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DE60LF
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 142 Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: New Flyer LFR model buses |
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I was wondering, why did it take a while for New Flyer to introduce the restyled front end on their 35 and 60 foot buses? New Flyer hasn't even produced a 30-foot LFR model yet.
The D40LFR and DE40LFR were introduced in 2005, with the C40LFR and E40LFR added less than a year later.
However, the first 60 foot artics with the restyled front end didn't come out until April of 2007, Hamilton Street Railway being the launch customer for the DE60LFR. In that same year, the E60LFR was launched by Vancouver Translink, and the D60LFR was launched by Calgary Transit. The six DE60LFs that ABQ RIDE got about two months before HSR still feature the old-style front, but with New Flyer's newest logo.
Late in 2007, the first 35-foot LFRs were introduced, with Fairfax Connector being the first (and so far, only) customer for the D35LFR and the first 35-foot New Flyer LFR in general.
So, why would New Flyer introduce the restyled front end initially only for the 40-foot models, and then wait two years later for the restyled 35-foot and 60-foot models? New Flyer still has yet to introduce a 30-foot LFR model. |
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KCRam3500
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 32 Location: Lake Hopatcong NJ
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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It's usually a contractual issue. A transit authority can lock in the body design over a long-term contract... if they're getting deliveries over a number of years (like the NJT/NABI 6-year deal), the bus is expected to look the same over the course of the contract so that the parts (and thus ease of maintenance) will remain constant. NJT looked over one of Dallas DART's 416 suburbans last year, but likely agreed to the new front end since the whole order would look that way. |
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DE60LF
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 142 Location: Albuquerque, NM
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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KCRam3500 wrote: | It's usually a contractual issue. A transit authority can lock in the body design over a long-term contract... if they're getting deliveries over a number of years (like the NJT/NABI 6-year deal), the bus is expected to look the same over the course of the contract so that the parts (and thus ease of maintenance) will remain constant. NJT looked over one of Dallas DART's 416 suburbans last year, but likely agreed to the new front end since the whole order would look that way. |
ABQ RIDE's first 12 DE60LFs (and first New Flyer buses overall) were delivered in 2004. The six DE60LFs that were delivered a little more than a year ago was a separate contract. However, when ABQ RIDE ordered those six additional DE60LFs in 2006, the order also included options for an additional four buses. If ABQ RIDE excersises those options, I wonder if they will feature the restyled front end. ABQ RIDE actually received a demo for the DE40LFR several months before ABQ RIDE's new DE60LFs were delivered, however, ABQ RIDE did also consider ordering from Gillig. In the end, ABQ RIDE chose New Flyer for their TMC RTS replacement, and chose to go with the restyled front end. |
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Mr. Transit
Joined: 17 Feb 2008 Posts: 23
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Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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New Flyer is developing a 30ft shuttle model in partnership with Ballard Fuel Cell for airport and community transit services. There's a press release dated Feb. 13th on their website about it. |
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