|
BusTalk A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
|
View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
DE60LF
Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 142 Location: Albuquerque, NM
|
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: Brand loyalty in today's transit age |
|
|
With my recent discussion about Disney Transport, I have been wondering, how many transit authorities today are loyal to only one manufacturer? I know there were a lot more in the past than there are today. However, they still exist. One of the most notable examples is AC Transit, who is 100% loyal to Van Hool.
For ABQ RIDE, except for a small order from Grumman in the 1970s, ABQ RIDE was a loyal GMC/TMC customer for some time since the 1960s up to 1996. This loyalty ended when the Neoplans were delievered in 1996. I have heard that ABQ RIDE did consider ordering 20 Nova RTS buses in 2000, but abruptly cancelled those orders. The Thomases were delivered a year later.
Since 2004, all of ABQ RIDE's orders have been from New Flyer. However, I still wouldn't say they are 100% loyal, as ABQ RIDE did consider ordering Gilligs prior to the purchase of the DE40LFRs. They even received a demo from Gillig, but drivers said that their instrument panel was too confusing.
Still, I wouldn't rule out if ABQ RIDE orders Gillig buses in the future, perhaps when ABQ RIDE starts to retire the Neoplans and/or Thomases. With NovaBus re-entering the U.S. market, that could give ABQ RIDE a third option for diesel-electric hybrid buses, as Nova uses the same Allison hybrid technology that is used by New Flyer and Gillig. As for Orion, they use a different hybrid drivetrain, so I would be suprised if ABQ RIDE orders Orion VII NG HEVs. NABI now also offers a diesel-electric hybrid option on their buses, with Citizens Area Transit of Las Vegas being the launch customer.
It also seems like NYCT/MTA is 100% loyal to Orion, however, they have demoed buses from other manufacturers and still do today. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RTS_04
Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 66
|
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 4:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
SMART in Metro Detroit used to be more-or-less an all-RTS fleet (buying 03s, 04s, 06s, 07s and 08s), but is now 100% Gillig Advantage, with the exception of the various cutaways used for shuttle and paratransit runs. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RailBus63 Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063
|
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
RTS_04 wrote: | SMART in Metro Detroit used to be more-or-less an all-RTS fleet (buying 03s, 04s, 06s, 07s and 08s), but is now 100% Gillig Advantage, with the exception of the various cutaways used for shuttle and paratransit runs. |
Does SMART still operate shorter buses on the Pontiac routes? There was a photo of a 30-foot Phantom in the Motor Coach Age article a few years back. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
The Port of Authority
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 118 Location: Hong Kong
|
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Los Angeles is definitely a loyal NABI customer. They've got more than 1,000 NABI buses and plan to order hundreds more. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
RTS_04
Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 66
|
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 11:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
RailBus63 wrote: | RTS_04 wrote: | SMART in Metro Detroit used to be more-or-less an all-RTS fleet (buying 03s, 04s, 06s, 07s and 08s), but is now 100% Gillig Advantage, with the exception of the various cutaways used for shuttle and paratransit runs. |
Does SMART still operate shorter buses on the Pontiac routes? There was a photo of a 30-foot Phantom in the Motor Coach Age article a few years back. |
Yep, although the 30' Phantoms were replaced in favor of 30' Advantages. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|