Greyhound seats and fleet questions

[Swadian Hardcore]

Second-hand DL3 #6653 caught on fire today in Virginia while running a Richmond-New York City schedule. Looks like the fire started out in the rear wheel wells: http://www.nbc12.com/story/29416003/greyhound-bus-fire-closes-all-lanes-on-i-95n-in-caroline-county.

Also, Greyhound just took delivery of some more 2015 D4505s. They are #86578-86586. The serial numbers are all messed up. They are powered with Cummins ISX12s.

 

[railiner]

I am considering starting a bus line here in Montana that would have one way runs of 50-350 miles. What bus and seats would you suggest for these over the road routes?

A lot of this is highly subjective... so I would suggest riding a lot of buses to see what you like yourself. Are you trying to target everyone or a more "high end" customer?
My general suggestion would be to buy the Prevost X3-45 or H3-45 and equip it with either Amaya seats (either A-2TEN, Torino Stardard or better) and spring for the center armrests and leather seat covers since they're easier to keep clean (even if it's a faux leather like Greyhound). I would also go the same route as Greyhound and try to do 50 seats (as opposed to the normal 55) so that you give customers more legroom and you eliminate the middle seat at the back, but I understand that might not be financially viable. As far as the buses go... I would make sure you have power outlets (I argue that power is more important than WiFi) and I would spring for the enclosed parcel racks (just because it looks cleaner and less cluttered).

I'd be curious to hear more about your bus line... and what you end up going with.

Yes...I would be curious, as well....

Perhaps AU should have a new category for "I want to start a bus line".....

 

[railiner]

What the heck is Greyhound #207? It's currently westbound on 1337 Denver-Portland. Nothing on the roster.

Could it be a data entry error? Perhaps 86207, or some other number entered in error? I don't know if the system would automatically reject a wrong number, or not....

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

If #207 is an error, I'm guessing it's #7207, which would be a G4500. I guess it could also be #6207. I don't think it would be #86207, because I doubt Greyhound would miss two digits.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

A man jumped out of a Greyhound bus window and died: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/sfl-jumps-from-greyhound-bus-20150701-story.html.

It appears that he may have opened the window escape bar while the bus was traveling at highway speed.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

He either had mental problems or was a total *****.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Every bus company has it's nutty passengers. I saw a picture of a Van Hool C2045 (numbered 3260) painted in Greyhound's blue paint scheme. Did Greyhound refurbished those Ex-Valley Transit buses? If so, was a significant overhaul or was it a minor overhaul?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I think he was intentionally committing suicide. I wonder how many passengers have pulled a prank and opened the window while the bus was running down the highway.

I don't know about those Van Hools except that they're based out of Valley Transit's garage at Harlingen and run South Texas routes. They have FAINSA (or Amaya) seats. Maybe ABC Companies decides to rebuild them for Greyhound at a reduced price since Greyhound ran out of cash while rebuilding the 102DL3s and G4500s. One time I saw a video on Facebook taken inside a Blue C2045; the passengers were complaining about the cockroaches crawling all over the seats and floor.

Greyhound is currently using white ex-Americanos C2045s on the Memphis-Oklahoma City and ex-Americanos 102D3s on the Miami-Key West. Would love to ride a 102D3, those things were cool. The new D4505s have been running long-distance I-95 routes, presumably out of either Richmond or Miami. #86577 has been running out of Memphis, even though MEM has no maintenance center.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Man I miss this sound (well mostly for Greyhound). This recording sure brings back memories of when the fleet was made up of 1355 of these buses, plus MC-9s, 102A3s, and the then new 102D3s and 102DL3s.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

#3047 was actually powered by a Detroit Diesel Series 50. Look at the engine shot at 11:00, that is a Detroit 50. Also, it is a 1998, not a 1997, but I guess 1998 could be the model year while 1997 could be the build year. All the 1997s and 1998s had the Series 50. The rest of the MC-12s had 6V92TAs.

Second-hand 102EL3 #6665 is running the Amarillo-San Antonio right now. It's the only EL3 in GLI's fleet.

Also, Greyhound just took delivery of 6 Van Hools. They are #0902-0907, and will be used on BoltBus service.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

#3047 was actually powered by a Detroit Diesel Series 50. Look at the engine shot at 11:00, that is a Detroit 50. Also, it is a 1998, not a 1997, but I guess 1998 could be the model year while 1997 could be the build year. All the 1997s and 1998s had the Series 50. The rest of the MC-12s had 6V92TAs.

Second-hand 102EL3 #6665 is running the Amarillo-San Antonio right now. It's the only EL3 in GLI's fleet.

Also, Greyhound just took delivery of 6 Van Hools. They are #0902-0907, and will be used on BoltBus service.

I know, Series 50s were unique to Greyhound on only the MC-12s. Thankfully I got to hear those sounds when they were new. I wonder if it's true that the Allison B500 would not fit in the MC-12s?

 

[rickycourtney]

Also, Greyhound just took delivery of 6 Van Hools. They are #0902-0907, and will be used on BoltBus service.

That's interesting. Do you know anything more than that? Model? Features? Where they'll be based?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

The Van Hools are CX45s and were just registered this week. Their VINs are:
#0902 YE2XC22B8F3048553
#0903 YE2XC21B1F3048668
#0904 YE2XC21B3F3048669
#0905 YE2XC21B1F3048671
#0906 YE2XC21B1F3048685
#0907 YE2XC22B5F3048705

That's all I know. As you see, the serial numbers are non-linear, similar to the D4505s that were just delivered last week. I've also posted the info on GTE.

AFAIK, the MC-12s with Series 50s had B500 transmissions with the fifth sixth gear locked out.

I just saw this shot from Oklahoma City: https://www.flickr.com/photos/46147727@N03/19174729238/sizes/h/. I'm very interested in the plain-white DL3 and G4500. I've ridden #7076 before. I don't know if it's plain white for retirement, or if they want to refurbish it.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

Swadian, you mention that the mc-12 had 5th gear locked out. The ones that I road that I know from the sound had the series 50 Detroit sounded like they shifted as a 5 speed, not a four speed. That seems odd that they would lock out high gear when that's the gear you get best fuel mileage in. Any idea why they did that?

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Sorry, I made a mistake. The B500 is a 6-speed automatic, and the 6th gear was locked out, so it would be shifting as a 5-speed. I was unable to find out why the 6th gear was locked out, but I do know those particular buses could not exceed 70 mph.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

That just makes no sense locking high gear out. Unless it was actually low they locked but greyhound tends to do strange things sometimes.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

The Van Hools are CX45s and were just registered this week. Their VINs are:

#0902 YE2XC22B8F3048553

#0903 YE2XC21B1F3048668

#0904 YE2XC21B3F3048669

#0905 YE2XC21B1F3048671

#0906 YE2XC21B1F3048685

#0907 YE2XC22B5F3048705

That's all I know. As you see, the serial numbers are non-linear, similar to the D4505s that were just delivered last week. I've also posted the info on GTE.

Any word on what engine/transmission those CX45s have?

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Sorry, I made a mistake. The B500 is a 6-speed automatic, and the 6th gear was locked out, so it would be shifting as a 5-speed. I was unable to find out why the 6th gear was locked out, but I do know those particular buses could not exceed 70 mph.

That's strange that they could not exceed 70mph with the Series 50 engine/B500. A lot of transit buses had those engines/transmissions and were able to get up to 70+ with no issues.

 

[mightyjoe1201]

CJ. Greyhound probably had the engine governed at 70. The series 50 and newer model Detroit's are computerised so all they had to do was program the top speed along with horsepower and torque. Plus they probably ordered it that way. If it's not ordered or the shops don't set it, the speed etc are left wide open

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I'm looking at old GTE messages and all I can find out is that the MC-12s with Series 50s had the B500 transmission, with the 6th gear locked out, and were capped at 70 mph, possibly by a governor, or possibly by the high gear being locked out. There was a post stating that, if the driver tried to force more out of the engine, it would spew black smoke.

Reportedly, tire wear has been a problem with the IFS-equipped buses, like the X3-45. I'm hoping the commuter agencies won't override the requirements of the intercity lines for more durable buses.

 

[Caesar La Rock]

That does make sense, thanks guys. Also, I found another picture of a blue Van Hool.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mbernero/13659366223/in/faves-75396729@N05/

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Initial reports are that the new CX45s will be used in the Northeast.

Also, #6277 has finally departed Reno tonight as Schedule 1314 to Denver. It had come from SLC two or three days ago and sat here for awhile. Presumably it was awaiting maintenance in Reno.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

More information about the guy that jumped out of a Greyhound bus: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/crime/passengers-watched-as-man-climbed-out-of-bus_51074882.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Denver RTD just unveiled their new D4500CT for Flatiron Flyer the Denver-Boulder BRT service: http://www3.rtd-denver.com/elbert/news/index.cfm?id=7145.

I was shocked to find that they claim the D4500CT has "750 cubic feet of storage space". No frigging way! More transit agency BS I see, or perhaps it was MCI misinformation.

And the seats are still American Seating 2095. No seat belts, and no containment.

More news on MCI's website: http://www.mcicoach.com/media-center/2015-07-01-rtd-denver.htm.

This clique that's formed between MCI and the transit agencies needs to get cracked for the good of the bus industry and the general public. I'd actually prefer the D4500CT over the X3-45 if only it had more consistent quality, Amaya or National seating, and offer something other than a Cummins engine.

 

[rickycourtney]

Denver RTD just unveiled their new D4500CT for Flatiron Flyer the Denver-Boulder BRT service: http://www3.rtd-denver.com/elbert/news/index.cfm?id=7145.

I was shocked to find that they claim the D4500CT has "750 cubic feet of storage space". No frigging way! More transit agency BS I see, or perhaps it was MCI misinformation.

And the seats are still American Seating 2095. No seat belts, and no containment.

More news on MCI's website: http://www.mcicoach.com/media-center/2015-07-01-rtd-denver.htm.

This clique that's formed between MCI and the transit agencies needs to get cracked for the good of the bus industry and the general public. I'd actually prefer the D4500CT over the X3-45 if only it had more consistent quality, Amaya or National seating, and offer something other than a Cummins engine.

Much of that is simply that the transit agencies are spec'ing that stuff. Agencies could opt for Amaya or National, but most purchases whatever seats are the cheapest, come standard, or they have a particular model they've standardized on. Also, most agencies would prefer Cummins engines, since they're the most popular in the transit arena. In fact I'm not sure that Gillig, New Flyer and Nova Bus offer anything other than Cummins engines.

I'm actually more puzzled by how RTD can call a service that uses a D4500CT "Bus Rapid Transit." Boarding a coach style bus is anything but rapid. This is a freeway express service.