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Pittsburgh Transit Blog
Topic Started: Aug 27 2009, 06:50 PM (21,972 Views)
Jayayess1190
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Aug 12 2010, 12:53 PM
ARGH! I didn't realize that the Metroliners and 3000 series Neoplans (DD50s, NOT the 3100s of course) only ran during RUSH HOURS! I also missed out on a trip on the Allentown Line...overslept. Oh well, perhaps next time.

I love love love the 5600s...much better than the 5500s. I think Voith does well for PAT, with all of the hills and such. Also, why no artics on the 61s? Is that where they will be putting the New Flyers? My word...the 61A was ridiculously crowded!

Also, the 61B (and I guess the 61A as well) have endpoints that are night and day! From the desolate don't you dare find yourself there after dark Braddock Borough to the hustle and bustle of Spring Hill, Oakland, and, of course, downtown Pittsburgh!

Whats with the fareboxes? I see that many buses out here are not equipped with the new ones.
The 61's do get Neoplan's sometimes in both the 3000 and 3100 series occasionally, but recently PAT has not been putting any 3000 artics on them (when I was there weeks ago 3100 on the 61's happened a couple times a day). And the New Flyer's will be on the 61 and 71 routes, which are slated to become the R1-R8 Rapid Routes sometime in 2011. PAT is slow with the new fareboxes, as buses at most garages have yet to get them.

A great place to see 3000 series Neo's and Metroliner's is the East Busway as the commuter routes that run them go down the E. Busway up to Wilkinsburg,
Edited by Jayayess1190, Aug 12 2010, 02:30 PM.
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Jayayess1190
Aug 12 2010, 02:23 PM
Tritransit Area
Aug 12 2010, 12:53 PM
ARGH! I didn't realize that the Metroliners and 3000 series Neoplans (DD50s, NOT the 3100s of course) only ran during RUSH HOURS! I also missed out on a trip on the Allentown Line...overslept. Oh well, perhaps next time.

I love love love the 5600s...much better than the 5500s. I think Voith does well for PAT, with all of the hills and such. Also, why no artics on the 61s? Is that where they will be putting the New Flyers? My word...the 61A was ridiculously crowded!

Also, the 61B (and I guess the 61A as well) have endpoints that are night and day! From the desolate don't you dare find yourself there after dark Braddock Borough to the hustle and bustle of Spring Hill, Oakland, and, of course, downtown Pittsburgh!

Whats with the fareboxes? I see that many buses out here are not equipped with the new ones.
The 61's do get Neoplan's sometimes in both the 3000 and 3100 series occasionally, but recently PAT has not been putting any 3000 artics on them (when I was there weeks ago 3100 on the 61's happened a couple times a day). And the New Flyer's will be on the 61 and 71 routes, which are slated to become the R1-R8 Rapid Routes sometime in 2011. PAT is slow with the new fareboxes, as buses at most garages have yet to get them.

A great place to see 3000 series Neo's and Metroliner's is the East Busway as the commuter routes that run them go down the E. Busway up to Wilkinsburg,
Golly, I wonder why they took them off? I had the pleasure of riding a Nova Classic on the 61A (b?) and it was PACKED. It doesn't help matters that PAT is so resistant to opening those rear doors :(.

I really like the Novas, though. Too bad they are on their way out!

I'm not sure I like the Rapid Route idea. Will there be "local" variations?
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Jayayess1190
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Aug 12 2010, 12:53 PM
I'm not sure I like the Rapid Route idea. Will there be "local" variations?
Check out this pdf for all the details. Basically the 28X, 61A/B/C/D, 71A/C/D, and 500 all become an R1-R8 which replaces almost all the routes between Oakland and downtown (except for also the 67 Trafford, 69 Monroeville, and 67J Olympia Park N Ride, and G2 West Busway all of which run less frequently). So to get downtown another way is not really an option.
Edited by Jayayess1190, Aug 13 2010, 11:40 AM.
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Nice they are removing bus service from Forbes Ave, at least in the section where my hotel was. Sigh... Well, it would be good to have faster service to Oakland and Squirrel Hill. I'm hoping those grey dots aren't the only stops?

If they are going to go with this Rapid bus, they MUST have off board fare collection. Trying to make your way up to the front of a very crowded bus (in my case, a lovely Classic) to pay is ridiculous!
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Jayayess1190
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New Castle got new buses! Some type of Cummins and non Voith.

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Edited by Jayayess1190, Aug 27 2010, 07:49 PM.
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Nabi60SFW9620
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Aug 12 2010, 12:53 PM
ARGH! I didn't realize that the Metroliners and 3000 series Neoplans (DD50s, NOT the 3100s of course) only ran during RUSH HOURS! I also missed out on a trip on the Allentown Line...overslept. Oh well, perhaps next time.
That actually makes sense since not as many buses are needed during off peak hours as needed during rush hour. Many TAs keep older buses off the streets during off peak hours. Especially weekends. Weekdays some older buses only run during rush hour as other older buses run all day. And the oldest usually are kept out of service on weekends as they cost more to maintain and repair then newer buses.
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Nabi60SFW9620
Aug 28 2010, 07:38 AM
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Aug 12 2010, 12:53 PM
ARGH! I didn't realize that the Metroliners and 3000 series Neoplans (DD50s, NOT the 3100s of course) only ran during RUSH HOURS! I also missed out on a trip on the Allentown Line...overslept. Oh well, perhaps next time.
That actually makes sense since not as many buses are needed during off peak hours as needed during rush hour. Many TAs keep older buses off the streets during off peak hours. Especially weekends. Weekdays some older buses only run during rush hour as other older buses run all day. And the oldest usually are kept out of service on weekends as they cost more to maintain and repair then newer buses.
They aren't the oldest buses in the fleet....I rode the older buses (Classics) with ease well into the night. :)

These are, however, niche suburban styled buses...I wouldn't be surprised if they are just replaced with standard buses because the routes they run on use typical transit buses as well.
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Nabi60SFW9620
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Usually the oldest sets do not operate on weekends. Not necessarily the oldest own. Some TAs the oldest 2 sets own and some TAs the oldest 3 sets owned. Like SEPTA. My last visit to Philly was on a Saturday and not a single NABI was operating that day. And that feels the same with many Saturdays Ive been to Philly. I did not see a single NABI operating. And my last 2 weekday trips I saw more NABIs on the streets then on Saturdays. Then also Harrisburg CAT mainly runs Gillig Advantages on Saturdays to my knowledge. And 1 Eldorado. But other then that I havent seen the RTSs operate weekends or the Gillig Phantoms. And since the 2600s rarely an Eldorado. I dont 100% think the ex SEPTA NABIs run on Saturdays in Harrisburg. As far as PAT. I wouldnt even be surprised if the Novabus classics stopped operating on weekends.
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Jayayess1190
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Two Nova's broke down today. Thinking about it I've seen plenty of Nova's broke down as well as heard restart with their air starts since I've been going to Pitt:

First one in the 5th Ave bus lane in Oakland (2739):
Posted Image

The second downtown:
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Plus:
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Edited by Jayayess1190, Aug 30 2010, 06:25 PM.
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Interesting as they seem to have removed the rear route sign on a lot of the Classics now.

I remember when I was in Pittsburgh at least one 3100 broke down at one of the stations. Another one was parked there too...guess it broke down as well.

My empty bus quickly turned into a packed one! Summer's doing its number on buses everywhere!
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