rickycourtney]

Well just an observation here... It was a rather short video. Maybe the editor chose not to use the MCI sound or MCI didn't send a rep who was authorized to speak to the media.

Also we saw very few shots of the J4500. I don't recall seeing a good shot of the back or more importantly a shot of the side to see who's certificate the bus was operating under.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Blue G4500 #7170 spotted in Milwaukee: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thetransitcamera/15194626018/sizes/l.

Blue G4500 #7169 spotted as well: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thetransitcamera/15230208127/sizes/l/.

Excellent photos by J. Mc of the Motor Bus Society. Both coaches are very likely based from Chicago.

Greyhound's confirmed Blue G fleet spottings have risen to 43.

Lots of legroom in those coaches! Hoping Greyhound can get something like the Blue G with their next order.

 

[rickycourtney]

Thinking out loud here:
It's been a while since the X3-45 and the D4505 have been updated. The X3-45 has been virtually unchanged since it was introduced in 2005 and the D4505 got its last facelift in 2007.

Considering the H3-45 and the J4500 just got major redesigns... could updates to the line-haul coaches be far behind?

That could explain why Greyhound hasn't been buying new buses en-masse the last few months (really, no motorcoach operator has been buying new buses en-masse).

It's either that, or Greyhound has finally hit a spot where they don't urgently need new buses (after all, over 85 percent of Greyhound’s fleet is new or refurbished at this point) and are instead investing in other areas (like eTicketing).

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I don't know exactly why, but indeed, the line-haul coaches seem to have fallen behind more than just aesthetics. Look at the X3-45. It weighs the same as the H3-45, but it's smaller. In terms of bottom line, the H3-45 just sounds better. The D4505s are fuel guzzlers, while the J4500 has raced ahead in efficiency.

Yeah, Greyhound is probably investing in e-Ticketing, but that shouldn't cost as much as ordering new coaches. The problem is, they still have too many White G4500s rolling around, one just caught on fire, and passengers have recently posted a slew of complaints about the D4505 on Facebook. Greyhound Canada is having financial trouble, and they are apparently still running 1995 DL3s (no rebuild) in reserve service, while trying to retire the White G4500s. Greyhound already has 85% blue, might as well go for 100%.

Greyhound Canada hasn't rebuilt all of their newer 1100-series DL3s yet, I think they might sign a separate contract with MCI to rebuild them, since they are likely lacking in cash to buy new units. Then get rid of all the G4500s, upgrade the White D4505s a bit (to have "blue" amenities), keep the older DL3s for reserve service and Greyhound Canada is good to go.

This is pathetic: https://www.flickr.com/photos/translinkfan/14552288661/sizes/l.

Beat-up White G pulling a shiny new blue trailer? Seriously, that's treating passengers worse than cargo!

Even worse, it's running Vancouver-Calgary, probably the most scenic route (not to mention one of the most popular and profitable) in Greyhound's system, while passengers in that cr@ppy White G have to envy their cargo counterparts in the blue trailer.

Here's another White G in Vancouver this past summer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/translinkfan/14369041330/sizes/l.

Then this DL3 goes on a local to Horseshoe Bay: https://www.flickr.com/photos/translinkfan/14554842382/sizes/l.

Yeah, no wonder Greyhound Canada is in financial trouble. This is the VIP DL3 interior (only shot I could find): https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcclurg/13521762934/sizes/o/.

Greyhound US should also get rid of their beat-to-hell White G4500s. They probably can't even be rebuilt (too damaged), and as long as GLI has them, they won't have the ability to advertise "xyz amenities on every coach". And they'll keep having lavatory cave-ins, fires, and ill/vomiting passengers.

Now the question is, what will Greyhound buy to replace their remaining White G4500s? The Blue G has gotten an excellent reception, though, the best reviews overall.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Just joined. Really enjoy reading about greyhound and their buses. I've learned a lot from you guys.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

If I can I'll let you guys know what I see but we get very few greyhounds here. Its all railways buses.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Sorry, supposed to b trailways

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Hey Joe, where are you?

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Ok. I need some help here. I'm getting confuses as to what rack make and model looks like. I'm familiar with the dl3 and the mc12 but nothing else. Would appreciate any help.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Hazleton, pa. Middle if nowhere for buses. Lol

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I'm sorry, I can't understand, "rack make and model"? That doesn't make sense to me, please edit your posts before posting.

Check here for the latest updates in intercity bus service: http://www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/pdf/updates.htm.

Check here to find the lines that service a community: http://www.kfhgroup.com/aibra/Tables/tables.htm.

WARNING: That site likes to switch URLs, please search AIBRA for the latest link if those don't work.

That site is know for minor mistakes. For example, it says Hazleton is served by Greyhound, even though it's not. Hazelton is only served by Susquehanna and Bieber Trailways, the latter with former routes of Capitol Trailways of Pennsylvania. I used to live in Philadelphia, BTW.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Sorry, I must have made a typo without knowing and auto correct inserted something on me.

Actually, Beiber no longer does much trailways runs. It Susquehanna and Fullington now. Bieber pulled out early in the year.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

I think I meant to say each make ans model. I try to edit by I use my phone and get stuff I didn't expect thanks to auto correct.