Category: Uncategorized

5617 (Midvale) is the first 2003 New Flyer D40LF to enter the overhaul process.  5617 went into VOH on the 18th of December and will be in for 60 days.  The overhaul of the 5500 series New Flyers and the light overhaul of some of the American Ikarus fleet is progessing as well.  Over half of the 5500 series New Flyers have been overhauled as of today.

With special thanks to our members, there have been a total of 4 videos/sounds that has been uploaded to the site within the past week. The most recent video, is the taping from 30th street station to 15th street station. Like the others, it’s an extremely fascinating video.

Back in August, Southern 5368 went in for overhaul.  This bus became the prototype for the second overhaul of the 1996-97 American Ikarus 416 overhauls.  Buses in this program are receiving a Light OverHaul (LOH).  Most likely this means a freshening up since these buses will start to be phased out beginning in 2009.  Thus far one 5200 series Ikarus (5300) and several 5300s from Red Arrow (5313, 5314), Frontier (5327, 5328, 5335), Frankford (5344), and Southern (5368, 5382, 5395) have been in or are going through this program.  Expect mostly 5300s and some 5200s to be involved in this overhaul.  Since these overhauls are going on, the overhaul of 5500s out of Red Arrow has slowed down.  Currently only 5594 is known to be in overhaul.

Finally, route 20 will be extended to Bensalem to serve the Philadelphia Race Park Casino.  This extension will happen through a special route 20 shuttle, running between Franklin Mills Mall to the Race Park from tomorrow, December 17, to February 10, 2007.  Then, this shuttle will be discontinued, and the new route 50 will start service on February 11, 2007, running through service from Frankford TC to the Race Park via Franklin Mills Mall.

Brandon, a PTV manager, has made a recording of  NJT’s #4201, the  Millennium RTS bus. This bus is powered by the Caterpillar C9 280HP engine with the ZF Ecomat 6 speed transmission.

Check it out..
http://philadelphiatransitvehicles.cjb.net/mutimedia/displayimage.php?album=73&pos=0
Also, Jayayess1190, a forum member has a few videos posted in the gallery as well.

Yesterday, the SEPTA board approved the use of capital budget funds to fill in the 36 million dollar defeceit in the operating budget.  Among the capital programs affected include the renovation of several Broad Street line stations like Girard.  Also receiving cuts in funds is the bus replacement program.  No new buses until 2009.  That means the American Ikarus buses which were scheduled to be replaced in 2008 will have to hang on for another year or so.  Several Regional Rail station improvements are also affected by the shifting of funds from the capital to the operating budget.  Also delayed will be the improvement of the fare collection system which was “state of the art” when SEPTA introduced it in the mid 1990s and now obsolete to other large TAs and even some smaller ones within PA.  This includes replacing tokens with fare debit cards similar to New York City MTA’s Metrocard program.  This means no service cuts or fare hikes for the time being.  Fare hikes and service cuts may be presented beginning in the summer.  If SEPTA were to just raise fares now, by the time it was implemeneted, it would take way too long since they need to put together a proposal, announce public hearings at least 1 month in advance, hold hearings, gather information from the hearings, have the board approve it, then make plans for implementation.  The flexing of highway funds which Rendell diverted in 2004 run out at the end of the year. 

NJT's new Comet VI Bombardier "Multilevel" cars are now in revenue service.  Train #3844 on the Northeast Corridor route debuted this equipment.  The train departed (regular service) at high noon today from Trenton, NJ.  The train operated to New York Penn in all local service except for skipping North Elizabeth.  The train deadheaded back to Trenton from NYP to carry the brass that was on the train.  A forum member rode the train and gave a thumbs up from his ride on the upper level.  The cars were pulled by ALP-46 4627 and cars 7504, 7506, restroom trailer 7202, 7505, 7503, and cab car  (with restroom) 7002.  New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine (D) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D) were supposed to ride the train however they were a no show possibly due to a state worker and teacher rally at the capitol. 

There have been a few sightings of 4201 (the suburban demo) as well as 4101 in Southern New Jersey, running out of Washington Township Depot.  It is said that the first of the production models will be assigned to Washington Twp and Newton Avenue, as they have the most Flxible Metro Bs in regular service.  However, time will tell as we wait and see.

Conshohocken has a lot of ideas to build up their downtown area.  This also includes their train station.  Therefore, they are holding a community meeting on December 14th to get community feedback as to what they should do to improve the station, which is "little more than a platform, a trailer that sells tickets, and a bus shelter" (Plymouth Journal).  Of course, no funding is in place yet, but they plan to have a complete proposal to present to SEPTA, as well as something to use to get a grant for this station as well.

5859 has a partial streetside wrap which I have just seen yesterday on 105 / 4300 block.  It is for the Applebee's at 77th and City and says "Follow this bus to Applebee's."  This bus will likely be a regular on the 105 for the duration of the advertising contract.  5593 has a partial streetside wrap for Riddle Memorial Hosptial similar to the one 5408 had back in the fall of 2004.  I don't know if this bus is supposed to be assigned to any particular route as I have seen all over the place thus far.  When 5408 had the ad, it was only supposed to be used on the 110.