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Finally some new buses for GO.

surprised that they went with MCI since theyve gone all DD buses. are they going back to single level buses?
 
surprised that they went with MCI since theyve gone all DD buses. are they going back to single level buses?
Yes, from what I’ve been hearing: since the last batch of DDS was delivered, Metrolinx is no longer interested in more double deck buses.
 
Yes, from what I’ve been hearing: since the last batch of DDS was delivered, Metrolinx is no longer interested in more double deck buses.
The ideal fleet would presumably include a mix of double-deckers and single-deckers. It would silly to run huge un-aerodynamic double-deckers on lower-ridership routes like the 17 Hamilton-Guelph or 88 Oshawa-Peterborough but it would also be silly to run single-decker buses on routes that have more than a busload of ridership at specific times (e.g. busy routes connecting to hourly trains like the 30 Bramalea-Kitchener).

Most of their last few orders have been double-deckers so assuming they want to continue having both types in the fleet, it makes sense that this order is for single-deckers.
 
The ideal fleet would presumably include a mix of double-deckers and single-deckers. It would silly to run huge un-aerodynamic double-deckers on lower-ridership routes like the 17 Hamilton-Guelph or 88 Oshawa-Peterborough but it would also be silly to run single-decker buses on routes that have more than a busload of ridership at specific times (e.g. busy routes connecting to hourly trains like the 30 Bramalea-Kitchener).

Most of their last few orders have been double-deckers so assuming they want to continue having both types in the fleet, it makes sense that this order is for single-deckers.
Do you think it would make sense to buy something smaller than a 55-seat single-decker for low ridership bus routes? I know that the private Southern Ontario Transit recently failed in Haldimand County, and that GO is also working on a pilot project for the Six Nations reserve outside Brantford. I was thinking that maybe some areas might be better served by a 20- or 30-seat bus, which could perhaps run more frequently. It might also be good for night service on some routes I thought. But I don't know if the potential cost savings from a 25-seat bus would be worth the reduced capacity.
 
Speaking of bus procurement:


Screenshot_2025-01-22_002339.jpg
 
Umm didnt the last E-bus procurement with the Alexander Dennis E-buses just fail spectacularly? Why are they quadrupling down on this experiment?
 
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Umm didnt the last E-bus procurement with the Alexander Dennis E-buses just fail spectacularly? Why are they quadrupling down on this experiment?
An 8-vehicle pilot is hardly quadrupling down (other than rather literally if the previous trial was 2 vehicles). TTC's first major trial was 60 vehicles. And yes, parts of it failed spectacularly.

A trial failing can also be seen as a success. Besides, we are hardly cutting edge on this stuff anymore. Sooner or later they'd have to have adapted anyhow.
 
Umm didnt the last E-bus procurement with the Alexander Dennis E-buses just fail spectacularly? Why are they quadrupling down on this experiment?
On our trip to Europe in 2022, the amount of DD buses was clos to 75% less than what I saw in 2012 with 60' buses replacing most of them that were E-Buses along with highway coaches. Saw a few DD buses been used for intercity service, but most were coaches for the other ones.

It was saying to me that they hadn't found a way to E-bus the DD ones.

Have never seen ML DD E-Bus in service considering how long there were around and that was saying to me the ML maybe moving back to Coaches. Saw a few 45-foot D45 CRT for 2 different intercity systems last year in the the US,

Given the NA market is small for DD buses, not surprised to see ML move to Coaches again. If and when a DD E-Bus makes it to market, ML may look at them again for routes that needs them and stay with Coaches for the other routes. Have seen more coaches on routes that normally had DD buses these days.
 
Umm didnt the last E-bus procurement with the Alexander Dennis E-buses just fail spectacularly? Why are they quadrupling down on this experiment?
Interestingly, Foothill Transit’s two Enviro500EV buses seem to be in service much more than GO’s. They even ordered 12 more for delivery in 2026. These new ones will be different mechanically, however.
 
Finally some new buses for GO.

These are good looking busses. Can’t wait to see them in GO livery.

IMG_6045.jpeg
 
An 8-vehicle pilot is hardly quadrupling down (other than rather literally if the previous trial was 2 vehicles). TTC's first major trial was 60 vehicles. And yes, parts of it failed spectacularly.

A trial failing can also be seen as a success. Besides, we are hardly cutting edge on this stuff anymore. Sooner or later they'd have to have adapted anyhow.
The GO Enviro E-buses barely saw any regular service. So unless you call testing the buses in non-revenue service a success, the initial GO EV coach test procurement was a failure and those buses are already gone for good.

The TTC ordered buses from 3 different manufacturers. Cant really compare the two programs as they are apples to oranges in a sense.
 
The GO Enviro buses barely saw any regular service. So unless you call testing the buses in non-revenue service a success, the initial GO EV coach procurement was a failure and those buses are already gone for good.
A complete failure can be a success. Lessons would have been learned, and it was only 2 buses.
 

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