Fleet Description


Neoplan AN-460

Neoplan Artic

#7247 Taken @ Moreland Ave by Brandon Shaw (Tritransit Area)

There are 155 60 foot Neoplans in service, built in 1998-2000.  These units are based out of Allegheny (which has the bulk of them), Midvale, and Comly (for route 14). With 60 seats and the capacity of holding 60 standees. These buses are mainly used within the Northern sections of Philadelphia; however, four  (4) of those routes (namely routes 14, 22, 27, 55) venture out into the suburban areas. These buses are powered by an Detroit Diesel engine and a Allison World transmission.

 


El Dorado Transmark RE-29

The El Dorado’s were built in 2001 to replace the  35 foot Neoplan AN-435s and some of the 40 foot Neoplan AN-440As that were in operation. These buses mainly dominated the streets in the suburbs; however, they also run on several routes in the city as well. These buses are powered by the Cummins ISB Engine with the Allison transmission. Most of the fleet operate out of the Frontier (A Suburban depot) and also on several low ridership routes such as the 35, and 77. Germantown depot also operates these buses on route 310. Also several of these buses have the special LUCY scheme, which is based on the regular SEPTA scheme.  However, instead of red and blue as the base colors, green and yellow are used.

 


American Ikarus 416.08TA

#5018 @ Penns Landing; Photographer: Dante Angerville ( Bikeyorph)

The American Ikarus (NABI) currently run out of 7 of the 9 depots.  These NABIs were the first buses to feature the Automatic Stop announcement systems. Also were the first 102 inch wide buses bought since the 1980s.  The NABIs were the first buses delivered in today’s SEPTA scheme.  The only difference is that they featured a black trim around the windows. As well as the SEPTA logo over the last windows on the left and right side of the bus (as a wrap).  In 2001, these buses underwent a retrofit to add a computer-aided dispatch system (CARD) system which controls the designation signs and announcements.


New Flyer D40LF

 5876 in Lansdowne,  Taken by Joe Butler (SEPTA3371CSX1)


 

The New Flyers over the past several years has became the main standard bus in operation. Over 600 new flyer coaches are in operation. Currently, these low floors currently operate out of 8/9 depots.  The New Flyers are the first low floor buses SEPTA has in operation.  Also, the New Flyers are the first buses to be ordered with Twin Vision LED signs. Also were  the first buses since the experimental group of Neoplan DK (1986) buses to have rear route identification signs.

There are two main orders of D40LF.  The first order was made in the year 2000 for the order of 300 units. The second order was set in 2004. The second order of New Flyers received the ZF transmission instead of the Allison transmission.  These units, 5713-5830 and 5851-5950, started delivery in Spring 2004.  In October 2004, Detroit diesel pulled the Series 50 off of the production line, and SEPTA chosen the Cummins ISL for their next 120 buses (8000-8119), which were built in 2005. SEPTA keeps these buses at Southern Depot due to their usage of ULSD #1 fuel.

 


Champion Defender

champion

2095 taken by Brandon Shaw (Tritransit Area)

Built and delivered in 2004, these buses are the smallest buses in the fleet.  The Champions are based out of Frontier and Germantown divisions, being used on routes with lower ridership.  Also, the Champions are used by Krapf’s Transit for routes contracted out to them by SEPTA.