News Archives - Page: 6

As mention yesterday, the demo of the 2010 order of hybrid was on display yesterday at 1234 Market St. The design of the bus is extremely new to the New Flyer Market.

Photographer: Buswizard

As shown in the photos, the roof cap is now one panel, and lights at the rear are completely designed. Much different then what's currently available on the New Flyer units.

The interior seating on the pilot is the latest American Seating model. This model is much more similar to the USSC model seating on the 2004-2009 units of SEPTA's New Flyers. It has been reported that this seating model will not be on the production units. The production units will receive the USSC model seating. 

According to Ctrabs, the first of the units will arrive at Victory first to operate on the route 101 and 102 as bus shuttles. Delivery is set to begin next month.

What a way to wrap up an already interesting week. You can find info in this topic: http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7191014/1/

SEPTA's new Silverliner V pilot cars (701, 801 and 802) finally arrived at Philadelphia's Packer Terminal on Sunday, February 28th. They are headed for Roberts Yard, where they will go under significant testing.  It's also important to note that while the specifications were changed so that the production cards will have full width cabs, these pilot cars have half cabs for now.

These pilot cars came with 9 Silverliner V shells, which will be used at the Philadelphia-based Hyundai-Rotem plant for more railcars.

SEPTA posted a nice little write up about the Silverliner Vs here.  You can also find a few photos at railroad.net, including a shotof 801 next to Silverliner II #256 in the shop.

Finally...the first new Silverliners that SEPTA has ordered in my 23 years of life on this earth have arrived!

Tritransit Recorder has added many photos of the buses operated by Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority to the Photo Gallary on the site.

http://www.philadelphiatransitvehicles.info/multimedia/index-26.html

Folks, get your cameras ready. As reported on SEPTA Watch, the ship carrying the three pilot cars is set to arrive in Philadelphia tomorrow. An observation which I've received earlier today. The WLADYSLAW ORKAN, the ship carrying these three cars, is moving up the Delaware river as we speak. As it stands now, everything is on time for a change. Once the ship arrives at the Navel yard, these three cars will be transported to Wayne Electric in Nicetown. At Wayne Electric, these cars will undergo familiarization training by managers and the engineers.

Finally!!
[Photo taken by Transit Freak] 

For over the past 150 years of recorded history in Philadelphia, the winter of 2009-2010 has been the most snowist year in recorded history. As it stands on Feburary the 8th 2010, over 77 inches of snow is the total recorded for Philadelphia.

Here some extremely nice snow shots!

 {Photo 1: Taken by Transit Freak; Photo 2: Taken by Mike Buswizard]

For the first time ever on Philadelphia, we are holding a contest for Photo of the month.  Posted on the boards are several selected photos which we felt that stood out though out the area. most.
To look at the photos and to vote:

http://philadelphiatransitforums.cjb.net/topic/7189351/1/#new

Early this morning, 8142 running on the 21 (block 9103) crashed into a building at 15th and Chestnut Streets.  Apparently, the bus was on detour.  While it was turning from 15th Street to Chestnut Street, it couldn't make the turn, hit a car, and ran into the corner of the Del Frisco's restaurant.

Six passengers that were on the bus had minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals.  8142 took a good hit, but it's nothing that Berridge Shops on Wyoming Ave can't fix!

News coverage here: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/from_the_source/Student_high-rise_evacuated_in_Center_City.html

On Saturday night, Brandon S. spotted TMC RTS #51 in service on the Pottstown Area Rapid Transit night service to Upland Square.  According to others, TMCs #53 and #55 are still in service as well, meaning that the Gillig BRTs have NOT retired the TMCs as originally thought.  However, the 18 year old buses won't be around much longer, as Pottstown is purchasing more buses with federal stimulus funds this year.

According to Joe Parlin, the rumor about five Silverliner Vs being lost at sea is false. More likely it was sparked out by a railfan who did not wanted to see the Silverliner IIs (The units which they were replacing to leave SEPTA). As it stands now, everything is on schudule. Hopefully there will be no more delays in this order.  Last week, Rotem in South Korea has shipped three completed (701, 801-802) Silverliners Vs. The ship carring these Silverliners is expected to arrive in early March.

There are some rumors out there that the ship carrying the first production cars of the Silverliners V from Rotem in Korea has capsized with these shells on board. We do not have any more actual information at this time, nor can we verify if any of these rumors are true or not.  More infomation to follow..

According to Nicholas Mutignani, who is SouthernSeptaRida215 on the forums, hybrids has been swapped between Midvale, Callowhill, and Southern. The reason why this move has occurred is to test the performance on the route 23.  The route 23 is split between Southern and Midvale. Currently, the 2008 hybrids, which Callowhill has, are the only massive fleet of buses that are equipped with these devices. So in order to test the performance on the route 23, SEPTA has temporary swap buses between Callowhill, Midvale, and Southern.

The buses conformed at Midvale are as follows:
8130, 8131, 8133, 8138, 8143 & 8145 and possibly others

The buses conformed at Southern are as follows:
8146-8148, 8150-8160  and possibly others

[Photo-Right] 8139 on the route C to City Hall (Southbound).
Photographer: Michael E. Pearson

Southern and Callowhill are now involved in yet another temporary bus swap. Southern has sent several 8000 series New Flyer buses over to Callowhill in exchange for Callowhill's hybrids. The hybrids which Callowhill sent over has passenger counters installed on them which enabled SEPTA to collect more performance statistics on Southern lines. Mainly the route 17, as mentioned on the forums within the past several years, the Route 17 has had an unexpected increase in ridership!

Taken within the Southern depot Bay by SEPTAfan

According to Joe Perlin (SilverlinerII on the boards), and several other reliable members in the community. The next order of buses #8340-8439 will be the DE40LFR model of the New Flyer. The opition for the additional 20 buses has been exercised as well. Making the total order to buses to be 120 units (8340-8459).

Next week on December 14, 2009, route 102 trolleys will return, running all the way to Sharon Hill.  However, with this return of service, SEPTA is discontinuing the Shisler Ave street stop on Woodlawn Ave.

Also, on December 14th, rt 101 will begin its bustitution.  The trolleys would run from 69th Street to Woodland Ave, and buses will take over the rest of the route.

Due to a loss of external funding, weekend service on the 134 will be discontinued on December 5th, 2009.  Weekday service won't change.  A new timetable reflecting this change will be available in Spring of 2010.