Due to repeated problems with MSN groups (these seem resolved for now but are sure to crop up again later), several changes will be occurring to this site. Right now the New Flyer overhaul page as been moved from the group to the site. You can access it on the table (frame) at the left by clicking the link under the current assignments link. Other pages from the MSN groups site will also soon move over to this site. The site will under go a slight redesign but nothing more will be revealed here for the time being.
SEPTA Neoplans Rejected
New Orleans Regional Transit Authority has rejected 20 Neoplans that were once operating out of SEPTA. After Hurricane Katrina (NORTA had a major lose of buses mainly due to the torrential flooding in that vicinity). The Neoplans that were slated to go were 3271, 3272, 3313, 3315, 3324, 3326, 3333, 3334, 3336, 3339, 3341, 3356, 3367, 3377, 3406, 3408, 3409, 3413, 3449, and 3470. For those of you who didn’t know, these coaches were pretty strong and reliable units; it’s ashamed for NORTA to reject such fine units.
Rejected buses being Returned
According to Rick Smith, some of the rejected buses including 3315 have been returned to SEPTA. Before being sent down to the Big Easy they were stripped of all SEPTA decals as 3315 was spotted with a solid white paint scheme. 3470, one of the donated buses, is now back on the SEPTA roster for some odd reason at Midvale. It is believed that this bus will not return to service.
Happy new year
Just wanted to wish everybody a happy and safe New Year.
SEPTA completes Route 52 signal project
As of December 26th 2005, SEPTA has completed the project what entitles the installation of traffic light sensors which has been placed above most of there buses. These sensors will keep the light green at 15 intersections. This also includes the major intersection at 52nd and Lancaster Ave. SEPTA hope that these systems will minimize the number of delays and to improve the flow of traffic along 52nd street. You can learn more about these features from here http://www.septa.org/travel_advisory/route52.pdf.
Bus Movement Update
Apparently what was heard in the beginning is coming true. Southern now has the possession of NABIs from Comly (5351-5358, 5360) and Red Arrow (5367, 5371-5372). These buses were apparently swapped from the depots when Southern sent 5471-5472, 5474-5476, 5478-5480 to Comly and 5653-5655 to Red Arrow. It looks as though 50 NABIs will get ULSD conversions after all. It looks as though from the standpoint now Southern will have in the end 5351-5400 (50), 5481-5500 (20), 5596-5600 (5), 5601H-5612H (12), 5831H-5850H (20), and 8000-8119 (120). This is only a preliminary observation and things WILL change as the delivery and putting in service of new buses continues. Stay tuned to this space and the Current Assignments page on this site for more details.
Accident on the G
In the Early Morning hours of Friday November 18th, bus #5349 a NABI, was involved in a major accident which sent three people (including the driver) to the hospital. The accident occurred on Front st between Packer and Pattison Avenues when the bus struck the trailer of a semi backing out of the Food Distribution Center. As a result, 5349 suffered ‘Major Damage’; with the front literally caved in. Despite the severity of the accident there were no life threatening injuries to the driver or passengers.
Bus Movements
A number of Southern’s 5400 Series D40LFs have been transferred to Comly do to the 8000 Series arrival. So far 5471-5472, 5474-5476, and 5478-5480 have been spotted operating on Comly routes.
LED Destination signs for the N5 Train cars?
According to the SEPTA Bid webpage, SEPTA is currently
taking bids for the purchase LED destination signs for it’s
Norristown Line ABB N5 cars which currently uses paper signs
to display route information (
http://www.septa.org/business/over25000/bid12155A.html
). SEPTA has had LED Signs built into it’s buses manufactured
from 2000 up as well and has retrofitted a handful of other
buses with the signs but only for various test. This
retrofit will be the first for it’s Rail Fleet, and also the
first mass destination sign retrofit in SEPTA’s fleet.
More Bus movements, and a 2005 New flyer fleet update notice
Due to the arrival of the 2005 New Flyers solely to southern. A bunch of the 2003 new flyers and NABI’s at southern has been moved to the Midvale facilities. Thus far far 5613-5615,5617- 5621, and 5626 has been moved to Midvale. It’s unclear how many of the 5613-5656 batch of 2003 new flyers could be moved there to replace the Midvale’s NABIs. Furthermore, there are only 50 of the 2005 New flyers has arrived there are still as many as 70 new flyers left to be delivered. As per latest trends several of the 2001 New Flyers (5471-5500) Assigned at Southern and possibly the 2002 (5596-5600) are running off of ULSD diesel fuel or in stages of an retrofit to run off of this fuel. Within respect to this it appears those units will be staying at the Southern facilities.