BusTalk

[Bill D]

As many of you know from postings here as well as at other forums, CT Transit's New Britain fleet is going through a transformation, and not for the better. Fans who have photgraphed there recently have noted that the "B" series RTS fleet is missing in action, as well as the "United Nations" look of what is operating there. Early this past Wednesday morning, while on my way to Hartford to attend a transportation conference, I decided to try and find out just what is going on. What I discovered was very discouraging.

When I got to New Britain just before 6:30 AM, I was encouraged by the sight of the first bus arriving downtown, RTS A135. This bus was originally based in Waterbury, where I work, so it was good to see that it was still on the road. I had the opportunity to speak to the operator, who informed me that this was the only CT Transit RTS still operating for New Britain Transportation. I stayed around to observe the 6:30 and 7:00 AM pulses to see just what was operating here. The buses in service included D40HF's #948, 961, 9404, 9405, ex-HART RTS #201, D40LF #803 and two body on chassis type buses #150 and 158. The Dattco fleet was somewhat encouraging, as I spotted four of their six RTS's, #C150, C152, C153 and C155.





Leaving New Britain, I decided to stop by NBT's garage in Berlin to see what the situation was there. I was greeted by the sight of the entire B series fleet, as well as several other buses, in dead storage. I noticed that there were no spare transit vehicles parked on the lot. Inside the garage, the mechanics were working on D40HF #9407, which had recently been pulled from the reserve fleet in New Haven and sent there. The people I spoke to informed me that the RTS's had been retired for a number of reasons, including structural problems, as well as engine and transmission failures. They also stated that any replacement buses having major problems have been deadlined as well. This includes many of the ex-HART RTS's which have only been there a few months. It seems that the state does not want to invest any serious money to keep the fleet on the road. One mechanic noted ironically that there are now more dead buses on the lot than active ones.











With new buses well over a year away, the situation in New Britain will continue to worsen. At this rate, the reserved fleet will be depleted before long, and meeting pullout requirements will become a challenge. For those of you venturing to New Britain to photograph the action, this will present interesting opportunities, as there will be most likely an ever changing lineup of equipment. But for everyone else, it is very sad that the state has let the situation deteriorate to this point.

Bill

[ripta42]

Which HART RTSes were sent over to New Britain?

[Bill D]

[massbusmark]

I paid a visit to New Britain yesterday, I was last there 11 months ago, on that visit I observed a couple of NBT owned cutaways along with one NBT owned school bus chassis "activity" bus covering routes along with an ex-HART RTS and some of the D40HF's. Yesterday I saw no cutaways or activity buses in service, I did see & ride A135 on the "O" route, still looks OK outside, save for a shattered window on the rear door. Inside, one of the rear seats has some of the cloth material carved & sliced out, and I detected a burning smell from the right rear wheel area, like hot brakes. I also rode a couple of D40HF's, 942 on the "S" route and DATTCO operated 953 covering their part of the 41 Hartford/New Britain run. I also saw 9425 at the Bank St. pulse, slowly dripping anti freeze from the rear, as well as a few other D40HF's in service. The only other RTS seen in service yesterday was DATTCO's C154 covering the East & South routes. On my way out of the area I rode by NBT's garage & yard, I noticed from the street several D40HF's parked out back (I didn't enter the property to get a closer look), so I don't know if all those buses are still active, deadlined, or both. As Bill D has posted here recently, CT Transit has new buses on order, including 20 New Flyers for"expedited delivery" that he believes are for New Britain operations. Maybe he can clarify if the buses I saw behind NBT's building are still active or not.

Mark

[RailBus63]

Anyone know if anything ever came of the planned lease?

Peter Pan's RTS's haven't seemed to be too busy the last few times I visited the Foxwoods casino, and they've also picked up some 1995 Nova RTS's from Pioneer Valley - then again, they probably had no interest in watching their buses get trashed.

[massbusmark]

I don't know what the status of the planned lease is, I do recall it being mentioned in another post, but if CT Transit has 20 New Flyers ordered for expedited delivery this year, maybe they dropped the lease proposal.

Mark

[Bill D]

NBT has been taking D40HF's from the reserve fleet, running them until something breaks, and then deadlining the vehicles. The vehicles you saw on their lot are probably out of service. Were there still any RTS's on their lot?

I haven't heard any more on the bus lease, but most likely it will not happen since their new buses are being expedited for delivery.

Also regarding the new bus procurement, the replacements for our (Waterbury) RTS fleet are scheduled to be delivered between October and next January. Of the 34 Xcelsiors we are scheduled to received, 17 will be hybrids, so the coming year will be interesting.

Bill

[massbusmark]

I did not see any RTS's on the lot from my vantage point, just maybe 7 or 8 D40HF's plus a couple of dead yellow school buses.

Once the Xcelsiors arrive in Waterbury, will all their "A" series RTS's be retired, or will some be sent to the reserve fleet? Will have to make a trip to Waterbury before the RTS's disappear to ride some. Other than stopping downtown a couple of years ago while to catch a pulse departing and getting some pics, have never had took the time to ride any of Waterbury's routes.

Mark

[thehartfordboy]

[Bill D]

[djmarco12]

the as of june 26 2011 all B and C series are retired and most of the A series are retired