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| Millennium Transit Services (146469) | |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by AMoreira81 on Mon Apr 20 21:18:51 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. That frightens me; it looks as though they show a rejected NJT bus before it was labeled. |
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| (146474) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 21:49:13 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by AMoreira81 on Mon Apr 20 21:18:51 2009. A reasonable concern.But, the new website is more attractive than the original. |
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| (146475) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Mon Apr 20 21:51:51 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS BITHCES YES!!!Now we have two SOLID candidates for the New Connecticut Transit bid which calls for Local Low Floor buses and High Floor Suburban buses in one bid. -Trevor |
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| (146478) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 22:08:21 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Mon Apr 20 21:51:51 2009. I like to see that im not the only one who is excited about this! I wish them the best |
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| (146481) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by The TransitMan on Mon Apr 20 22:12:41 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. The RTS lives!!! |
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| (146482) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Mon Apr 20 22:19:04 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by AMoreira81 on Mon Apr 20 21:18:51 2009. That's airbrushed/'shopped, not unlabeled... look over the front door (they missed a spot) :) |
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| (146483) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 22:22:11 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Mon Apr 20 21:51:51 2009. I hope you're right.I believe there is still a place in today's transit bus marketplace for the RTS. |
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| (146484) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 22:23:10 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by The TransitMan on Mon Apr 20 22:12:41 2009. Let's keep our fingers crossed.:) |
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| (146485) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 22:30:58 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 22:08:21 2009. So do I. |
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| (146486) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by brightonr68 on Mon Apr 20 22:34:31 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 22:08:21 2009. Quite frankly it is time for the RTS to bow out. They are cramped compared to the newer buses. I grew up on the rts but always prefered the grumman flexible metro B . The rts always felt slow and heavy |
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| (146495) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by R33/R36 mainline on Mon Apr 20 22:52:38 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by brightonr68 on Mon Apr 20 22:34:31 2009. They are cramped compared to the newer busesI disagree, the RTS do seem to handle crowds better than the Orion VIIs and C40LF. The low floor section on the VIIs and C40LF are crapmed and the ones with forward facing seats are even worse. The rts always felt slow and heavy You must have never rode an PBL RTS, those felt light and fast! As for MTA RTSs those do feel heavy though, as for the speed I think it depends on the bus IMO. |
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| (146496) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by R33/R36 mainline on Mon Apr 20 22:54:04 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. This is awsome news!!!!! Glad to see my favorite bus is still alive. |
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| (146497) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 23:13:30 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by brightonr68 on Mon Apr 20 22:34:31 2009. Apparently you rode on the wrong RTSs. When spec'd out just right, this bus was a graceful, stylish, spacious rocketship. |
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| (146498) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Grand Concourse on Mon Apr 20 23:35:21 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by brightonr68 on Mon Apr 20 22:34:31 2009. Dunno which RTS you rode, but I like the most recent ones like the 50xx-5200s and 9600s. |
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| (146499) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RailBus63 on Mon Apr 20 23:50:06 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. I refuse to get excited until I see Millennium produce, say, a 40 or 50 bus order for a single customer with acceptable quality. Frankly, I doubt they will survive unless a major investor is willing to put their money behind the company and subsidize the inevitable losses that will occur until they can prove to the transit industry that their past problems are behind them. |
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| (146500) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by GOLD_12th on Tue Apr 21 00:04:43 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by R33/R36 mainline on Mon Apr 20 22:52:38 2009. I disagree, the RTS do seem to handle crowds better than the Orion VIIs and C40LF. The low floor section on the VIIs and C40LF are crapmed and the ones with forward facing seats are even worse.You are comparing two different platforms. Of course the RTS "handle" crowds better then C40LF and O7 due to the high floor and more seats. The low floors have less seats due to the wheelbase at the front which you cant add seats on top of the wheelbase. To solve the problem, stretch the length of the bus from 40 feet to 42.5 feet and at that length, it would hold the same capacity as a typical 40 feet high floor bus. The rts always felt slow and heavy You must have never rode an PBL RTS, those felt light and fast! As for MTA RTSs those do feel heavy though, as for the speed I think it depends on the bus IMO. The NYCT buses are fucking slow because they set the governed at 40 to 45 mph. |
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| (146501) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by GOLD_12th on Tue Apr 21 00:07:13 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by The TransitMan on Mon Apr 20 22:12:41 2009. I doubt it, in this economy.They should just focus as a parts company. |
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| (146502) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by GOLD_12th on Tue Apr 21 00:09:26 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 21:49:13 2009. I wouldn't called that attractive. They really need to hire a good web designer to clean up that web page. |
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| (146503) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by brightonr68 on Tue Apr 21 00:20:00 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by R33/R36 mainline on Mon Apr 20 22:52:38 2009. Your right the command gmc rts were quite quick. |
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| (146506) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by AMoreira81 on Tue Apr 21 01:00:42 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by RailBus63 on Mon Apr 20 23:50:06 2009. The NJT order was their chance to prove it, but it fell through. |
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| (146507) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by JAzumah on Tue Apr 21 01:37:35 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by Grand Concourse on Mon Apr 20 23:35:21 2009. The question is whether Millennium can meet that standard. NJT orders fairly standard buses and only asks that you move the AC unit to balance out axle loads. If you can't do them, you just can't get it done. Unless they are planning to send out high quality demos, they are DONE. |
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| (146508) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by QM18Express on Tue Apr 21 03:03:41 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by GOLD_12th on Tue Apr 21 00:04:43 2009. "The NYCT buses are fucking slow because they set the governed at 40 to 45 mph."Not all the buses are governed that slow. |
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| (146509) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by PHXTUSbusfan on Tue Apr 21 03:28:53 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by Bingham C50 on Mon Apr 20 23:13:30 2009. I agree. Out in Phoenix the former Blue Line bus route used to regularly run RTSs. Those buses were FAST on the freeway (yes, 55 - 65 mph segment of freeway) section of that route. |
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| (146510) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by SJP7121 on Tue Apr 21 04:09:55 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by kcram3500 on Mon Apr 20 22:19:04 2009. that's the orange sticker that says kneeling bus. |
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| (146523) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 08:20:12 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by GOLD_12th on Tue Apr 21 00:04:43 2009. The low floors have less seats due to the wheelbase at the front which you cant add seats on top of the wheelbase.Nitpick: the "wheelbase" is the distance between the front and rear wheels. You mean the wheel wells. The NYCT buses are...slow because they set the governed at 40 to 45 mph. Which really doesn't matter in an urban setting, where the bus rarely gets over 10 mph. The key is acceleration. From my own unscientific observations and recollections, the Orion VII seems to have better pick-up than Series 50-powered RTSes, but not as good as the old 6V92TAs. |
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| (146524) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 08:22:25 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by AMoreira81 on Mon Apr 20 21:18:51 2009. That frightens me; it looks as though they show a rejected NJT bus before it was labeled.Not frightening, since the rejected NJT units are in service. Their web design, OTOH, is frightening. |
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| (146526) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by kcram3500 on Tue Apr 21 08:33:28 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by SJP7121 on Tue Apr 21 04:09:55 2009. ABOVE the door... the NJT fleet number is there. |
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| (146528) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by CapitalCruiser on Tue Apr 21 08:56:27 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 08:20:12 2009. "Which really doesn't matter in an urban setting, where the bus rarely gets over 10 mph. The key is acceleration. From my own unscientific observations and recollections, the Orion VII seems to have better pick-up than Series 50-powered RTSes, but not as good as the old 6V92TAs."While, I can appreciate the non Driver aspect of a slow bus, there is a very good reasons why alot of companies have their units geared down. First, Safety. A bus with alot of power is an accident waiting to happen. Not a collision, but passenger slips and falls, one of the highest awards in lawsuit settlements. Driver steps on throttle, passengers fall, get hurt, sue, get alot of money. Defense of the company is limited since this type of injury is hard to disprove. Second, MPG. A bus with alot of take off power will burn 40 to 50% more fuel than a slower, easy take off. Let's face it, a transit bus in NYC doesn't need anymore than 35 to 40 mph since there really is no speed limits above 30mph within the city limits. I know what you're about to say, "what about the highways?" True, but, thats why the TA has the higher speed sets on the MCI's and even if they do put a transit on the schedule, how fast will the bus be able to go with all the traffic? When our RTS comes back from being rebuilt, the owner intends to limit the speed down to save lawsuits and fuel, probably not as low as a transit bus, but, a reasonable speed for our area. Our RTS will be used for local shuttles and bar hops. |
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| (146529) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 08:58:39 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by JAzumah on Tue Apr 21 01:37:35 2009. Well wait, not only did they ask to move the HVAC, but NJT introduced moving the whole radiator system from its standard location to the "MCI" location.The problem with Millennium was securing funds to build buses, not quality. You have 2 in Pueblo, CO; 6 in Ledyard, CT; and almost 25 running in College Station, TX. I've spoken with all three properties who all LOVE thier Millenniums from operations to maintenance down to the drivers. The Pueblo units are TWINS to the Jersey units, the Ledyard units ARE Jersey units and about 8 of the College Station units ARE Jersey units while the rest were built new to the same specs. The problem in Jersey. Granted thier laws about axle loads presents specification issues, BUT New Jersey does over customize, and that has been proven with.... 1) The last batch of Nova's they recieved (New type of a Multiplex system, new suspension) 2) The Neoplans (which began the whole Radiator movement and also had Neoplan customizing the tractor and trailer lengths) 3) The MCI (which the first 325 came in with unproven brake systems [which left the brakes feeling spongy all the time and made loud squeels on stopping, at least they went back to the regular brakes after the first 325 buses], a completely redesigned drivers area, and a host of other custom items) So when it came to the Millenniums it was the same shit all over again. But what the misconception is that Millennium didn't build a quality product when they did. The same people that was building and managing TMC AND NovaBUS are the EXACT same people building Millennium, you have people that KNOW the RTS building the RTS. Again the issue was securing funds to obtain materials. That was Millenniums only downfall. If they stick to smaller orders to build up capital THEN seek the large orders, they will survive, they got something good going with that RTS Extreme. And with some properties still ordering high floors (Some going BACK to high floors), this gives NABI a little competition for a High Floor order. Regards, Trevor |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 09:01:21 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by kcram3500 on Tue Apr 21 08:33:28 2009. 4108 is actually one of the buses that is now in College Station running for Texas A&M, it has since been renumbered and repainted, so that is a dated photo on Millennium's main page.-Trevor |
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| (146531) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by Bingham C50 on Tue Apr 21 09:01:45 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 08:58:39 2009. Excellent points.Oh, and don't forget NJT's unique Eagle order. |
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| (146533) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RTS_book on Tue Apr 21 09:54:56 2009, in response to Millennium Transit Services, posted by fishbowls4ever on Mon Apr 20 21:02:48 2009. Wow, a revised website - how does this indicate the company is 'back?'That said, I've rode on two different MTS buses, and I dare say they're some of my favorite RTS' I've ever had the privilege of riding. Here's hoping more are built in the future. |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 10:07:35 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by RTS_book on Tue Apr 21 09:54:56 2009. Well the funky part is, if ya wanna be technical, the company never left....They just shut operations down to take audit. There was never an Official shut down lights out announcement.-Trevor |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 10:35:36 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 08:22:25 2009. But not in really heavy service like NJT would have used them. You can't compare foxwoods and texas a&m to NJT. |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by JAzumah on Tue Apr 21 11:04:57 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 08:58:39 2009. If the change is not in the bid, you have the right to not accept it. Either Millennium knew that they wanted the radiator moved or they didn't push the issue. Every change of that nature should have a pricetag to it. I'll take your word on their ability to build buses.Unlike bus operations, purchase order financing to build things is a lot easier. However, no one is selling their buses at a high enough price except Gillig. Buses should have a gross margin of 50-60% minimum on the actual building of the bus. MCI had to fix that and they did. |
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| (146546) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by tbev on Tue Apr 21 11:16:33 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 08:58:39 2009. I agree Trevor because I drove the demo 4201 for several weeks and now with these NABIs , I miss it. Eventhough the drivers area was smaller on the Millenium i enjoyed the hell out of it. I never broke down when I had it and it was waaaaaay more solid than the NABI. TBEV |
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| (146547) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:20:13 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by The TransitMan on Mon Apr 20 22:12:41 2009. Yeah but who is the buyer for high floors anymore. NJT was their only hope and they blew that order. If they make the low floor bus maybe a small TA might give them a try. |
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| (146549) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:25:09 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by tbev on Tue Apr 21 11:16:33 2009. Do you think the flx's did not break down when they were new. They sure did I remember being on the 1983 models in jersey city PA1300'S they did have problems at first too ! |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by tbev on Tue Apr 21 11:29:43 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:25:09 2009. I didnt say that it didnt break down, I said I had no problems with it while I drove it. |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:41:18 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by tbev on Tue Apr 21 11:29:43 2009. I just think the nabi's need a chance before putting them down . I heard drivers on here complain about the garbage flx they had that day. So they get new buses and still complain about them. Some will never except them because the mts order was canceled. |
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| (146554) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 11:53:57 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:20:13 2009. Yeah but who is the buyer for high floors anymore.Small operators and/or operators who don't need to reduce dwell times. |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:57:16 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by RIPTA42HopeTunnel on Tue Apr 21 11:53:57 2009. Thats not enough to survive in the bus biz. They had their chance with NJT. |
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| (146558) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by AMoreira81 on Tue Apr 21 12:11:26 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:41:18 2009. However...about 40 of them are in service. |
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Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 12:16:55 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by AMoreira81 on Tue Apr 21 12:11:26 2009. What's your point they are not all breaking down. The MTS buses would and did have problems too ! |
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| (146562) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by tbev on Tue Apr 21 12:17:18 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:41:18 2009. The NABIs are a poorly built bus hate to say it but they are |
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| (146565) | |
Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by RailBus63 on Tue Apr 21 12:54:34 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 08:58:39 2009. I agree that they need to start with smaller orders, prove themselves and work their way up to building larger quantities. The worst thing that could happen to Millennium right now would be to win an order like the Connecticut one and be forced to meet aggressive deadlines and rush development of the Extreme.Long term, I do have my doubts about them. The U.S. transit bus market has gotten even more competitive recently with the return of Nova Bus to a field that already included major builders New Flyer, Gillig, Orion and NABI. I also believe that money for new buses may become tight in the near future - yes, there is stimulus money now available, but this may well be offset by the serious financial problems that are affecting the biggest TA's, in New York, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and elsewhere. State funding has been used by many of those TA's for new equipment purchases, but that well is probably going to dry up for a while. |
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Busdude2...Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 12:55:42 2009, in response to Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by busdude2 on Tue Apr 21 11:57:16 2009. Um, you are forgetting that have a Low Floor model too, The RTS Extreme......Oh and Connecticut Transit is out for High Floor right now too. Trevor |
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Re: Busdude2...Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by QM18Express on Tue Apr 21 13:15:33 2009, in response to Busdude2...Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 12:55:42 2009. CTTransit did not like their D40LFS? |
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Re: Busdude2...Re: Millennium Transit Services |
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Posted by rionOne on Tue Apr 21 13:25:12 2009, in response to Re: Busdude2...Re: Millennium Transit Services, posted by QM18Express on Tue Apr 21 13:15:33 2009. Apparently not, the bid calls for Low Floor local buses and High Floor Suburbans. |
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